Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Senior Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 05 March 2026

Job summary

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Join our dynamic Therapy Team at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, dedicated to delivering patient centred care in the acute hospital setting and supporting their journey back out into the community. We pride ourselves in fostering a collaborative environment where innovation and professional growth thrive.

Main duties of the job

Senior Occupational Therapist

Band 6

£38,682 - £46,580 pro rata, per annum

We have rotational and static urgent care therapy opportunities available, preference will be discussed but appointment will be based on candidates' suitability

Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist seeking a new challenge? Or are you a Band 5 therapist ready to take the next step in your career? We want to hear from you!

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist to work within our Therapy Department at Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. We have flexible working opportunities available; as such, we can offer either rotational or static posts.

Situated in the beautiful county of Hampshire close to the historic seaside city of Portsmouth, you can have the best of both worlds; busy, energising city life or rural calm in the picturesque surrounding countryside. London is situated only an hour away, whilst nearby Southampton, Chichester and Winchester are all in commuting distance.

About us

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery,access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and DisAbility, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veterans status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year £38,682 - £46,580 pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

REF2057B

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO6 3LY


Job description

Job responsibilities

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to provide high quality patient assessment and treatment, as part of an integrated therapy team in Acute Stroke, Older Persons Medicine, Urgent Care, Orthopaedics and Surgery.

You should be flexible and able to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team, using strong clinical assessment and reasoning skills in both acute rehabilitation and complex discharge planning. You will need to be confident and assertive, with excellent communication skills. You will need to have the ability to demonstrate these in a pressurised, fast paced environment.

We provide a supportive environment within our therapy service and prioritise staff wellbeing. We aim to support your progression as a Band 6 and offer excellent learning opportunities for your ongoing professional development. An ability to identify your own learning needs and respond to those of others will be an important part of this role.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide high-quality, patient-centred care.
  • Conduct comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments and develop treatment plans to enable patients to achieve their maximum level of independence.
  • Participate in discharge planning, including complex discharges and liaising with discharge services to ensure safe and effective transitions of care.
  • Work along-side physiotherapists, therapy assistants and with wider MDT
  • To have strong clinical reasoning skills with the ability to manage a caseload independently.
  • To have the ability to adapt to working in different clinical areas and manage the challenges of working in a busy hospital/ community environment
  • Understand risk management and positive risk taking
  • Provide advice and equipment for specialist equipment provisions
  • Communicate effectively with patients, families and care providers
  • Support, supervise and educate Band 5 Occupational Therapists, Therapy Assistants, and students.
  • Contribute to service development initiatives, audits, and quality improvement projects.
  • Demonstrate commitment to professional development and evidence-based practice.

The therapy service is covered over seven days, and you will be required to work occasional weekends or bank holidays.

Regular clinical supervision and peer support will be provided from clinical leads and Occupational Therapy peer support groups. You will also have access to internal and external training, networking opportunities, and support from our Occupational Therapy Practice Educator.

To discuss this opportunity or to arrange a visit please contact Juliette Kite via email: juliettekite@nhs.net or telephone: 02392286141.

Please refer to the Job description for further details.

Job description

Job responsibilities

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to provide high quality patient assessment and treatment, as part of an integrated therapy team in Acute Stroke, Older Persons Medicine, Urgent Care, Orthopaedics and Surgery.

You should be flexible and able to work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team, using strong clinical assessment and reasoning skills in both acute rehabilitation and complex discharge planning. You will need to be confident and assertive, with excellent communication skills. You will need to have the ability to demonstrate these in a pressurised, fast paced environment.

We provide a supportive environment within our therapy service and prioritise staff wellbeing. We aim to support your progression as a Band 6 and offer excellent learning opportunities for your ongoing professional development. An ability to identify your own learning needs and respond to those of others will be an important part of this role.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide high-quality, patient-centred care.
  • Conduct comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessments and develop treatment plans to enable patients to achieve their maximum level of independence.
  • Participate in discharge planning, including complex discharges and liaising with discharge services to ensure safe and effective transitions of care.
  • Work along-side physiotherapists, therapy assistants and with wider MDT
  • To have strong clinical reasoning skills with the ability to manage a caseload independently.
  • To have the ability to adapt to working in different clinical areas and manage the challenges of working in a busy hospital/ community environment
  • Understand risk management and positive risk taking
  • Provide advice and equipment for specialist equipment provisions
  • Communicate effectively with patients, families and care providers
  • Support, supervise and educate Band 5 Occupational Therapists, Therapy Assistants, and students.
  • Contribute to service development initiatives, audits, and quality improvement projects.
  • Demonstrate commitment to professional development and evidence-based practice.

The therapy service is covered over seven days, and you will be required to work occasional weekends or bank holidays.

Regular clinical supervision and peer support will be provided from clinical leads and Occupational Therapy peer support groups. You will also have access to internal and external training, networking opportunities, and support from our Occupational Therapy Practice Educator.

To discuss this opportunity or to arrange a visit please contact Juliette Kite via email: juliettekite@nhs.net or telephone: 02392286141.

Please refer to the Job description for further details.

Person Specification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Broad based clinical occupational therapy skills consistent with those expected at Band 6 level
  • Supervisory skills
  • Effective written and oral communication including ability to engage service users including those with communication, sensory and behavioural impairments
  • Ability to plan, review and evaluate therapy treatment plans
  • Ability to risk assess and clinically reason decisions
  • Ability to delegate
  • Ability to set own priorities
  • Ability to reflect and critically analyse own performance
  • Ability to build effective working relationships
  • Computer literacy
  • Presentation skills/training skills
  • Commitment to lifelong learning
  • Able to work flexibly and manage pressure of work
  • Ability to lone work
  • Knowledge and application of Therapy assessments and interventions including outcome measures within
  • specialist area of care
  • Sound knowledge of evidence based occupational therapy practice
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and some aspects of current practice/ risk Assessment
  • Basic knowledge of audit/research methods
  • Knowledge of clinical governance framework
  • Knowledge of Health/Safety issues
  • Knowledge of professional/ethical issues in practice
  • Competency to carry out B4 level Physiotherapy assessment and intervention competencies to support the delivery transdisciplinary (integrated) care between Physio and OT (please note training will be given for this during your first placement with PHU

Desirable

  • Driving license and access to a car to travel between sites and community settings

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent, e.g. Occupational Therapy Diploma
  • Health and Care Professions Council Registration

Desirable

  • Post registration training within specialist area of care
  • Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapy
  • Practice Placement Qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of discharge planning and of working with external agencies
  • Experience of working with service users and their families
  • Documented evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Supervising students
  • Undertaking literature reviews and research
  • 18 month to 2 years of post-qualification experience
Person Specification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

  • Broad based clinical occupational therapy skills consistent with those expected at Band 6 level
  • Supervisory skills
  • Effective written and oral communication including ability to engage service users including those with communication, sensory and behavioural impairments
  • Ability to plan, review and evaluate therapy treatment plans
  • Ability to risk assess and clinically reason decisions
  • Ability to delegate
  • Ability to set own priorities
  • Ability to reflect and critically analyse own performance
  • Ability to build effective working relationships
  • Computer literacy
  • Presentation skills/training skills
  • Commitment to lifelong learning
  • Able to work flexibly and manage pressure of work
  • Ability to lone work
  • Knowledge and application of Therapy assessments and interventions including outcome measures within
  • specialist area of care
  • Sound knowledge of evidence based occupational therapy practice
  • Knowledge of relevant legislation and some aspects of current practice/ risk Assessment
  • Basic knowledge of audit/research methods
  • Knowledge of clinical governance framework
  • Knowledge of Health/Safety issues
  • Knowledge of professional/ethical issues in practice
  • Competency to carry out B4 level Physiotherapy assessment and intervention competencies to support the delivery transdisciplinary (integrated) care between Physio and OT (please note training will be given for this during your first placement with PHU

Desirable

  • Driving license and access to a car to travel between sites and community settings

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent, e.g. Occupational Therapy Diploma
  • Health and Care Professions Council Registration

Desirable

  • Post registration training within specialist area of care
  • Member of Royal College of Occupational Therapy
  • Practice Placement Qualification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of discharge planning and of working with external agencies
  • Experience of working with service users and their families
  • Documented evidence of CPD

Desirable

  • Supervising students
  • Undertaking literature reviews and research
  • 18 month to 2 years of post-qualification experience

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO6 3LY


Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Address

Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO6 3LY


Employer's website

https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/work-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Juliette Kite

juliettekite@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

27 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year £38,682 - £46,580 pro rata, per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

REF2057B

Job locations

Queen Alexandra Hosp, Southwick Hill Road

Cosham

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO6 3LY


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