Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our General Medicine and Older Persons Team at St Thomas’ Hospital. The post sits within a supportive, forward thinking Occupational Therapy management structure that promotes innovation, service development, staff well being and professional development.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated and flexible clinician with excellent communication and interpersonal skills who is keen to take on a varied and rewarding role. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and develop a new Occupational Therapy role within the OPU/medicine pathway, with a particular focus on supporting timely discharge for patients whose needs can be managed within a short timeframe.

The successful candidate will oversee an inpatient Occupational Therapy caseload, providing holistic, person centred assessment and intervention for patients with complex needs. You will work closely with patients, families and the wider multidisciplinary team to develop effective rehabilitation and discharge plans that promote independence and support safe, timely discharge.

The role offers an excellent opportunity to develop specialist clinical, leadership, supervision and service development skills while contributing to the wider professional agenda for acute medicine and older people.

Main duties of the job

As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist, you will provide a high quality, specialist and evidence based Occupational Therapy service to patients across the Older Persons Unit and medical wards. You will manage a complex caseload, using advanced clinical reasoning, critical thinking and reflective practice to deliver holistic, person centred assessment and intervention.

You will provide clinical leadership and support to a designated team of Occupational Therapists, including junior staff and assistants.

You will play a key role in leading and influencing clinical practice and service development within the Medicine and Older Persons Occupational Therapy service. This will include contributing to innovative, evidence based approaches and wider Trust, local and national initiatives relevant to acute medicine and older people.

You will maintain your own continuing professional development and contribute to the evidence base of Occupational Therapy, promoting learning, reflection and continuous improvement. You will also support the education and development of Occupational Therapy students on clinical placement.

The post holder will also contribute to the effective management and development of the Occupational Therapy service, undertaking delegated responsibilities and supporting service leads as required.

Person Specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration
• Postgraduate experience in physical disability in an acute/community environment

Desirable

• Experience working within acute and community settings including medicine/older people

Skills

Essential

• oKnowledge, understanding and application of Occupational Therapy process relating to client centred practice.
• oDemonstrate sound techniques in applying a range of complex assessments and treatments including cognition.
• oGeneral understanding of frailty and impact on occupational performance
• oExperience of working within multi-disciplinary diagnostic and intervention services

Desirable

• Ability to work with multi-disciplinary agencies often required for complex case management
• Knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and associated frameworks
• Knowledge of manual handling and complex positioning/seating
• Previous experience of research and audit

Personal Qualities

Essential

• oExcellent communication and interactive skills.
• oWell developed personal, organisational and time management skills.
• oProactive and innovative approach

Desirable

• Membership of professional body. Membership of RCOT Special Interest Group.

Closing Date: 31 August 2026