Specialist Occupational Therapist

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Job summary

Are you a qualified Occupational Therapist with a passion for Neuro Rehabilitation and a forward-thinking approach to patient care? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for a Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist to join our Community Based Neuro Rehabilitation and Early Supported Discharge (Stroke) Team, working across East Berkshire.

This role offers a flexible 22.5 hrs working week in which you will support patients in their own homes, helping them to achieve meaningful goals.

You’ll work within a supportive multidisciplinary team alongside Band 7 Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Neuro Psychologists, Speech & Language Therapists and Stroke Nurses, delivering high-quality, person-centred rehabilitation. You’ll also join a wider network of Neuro Specialist Occupational Therapists, with access to excellent training, peer support and opportunities to contribute to service development.

We’re seeking an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with experience in Neurorehabilitation, strong organisational skills and a commitment to continuous learning. You’ll confidently manage your own caseload, work independently and deliver outstanding care.

Applicants must hold a recognised Occupational Therapist qualification, be HCPC registered, and have a full UK driving licence with daily access to a vehicle, as travel between patients’ homes is essential and not all locations are accessible by public transport.

Main duties of the job

  • Use specialist Occupational Therapy skills for patients with Neurological Conditions and work with other members of the MDT to maximise rehab outcomes for patients and support them to achieve meaningful goals

  • Responsible for assessment, differential diagnosis, formulation of treatment plans and writing of full and clear clinical records and assessment reports, reflecting clinical reasoning

  • Work with other agencies and services to support patients in the management of their condition including their care, social, postural and equipment needs

  • Work together with members of the team across the MDT to support clinical decision making around patient care and triage of new referrals

  • Contribute service development projects, evaluation and audit

  • Supervision, training and support of other Therapy Assistants and students

  • Work with other OTs and the MDT on service development projects, support training and clinical excellence within the team with the support of senior colleagues

  • Responsibility for maintaining own competency and effectiveness of practise through relevant CPD, knowledge of clinical guidelines and research

  • Maintain a high level of professional responsibility by following relevant trust and professional standards and policies

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registration

Desirable

  • COT Membership
  • Formal post-graduate qualification in relevant area e.g. MSc
  • Membership of Relevant Special Interest Group

ContinuousProfessional Development

Essential

  • Post-graduate training in a relevant clinical speciality such as: 1. Accredited courses in Cognitive impairment 2. Accredited courses in Perceptual impairment OR 3. Accreditation of Practice Educators (APPLE)

PreviousExperience

Essential

  • Post graduate experience within a neurologicalservice
  • Experience of supervising staff
  • Experience of appraising staff
  • Experience of Multidisciplinary /Interdisciplinary teamworking
  • Experience of audits
  • Experience of research methods
  • Experience of liaising with social care in the UK

Desirable

  • Minimum of 6 years post graduate experience
  • Minimum of 2 years experience as a senior Occupational Therapist
  • Experience of formal and informal teaching

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Able to demonstrate confidence in own decisions
  • Proven clinical leadership ability
  • Ability to lead a team
  • Ability to work well within a team
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills
  • Excellent inter-personal skills
  • Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
  • Forward thinking
  • Ability to work independently
  • Understanding national policies/ guidelines relevant to clinical area
  • Understanding of clinical governance and it’s relevance to this clinical area
  • Presentation skills
  • Computer skills
  • Evident of own self development through PDP
  • Ability to develop others through CPD/ PDP/ In-service training
  • Flexible and adaptable
  • Able to maintain judgement under pressure
  • Understanding of social services in the United Kingdom
  • Willingness to learn
  • Ability to pass on skills and knowledge to others- both formally and informally

Desirable

  • Highly specialist knowledge of OccupationalTherapy inmanagement of patients with neurological conditions
  • Knowledge of Assistive Technology for neuro patients
  • Knowledge of audit and research

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • DBSclearance
  • Occupational Health Clearance
  • Able to travel effectively between sitesand patient’s homes
  • UKdrivinglicense holder and car driver

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).

Closing Date: 31 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.