Job summary This is an exciting new opportunity as a result of the Acute Occupational Therapy transforming and reorganising our service. We are looking for a creative and dynamic Occupational Therapist to deliver a specialist and personalised service to facilitate patients to leave hospital. You'll work alongside a Band 7 Occupational Therapist, using your Occupational Therapy skills to provide comprehensive assessment, advice and creative solutions to facilitate discharge, conducting home visits when needed and working closely with community services. We are committed to providing a workplace that helps you thrive, supporting you to continually develop and enjoy using your Occupational Therapy skills for the benefit of patients. The Acute Occupational Therapy service has been dedicated to transforming our services to facilitate our Occupational Therapists to use their skills to maximum potential with our Head OT speaking nationally about this work. You will have access to peer support forums and a specific band 6 core skills training programme. If you are looking for a new challenge please contact us regarding this role or for a general career development conversation to discuss how we can support you. Main duties of the job You will see patients where their primary need is support to overcome barriers to returning to home. You will provide an occupationally-focussed assessment to understand the patients problems in engaging in their essential occupations and provide recommendations to address these. You will be required to assess patients both in the hospital environment but it will also be necessary to take some patients on a home visit to assess them in their home environment. You will be able to articulate the problems and recommendations to facilitate leaving hospital, working closely with the patients support network and community services, often being required to create bespoke solutions to meet the patients needs and wishes. About us At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer: Flexible working options to help you balance work and life NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work. We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds. Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future. Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy. Date posted 22 April 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 184-OL-PU-2312 Job locations Musgrove Park Hospital Musgrove Road Taunton Somerset TA1 5DA Job description Job responsibilities To provide patient-centred, specialised occupational therapy expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex physical and psychological conditions. This will include the use of manual occupational therapy techniques and high level analytical, reasoning and risk assessment skills to select appropriate intervention from a range of options. To provide specialist assessment of barriers to discharge, this may include assessing the patient in the own home environment. To complete a comprehensive assessment for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills deficits, enabling patients in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure. The patients family, friends or carers will be involved with their therapy and discharge solutions where appropriate and when possible, with consent obtained from the patient. To assess and provide appropriate assistive and adaptive equipment to facilitate safe and timely discharge for patients from hospital or when assessing in home environment, in a manner which reflects cost effective use of resource, with appropriate application of relevant eligibility criteria. To refer for onward assessment where necessary. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical practice, including the management of patients. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To represent occupational therapy and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate occupational therapy into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in complex discharge planning. To respond appropriately to a range of unpredictable circumstances, in case load or working environment. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. To assess and manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. Job description Job responsibilities To provide patient-centred, specialised occupational therapy expertise in the assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex physical and psychological conditions. This will include the use of manual occupational therapy techniques and high level analytical, reasoning and risk assessment skills to select appropriate intervention from a range of options. To provide specialist assessment of barriers to discharge, this may include assessing the patient in the own home environment. To complete a comprehensive assessment for a designated caseload, addressing occupational performance and skills deficits, enabling patients in areas of self-maintenance, productivity and leisure. The patients family, friends or carers will be involved with their therapy and discharge solutions where appropriate and when possible, with consent obtained from the patient. To assess and provide appropriate assistive and adaptive equipment to facilitate safe and timely discharge for patients from hospital or when assessing in home environment, in a manner which reflects cost effective use of resource, with appropriate application of relevant eligibility criteria. To refer for onward assessment where necessary. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical practice, including the management of patients. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To represent occupational therapy and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate occupational therapy into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in complex discharge planning. To respond appropriately to a range of unpredictable circumstances, in case load or working environment. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of occupational therapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. To assess and manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Diploma/Degree in Occupational TherapyHCPC Registration Desirable Basic Management/supervision training or relevant experienceAppraisal trainingBAOT membership Experience Essential Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staffAbility to work autonomously and set priorities for the team and service in the absence of the Team Leader.Implementing a range of interventionsExperience working in acute hospital settingExperience with complex discharge planning Desirable Experience in clinical audit/and or service developmentExperience in policy development and implementationExperience in service improvement Additional Criteria Essential Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performanceAble to analyse and interpret complex situations and needs and appraise options to meet needs.Up to date manual handling skills and applied knowledgeExcellent clinical reasoningTo have excellent problem solving and creative skills Desirable Experience supporting development of others Person Specification Qualifications Essential Diploma/Degree in Occupational TherapyHCPC Registration Desirable Basic Management/supervision training or relevant experienceAppraisal trainingBAOT membership Experience Essential Experience in the supervision of junior and assistant staffAbility to work autonomously and set priorities for the team and service in the absence of the Team Leader.Implementing a range of interventionsExperience working in acute hospital settingExperience with complex discharge planning Desirable Experience in clinical audit/and or service developmentExperience in policy development and implementationExperience in service improvement Additional Criteria Essential Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performanceAble to analyse and interpret complex situations and needs and appraise options to meet needs.Up to date manual handling skills and applied knowledgeExcellent clinical reasoningTo have excellent problem solving and creative skills Desirable Experience supporting development of others 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Address Musgrove Park Hospital Musgrove Road Taunton Somerset TA1 5DA Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)