First Community Health and Care

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 23 November 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic Band 6 Senior Occupational Therapist, to join our team and work with us to deliver top quality assessments, treatments, and rehabilitation to NHS patients in our Community Hospital and in the Community.

Are you a motivated and innovative Occupational Therapist who enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team with a focus on helping people to live well for longer?

This could be the job for you!

We are passionate about ensuring the workplace is a place where staff feel supported and positively challenged.

We offer:

  • High level of clinical support.
  • Provision of high-quality training and development opportunities.
  • Support to allow you work towards your full potential by further developing a range of skills.
  • Being part of an innovative and forward-thinking team.
  • Opportunities to support Occupational Therapy students on placements.
  • Access to a comprehensive staff health and wellbeing programme.

We value staff ideas and are always working to improve how we deliver patient care.

We are keen for staff to develop and build on their own ideas to contribute to further service improvement and innovation.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for:

An Occupational Therapist who has experience in clinical management of patients with complex health and rehabilitation needs and are at risk of deteriorating quality of life.

Someone interested in developing further their leadership skills, ensuring positive outcomes and quality care for patients and staff.

Someone keen to work with other health, social and community services to ensure continuity of care on discharge.

A motivated individual who is a team player and flexible, working with the multidisciplinary team to provide a seven-day service in our community hospital.

A car essential for this role.

If you like how this sounds then apply today.

We look forward to receiving your application.

About us

Do you want to be part of an organisation that was rated best provider of NHS care to work for nationwide? (2023 staff survey results)

First Community is a staff owned social enterprise rated Good by CQC, which delivers NHS community services across east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We are looking for individuals who share our values First-rate care, First-rate people, First-rate value.

First Community is a great place to work, everyone has a voice and is supported to develop their career to its full potential. We offer all our staff: NHS terms and conditions, high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment, an NHS pension, flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.

Please talk to us before applying or at interview about the flexibility you need. We may not be able to meet your needs exactly, but we do promise to fully consider your request and meet your needs where possible. Please note, flexible working options may vary depending on the role.

At First Community we welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. We ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.

Sustainability is integral to First Community achieving the NHS Net Zero target.

Details

Date posted

07 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1059

Job locations

The Caterham Dene Hospital

Church Road

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 5RA


Job description

Job responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist/post holder is responsible for the provision of high quality, individualised Occupational Therapy Functional assessment and rehabilitation programmes to our patients on Caterham Dene Ward and in the community, reflecting the philosophy of First Community Health and Care.

The post holder will be part of our Multi-Disciplinary Team, working across the ward and in the community, to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and facilitate timely hospital discharges for patients and ongoing rehabilitation.

The post holder is responsible for providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated range of specialist occupational therapy therapeutic and preventative services which maintain or improve peoples health, independence and quality of life.

The post holder will apply knowledge and skills across a range of conditions and medical impairments, procedures and practices gained through practical experience and underpinned by theoretical knowledge.

The team provides a seven day a week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene Hospital and in patients homes to enable safe rehabilitation. The post holder will participate in the weekend and bank holiday rota.

The Post holder will need to have a full drivers licence and car for personal business use and be able and prepared to drive between our bases at Caterham Dene Hospital and other community settings, as required, during their working day.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Occupational Therapist/post holder is responsible for the provision of high quality, individualised Occupational Therapy Functional assessment and rehabilitation programmes to our patients on Caterham Dene Ward and in the community, reflecting the philosophy of First Community Health and Care.

The post holder will be part of our Multi-Disciplinary Team, working across the ward and in the community, to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and facilitate timely hospital discharges for patients and ongoing rehabilitation.

The post holder is responsible for providing a comprehensive and co-ordinated range of specialist occupational therapy therapeutic and preventative services which maintain or improve peoples health, independence and quality of life.

The post holder will apply knowledge and skills across a range of conditions and medical impairments, procedures and practices gained through practical experience and underpinned by theoretical knowledge.

The team provides a seven day a week rehabilitation service at Caterham Dene Hospital and in patients homes to enable safe rehabilitation. The post holder will participate in the weekend and bank holiday rota.

The Post holder will need to have a full drivers licence and car for personal business use and be able and prepared to drive between our bases at Caterham Dene Hospital and other community settings, as required, during their working day.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc/Diploma Occupational therapy or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health & Care Professions Council.
  • Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Desirable

  • Practice Placement Educators training.
  • Member of Relevant Specialist Section.
  • Post-graduate training relevant to clinical speciality.

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience in the NHS with previous Occupational Therapy experience in the relevant clinical areas related to the post.
  • Experience of working as part of an Occupational Therapy team and/or MDT.

Desirable

  • Experience in supervising other staff and students.
  • Experience of working with support workers.
  • Experience of lone working and decision making.

Other

Essential

  • Participation in weekend and bank holiday therapy rota.
  • Car owner/driver is essential.
  • Able to work as a team member.
  • Flexible worker.
  • Punctual and reliable.
  • Committed to personal and team development and to reliably work as part of a team.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic.

Desirable

  • Demonstrates the broad range of skills that are desirable for this post.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of equipment and major/minor adaptations.
  • Understanding of Government policies that impact on the Healthcare provision in the UK.
  • Knowledge of CQC.
  • Knowledge of current moving and handling policies.
  • Knowledge of Patient Safety and Quality improvement.

Desirable

  • Evidence of additional learning and experience.

Skills

Essential

  • Competency and ability to assess and treat core patient caseload in specialist field.
  • Articulate, with good communication skills.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate.

Desirable

  • Basic presentation skills.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • BSc/Diploma Occupational therapy or equivalent.
  • Registered with Health & Care Professions Council.
  • Member of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).
  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.

Desirable

  • Practice Placement Educators training.
  • Member of Relevant Specialist Section.
  • Post-graduate training relevant to clinical speciality.

Experience

Essential

  • Post registration experience in the NHS with previous Occupational Therapy experience in the relevant clinical areas related to the post.
  • Experience of working as part of an Occupational Therapy team and/or MDT.

Desirable

  • Experience in supervising other staff and students.
  • Experience of working with support workers.
  • Experience of lone working and decision making.

Other

Essential

  • Participation in weekend and bank holiday therapy rota.
  • Car owner/driver is essential.
  • Able to work as a team member.
  • Flexible worker.
  • Punctual and reliable.
  • Committed to personal and team development and to reliably work as part of a team.
  • Motivated and enthusiastic.

Desirable

  • Demonstrates the broad range of skills that are desirable for this post.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge of equipment and major/minor adaptations.
  • Understanding of Government policies that impact on the Healthcare provision in the UK.
  • Knowledge of CQC.
  • Knowledge of current moving and handling policies.
  • Knowledge of Patient Safety and Quality improvement.

Desirable

  • Evidence of additional learning and experience.

Skills

Essential

  • Competency and ability to assess and treat core patient caseload in specialist field.
  • Articulate, with good communication skills.
  • Good IT skills.
  • Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate.

Desirable

  • Basic presentation skills.

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

First Community Health and Care

Address

The Caterham Dene Hospital

Church Road

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 5RA


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

First Community Health and Care

Address

The Caterham Dene Hospital

Church Road

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 5RA


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Occupational Therapist

Ruth Reid

ruth.reid4@nhs.net

01883837509

Details

Date posted

07 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1059

Job locations

The Caterham Dene Hospital

Church Road

Caterham

Surrey

CR3 5RA


Supporting documents

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