Job summary
We are looking for an Occupational Therapist to join our friendly and supportive Occupational Therapy team within the Inpatient Therapy Department at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The post is based within Emergency Medicine and the Acute Admission wards.

This role would be suitable for current Band 6s or experienced Band 5s looking to progress their career within Emergency Medicine.

You will join an established team of occupational therapists and physiotherapists, working closely with clinical navigators, emergency and medical doctors and nurses, as well as the wider team of social care colleagues.

You will manage a clinical caseload, completing specialist assessments and discharge planning.

The post has core hours of 08:00 am- 16:00 pm and forms part of our 7-day working service. You will be included in the weekend rota, currently 1:6 weekends, with rest days provided in the following week.

The role will involve using evidence-based clinical skills to support patients, as well as supporting junior members of the team.

Please note that the anticipated start date for this role will be from November 2026.

Main duties of the job
You will clinically manage a caseload, completing detailed assessments and treatments in the Emergency Department, Acute Admission Unit or Early Assessment Unit.

Discharge planning skills are key to this post, and you will need to be able to make timely decisions. You should have a caring, committed and quality-focused approach to the provision of patient care.

In this post, your development will be supported by Band 7 therapists, with regular supervision and appraisals, as well as opportunities to complete further CPD.

You will need to be a dynamic team player with excellent communication skills. You will also have the opportunity to teach, supervise and appraise junior staff, assistants and students.

About us
With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job responsibilities
You will clinically manage a caseload, completing detailed assessments, treatments and discharge planning, while providing clinical supervision and support to junior therapists and therapy assistants.

You will be supported by Band 7 Occupational Therapists within the teams, alongside well-established probation, supervision and appraisal processes.

We also support our Band 6 staff with their professional development through development programmes and access to both internal and external courses.

Person Specification
Education and qualifications:
Essential

• Occupational Therapy degree qualification or equivalent & NHS experience.
• Registration with the Health Care Professions Council.
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development and reflective practice.

Desirable

• Membership of RCOT.
• Membership of special interest group.
• Broad band 5 or band 6 NHS experience relevant to post.
• Attendance at post-graduate course(s) in relevant field.
• Attendance at Student supervisors' course.

Knowledge:
Essential

• Understanding of Occupational Therapy structure in NHS.
• Understanding of Occupational Therapy models of practice.
• Standards - HCPC/COT/Local Legislation and litigation related to Occupational Therapy.
• Professional ethics and their application in practice.
• Policies and procedures (local e.g. Health and Safety).
• Ability to search and review the evidence base.
• Understanding of clinical governance and the implications for the service.
• Commitment to lifelong learning.
• Application of specific assessment techniques.

Desirable

• Evidence of written projects/audits.
• Relevant Standardised assessments.
• Relevant outcome measures.

Experience:
Essential

• NHS experience.
• Clinical problem-solving ability.
• Highly developed physical skills, dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills for assessment and treatment of patients.
• Ability to assess patient conditions, establish a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan, from a range of OT modalities.
• Physical fitness to move and handle patients and equipment.

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in the acute hospital setting.
• Previous experience of working in emergency medicine or acute admissions.

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 (formerly known as CRB) 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

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. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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 (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

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. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address
Watford General Hospital
Watford
WD18 0HB
United Kingdom

Employer's website
http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Therapy Team Lead
Samantha Whittaker
samantha.whittaker@nhs.net
01923217271