Job summary
Looking to start or continue your career as an Occupational Therapist?
Would you like a post that enables you to work in a variety of different areas to broaden and advance your skills and experience?
We are able to offer a post with access to a specific core skills programme, regular peer support group and great variety of experiences.
We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Occupational Therapist to join Somerset NHSFT joint acute and community Band 5 rotational scheme. You will have the opportunity to rotate through a variety of practice settings, developing a depth of experience as you progress through your career with us.
There is also a Band 5 opportunity at Yeovil District Hospital, so please express in your application if you would like to be considered for all opportunities available.
Currently the rotational scheme offers the following opportunities:
- Community Integrated Rehabilitation
- Discharge to Assess
- Acute Stroke & Neurology
- Respiratory Medicine
- Cardiology Medicine
- Surgery
- Orthopaedics
- A&E and emergency care
- Care of Older People
For further information on the rotations, please refer to the Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist booklet attached.
Please give us a call for an informal chat or send us an email
Main duties of the job
To provide a high standard Occupational Therapy Service as part of the rotational scheme as detailed above.
To hold responsibility for own caseload and undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, working without direct supervision but having access to a Senior Occupational Therapist on a daily basis and participating in the Services formal Professional Supervision & Appraisal Programme.
You will be expected to carry out specific occupational therapy assessment which will include goal setting and treatment planning, assessing risk, promoting and enabling independent functioning. You will be committed to a person-centred approach to your work, have an ability to prioritise and work flexibly.
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiple pathologies, eg. Complex social situations, end of life care, people with lower limb amputations, life threatening cardiac and respiratory conditions and complex neurological conditions.
The post holder will be expected to make clinical judgements which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of different treatment techniques and options, to establish physical and cognitive functional levels. These will include personal, domestic, vocational and leisure activities of daily living, assessment and provision of assistive equipment.
Carry out standardised assessments to diagnose physical and cognitive functional levels. Examples of tests that may be used are; Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery, to help determine treatment aims and monitor changes in perceptual ability following a Stroke or head injury. Also the Middlesex Elderly Assessment of Mental State (MEAMS), to detect gross impairment of cognitive function in elderly people.
Formulate and deliver an individual occupational therapy treatment programme using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. activity analysis of functional skills, patient education, manual handling techniques and other alternative options. To do this taking into account the person's own goals and those of the multidisciplinary team to predict achievable outcomes and recommend the best course of intervention.
Assess a person's understanding of treatment intervention/goals, gain valid informed consent from the patient and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, e.g. those people with cognitive difficulties.
The post holder will continually reassess and evaluate the person's progress through assessment and intervention. Treatment programmes will be altered as a result of this.
To carry out clinical risk assessments for patients on own caseload and take action to effectively manage identified risks, eg. Patients who are difficult to transfer and aggressive patients.
For further information, please see detailed Job Description and Rotation booklet.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiple pathologies, eg. Complex social situations, end of life care, people with lower limb amputations, life threatening cardiac and respiratory conditions and complex neurological conditions.
The post holder will be expected to make clinical judgements which require analysis, interpretation and comparison of a range of different treatment techniques and options, to establish physical and cognitive functional levels. These will include personal, domestic, vocational and leisure activities of daily living, assessment and provision of assistive equipment.
Carry out standardised assessments to diagnose physical and cognitive functional levels. Examples of tests that may be used are; Rivermead Perceptual Assessment Battery, to help determine treatment aims and monitor changes in perceptual ability following a Stroke or head injury. Also the Middlesex Elderly Assessment of Mental State (MEAMS), to detect gross impairment of cognitive function in elderly people.
Formulate and deliver an individual occupational therapy treatment programme using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. activity analysis of functional skills, patient education, manual handling techniques and other alternative options. To do this taking into account the person's own goals and those of the multidisciplinary team to predict achievable outcomes and recommend the best course of intervention.
Assess a person's understanding of treatment intervention/goals, gain valid informed consent from the patient and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, e.g. those people with cognitive difficulties.
The post holder will continually reassess and evaluate the person's progress through assessment and intervention. Treatment programmes will be altered as a result of this.
To carry out clinical risk assessments for patients on own caseload and take action to effectively manage identified risks, eg. Patients who are difficult to transfer and aggressive patients.
For further information, please see detailed Job Description and Rotation booklet.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) (or due to qualify)Registration with HCPC
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Application of the OT process in a variety of settings through placement or workEvidence of reflection and Critical appraisal of own performanceUse of functional assessments and activity analysisAbility to work independently with individuals and groupsTo be able to prioritise and manage own caseload and other non-clinical aspects of roleDocumented evidence of Continual Professional DevelopmentExcellent communication skills
Desirable
- Current UK driving licence.Experience of delivering training/teachingExperience of working in different health and social care settings
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy (OT) (or due to qualify)Registration with HCPC
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Application of the OT process in a variety of settings through placement or workEvidence of reflection and Critical appraisal of own performanceUse of functional assessments and activity analysisAbility to work independently with individuals and groupsTo be able to prioritise and manage own caseload and other non-clinical aspects of roleDocumented evidence of Continual Professional DevelopmentExcellent communication skills
Desirable
- Current UK driving licence.Experience of delivering training/teachingExperience of working in different health and social care settings
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).
