Job summary
A fixed term, Band 5 maternity cover opportunity has arisen within the Occupational Therapy Team based at Furness General Hospital.

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Occupational Therapy team as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist within the inpatient OT team.

In this rewarding role, you will use your core OT skills to promote participation and independence in activities of daily living. You will play a key role in facilitating timely discharges from the acute hospital and reducing the patient's length of stay. You will predominantly work in an acute hospital and also access home visits completed within the community. You will have the opportunity to develop your clinical knowledge and skills across a variety of clinical areas including Trauma and orthopaedics, Acute medicine and general surgery.

Main duties of the job
You will have knowledge and experience in the assessment and treatment of patients and will be motivated to join us in improving our patients' experiences. You will join a dedicated and motivated team of Occupational Therapy staff and will work closely with our wider Therapy and Multidisciplinary team. Staff develop their knowledge and skills using our appraisal process and we actively support staff through supervision with in-service training opportunities and a peer support group.

Awareness and experience of patient flow and discharge are essential accompanied by the ability to prioritise, risk assess and complete clear documentation.

You will need to show an ability to adapt and be flexible to the demands of the clinical service, showing responsiveness and resourcefulness.

Requirements

• A Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy approved by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Registration with HCPC as an Occupational Therapist
• The ability to travel between sites and in the community

About us
We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community health care premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Details
Date posted: 05 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 331-8370319-UHMB
Closing date: 19 November 2026

Person Specification
Essential

• Health and Care Professions Council registered Occupational Therapist.
• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy approved by the College of OT, UK
• Comprehensive experience at undergraduate level of the core competencies within Occupational Therapy.
• OT practice placement experience or post registration work experience in an acute hospital setting as an OT.
• Experience of MDT working
• Ability to meet the physical requirements of the post.
• Ability to participate in manual handling tasks
• Ability to travel to provide assessment and treatment to patients in the community
• Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice.
• Assessment, observation, evaluation and reporting skills.
• Ability to work single handed with individuals/groups of patients with access to guidance from a Specialist or Advanced OT either on site or by telephone in the absence of own supervisor.
• Basic knowledge of health and social care legislation and guidelines and NICE guidelines for clinical conditions and application to OT practice.
• Basic knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, confidentiality and health and Safety.
• Written and oral communication skills in English sufficient to communicate effectively with patients.
• Basic computer skills e.g. word processing, email and internet skills.
• Evidence of Moving and Handling experience
• Awareness of patient flow and discharge pathways

Desirable

• Membership of the British Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Knowledge of current evidence based practice in OT.
• Competent skills in risk assessment and risk management.
• Supervisory skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
Address: Furness General Hospital, Dalton Lane, Barrow in Furness, LA14 4LF, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

For questions about the job, contact:
Occupational Therapy Team Leader, Heather McCready
Heather.V.McCready@mbht.nhs.uk
01229403651

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