Community Occupational Therapist – Band 6: Sponsorship Available

East London NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Are you an experienced Band 5 Occupational Therapist or already working as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist and thinking of a career in an Urgent Community Response/Fast Falls team?

Do you want to make a difference? Then why not join the Urgent Community Response/Fast Falls team in Newham!

As a Band 6 Occupational Therapist you will be responsible for providing highly skilled occupational therapy input to patients who reside in Newham and need an urgent therapy response. You will be promoting the health of this population and reducing the effects of ill health, disability and maximising the individual’s potential for independence.

Main duties of the job

You will work very closely with physiotherapists, nurses and rehab support workers to provide a coordinated response to patients who have fallen or who require therapeutic input to minimise the risk of hospital admission.

You will also have the opportunity to work closely with the local GPs, Newham Social Service team and other statutory and non-statutory services to meet the health and social needs of the local population.

The integration and collaboration of all these disciplines and services allows all new admissions to our service to have a clinically robust assessment and treatment plan, with an emphasis to promote independent living, that is holistic, evidence based and in line with all current Best Practice Guidelines.

Support and development for staff in our service is one of our main goals. We have a robust in-service training programme that is supported by our dedicated Practice Experience Facilitator.

In addition to this you will be supported by a team of highly experienced band 6 and band 7 therapists to ensure you reach a very high standard of clinical knowledge, skills and experience. We will also support the development, implementation and maintenance of high quality, safe and sustainable clinical and operational leadership under the direction of the Therapy Team Leaders and Clinical Leads.

Person Specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

Essential

  • Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC Registration
  • Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent post graduate courses/training relevant to clinical specialty.

Experience

Essential

  • 18 months minimum clinical experience in a broad range of specialties relevant to the post on an inpatient and / or community basis
  • Knowledge of a broad range of clinical conditions
  • Equipment provision and assessment
  • Working within a multidisciplinary team
  • Contributing to professional development and clinical education of more junior staff, students and assistants

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for occupational therapy and client care
  • Ability to prioritise, organise and delegate
  • Ability to communicate and present information, orally and in writing, in a clear and logical manner
  • Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
  • Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes in line with local and national standards and policies
  • Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and manage competing demands and interruptions
  • Ability to cope working in a fast paced and stressful environment and with emotional and/or aggressive patients and carers
  • Ability to work autonomously, acting decisively on behalf of self and others, setting own priorities.
  • Ability to assess and act against risks to self, clients as a consequence of exposure to clients and environments which may be highly distressing, antagonistic, open to aggression and/or unpleasant.
  • Ability to assess, advise and educate clients and carers about safe manual handling techniques (including use of equipment and minor adaptations)
  • Ability to assess for/review medical devices & other rehabilitative equipment for patient/clients, carers and others. This includes safe handling, fitting and review.

Personal and People Development

Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly, including working out of core hours i.e. evenings and 7 day working if required.
  • Self-motivated
  • Ability to treat people with respect, irrespective of age, gender, culture, religion & sexuality.
  • Proactive, self-directed with innovative approach.
  • Acceptance of responsibility for self and others.
  • Commitment to lifelong learning.
  • Leadership qualities.

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: 30 August 2026

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