Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Emergency Department

The closing date is 07 December 2025

Job summary

Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist in Emergency Department

**This is a fixed-term/secondment opportunity for 12 months to cover maternity leave.**

We have an exciting opportunity for a clinical specialist Occupational Therapist to join our Occupational Therapy Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

This post will be mainly based in the Emergency Department and associated Front Door Services and will also include covering the Falls and Frailty Response service.

You will be a versatile and enthusiastic OT, clinically expert in the management of patients at the front door. We are a friendly, very supportive and proactive multidisciplinary team with fantastic links with our community and system partners.

If you are looking for a new leadership role using your clinical experience and opportunities to grow, develop and work with others, then this role will be ideal for you!

Main duties of the job

  • To be an Occupational Therapist clinical expert in the management of patients in the Emergency Department for the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust (RBFT) supporting admission avoidance and safe, prompt return to the community.
  • To work on the Falls & Frailty Response Service in the community alongside a Specialist Paramedic, providing a blue light response to older people who have fallen - providing rapid intervention, equipment and onward referrals to support people to remain at home.
  • To be responsible for the operational management and clinical leadership of the Emergency Department Therapy (EDT) team in conjunction with the other Specialist Band 7 Therapists in the team and the Operational Lead for Front Door Services.
  • To use expert occupational therapy knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the therapy team and other healthcare staff, and to manage own caseload of patients with highly complex discharge planning and admission avoidance support, as an autonomous practitioner.
  • To ensure a high quality and effective therapy service at the front door to the hospital.
  • To work with South Central Ambulance Service on the 'Falls & Frailty Response Service' on 12 hour shifts, as an autonomous practitioner, preventing conveyance to hospital and maximising independence and safety in the patient's home.

About us

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest District General Hospitals in the country. The hospital achieved Foundation Trust status on 1st June 2006.

It was the first Foundation Trust in the South Central Strategic Health Authority.

The Trust has a successful track record of delivering high quality acute medical and surgical services for 500,000 patients across West Berkshire, an area extending from Newbury in the west to Henley-on-Thames in the east, and including Wokingham and parts of Hampshire to the south and parts of Oxfordshire to the north. The Trust is Reading's biggest employer.

The CQC recently rated the care provided by the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust as Good.

Our "CARE" values:Compassionate,Aspirational,Resourceful,Excellent, reflect the type of Trust we aspire to be and you can join our dedicated and talented staff to make this happen.

Details

Date posted

25 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

193-7595523NCG

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Personal Specification for further details of the role.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Personal Specification for further details of the role.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial specialist experience at a senior level
  • Extensive post-graduate experience
  • Post-graduate training/qualification in the management of frail elderly patients and falls prevention
  • Experience of teaching and presenting to other staff
  • Experience of supervising and developing other staff and students

Desirable

  • MSc or equivalent training/experience in related area
  • Management training
  • Previous experience of a range of healthcare settings

Knowledge

Essential

  • In-depth understanding of a broad range of non-elective admissions, admission avoidance and work with frail, elderly patients
  • Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice
  • Registered OT with HCPC
  • Advanced knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of frail elderly patients & falls prevention, including advanced clinical reasoning & treatment skills

Desirable

  • Attendance at specialist courses relating to OT within the field of ED/admission avoidance
  • Completion of relevant QI projects
  • Evidence of CPD
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial specialist experience at a senior level
  • Extensive post-graduate experience
  • Post-graduate training/qualification in the management of frail elderly patients and falls prevention
  • Experience of teaching and presenting to other staff
  • Experience of supervising and developing other staff and students

Desirable

  • MSc or equivalent training/experience in related area
  • Management training
  • Previous experience of a range of healthcare settings

Knowledge

Essential

  • In-depth understanding of a broad range of non-elective admissions, admission avoidance and work with frail, elderly patients
  • Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice
  • Registered OT with HCPC
  • Advanced knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of frail elderly patients & falls prevention, including advanced clinical reasoning & treatment skills

Desirable

  • Attendance at specialist courses relating to OT within the field of ED/admission avoidance
  • Completion of relevant QI projects
  • Evidence of CPD

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

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy

Josie Caffrey

josie.caffrey@royalberkshire.nhs.uk

01183225215

Details

Date posted

25 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

193-7595523NCG

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN


Supporting documents

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