South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapy - Senior Support Worker

The closing date is 12 August 2025

Job summary

We are looking to recruit a Band 3 Senior Support Worker into our Care of the Elderly inpatient OT team at Sunderland Royal Hospital to support the assessment of patients in preparation for discharge from hospital into the community. The post is part of a busy team of therapists and support workers and is based within a large and friendly Occupational Therapy Department which has purpose built ADL assessment facilities.

The acute therapy teams work closely with our community partners as part of the hospital discharge planning process, and this is a great opportunity to help shape future services as part of the therapy teams. This is a challenging and demanding, but very rewarding post with scope for ongoing personal and professional development.

All training will be provided, and support and supervision will be provided by your senior team.

Pre-application/interview enquiries and visits are welcome.

Main duties of the job

The Occupational Therapy inpatient teams based at Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside Hospital sit within the Directorate of Therapy Services and provide intervention and assessment for discharge from hospital. As an Occupational Therapy Senior Support Worker, you will support the therapy team with patient assessments and interventions to plan and deliver safe and effective discharges from hospital while working as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.

You will need to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills and be able to document patient notes efficiently and effectively and take part in some aspects of multi-disciplinary team meetings. Also, due to the need to sometimes visit patients homes as part of the discharge planning assessment, you must be able to drive the department vehicles. The post is full time, Monday to Friday, and there will be a requirement to work some bank holidays as part of a rota.

About us

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One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for STSFT. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via the Trust's Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,600 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area, in some cases to a population as great as 860,000. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Childcare Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. The Trust will not accept applications which are found to be AI generated.

Details

Date posted

29 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CSAHP-0725-14

Job locations

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as an Occupational Therapy (OT) Senior Support Worker using reasoning skills to provide elements of therapy assessment both in and out of the hospital environment.

To alert Occupational Therapists to cases where there are complex issues requiring OT intervention.

To complete effective, concise documentation of patients records in line with Trust & department standards.

To work toward the achievement of specific response time targets.

To ensure accurate data entry takes place in line with departmental standards.

To work towards improving quality services.

To maintain competence through participation in relevant learning activities and self-learning.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as an Occupational Therapy (OT) Senior Support Worker using reasoning skills to provide elements of therapy assessment both in and out of the hospital environment.

To alert Occupational Therapists to cases where there are complex issues requiring OT intervention.

To complete effective, concise documentation of patients records in line with Trust & department standards.

To work toward the achievement of specific response time targets.

To ensure accurate data entry takes place in line with departmental standards.

To work towards improving quality services.

To maintain competence through participation in relevant learning activities and self-learning.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE

Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

  • Ability to sit at a work station to complete administrative duties related to the role
  • Ability to work in small spaces where there may be a requirement to kneel or bend down
  • Ability to exert moderate effort throughout the day
  • Ability to assist patients with their mobility
  • Ability to participate in moving and handling interventions where there is a need to use equipment such as mobile hoists
  • Ability to drive the department vehicles

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 2 qualification
  • Functional Skills (level 2)

Desirable

  • Additional qualifications relevant to post applied for
  • Care Certificate

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with illness or disability
  • Experience of working in a patient/public/customer facing role

Desirable

  • Experience of using adaptive aids and equipment
  • Experience of using wheelchairs
  • Working in a therapy setting

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent verbal communication skills
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Knowledge and understanding of Occupational Therapy practice within an acute hospital environment
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Ability to deal with competing demands on time and attention.
  • Able to demonstrate appropriate analytical & judgmental skills
  • Skills to prioritise workload and make judgements on priorities.
  • Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
  • Basic IT skills

Desirable

  • Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland and surrounding areas
  • Knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment and their indications for use
  • Evidence of attendance at courses relevant to the role
  • Intermediate IT skills
Person Specification

Physical Skills

Essential

  • Ability to sit at a work station to complete administrative duties related to the role
  • Ability to work in small spaces where there may be a requirement to kneel or bend down
  • Ability to exert moderate effort throughout the day
  • Ability to assist patients with their mobility
  • Ability to participate in moving and handling interventions where there is a need to use equipment such as mobile hoists
  • Ability to drive the department vehicles

Qualifications

Essential

  • Level 2 qualification
  • Functional Skills (level 2)

Desirable

  • Additional qualifications relevant to post applied for
  • Care Certificate

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working with people with illness or disability
  • Experience of working in a patient/public/customer facing role

Desirable

  • Experience of using adaptive aids and equipment
  • Experience of using wheelchairs
  • Working in a therapy setting

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent verbal communication skills
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Organisational skills
  • Knowledge and understanding of Occupational Therapy practice within an acute hospital environment
  • Ability to problem solve
  • Ability to deal with competing demands on time and attention.
  • Able to demonstrate appropriate analytical & judgmental skills
  • Skills to prioritise workload and make judgements on priorities.
  • Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
  • Basic IT skills

Desirable

  • Knowledge of community and local authority services relevant to Sunderland and surrounding areas
  • Knowledge of adaptive aids and equipment and their indications for use
  • Evidence of attendance at courses relevant to the role
  • Intermediate IT 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.

Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Employer's website

https://www.stsft.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Andrea Gibson

andrea.gibson1@nhs.net

01915656256

Details

Date posted

29 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9155-CSAHP-0725-14

Job locations

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP


Supporting documents

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