University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Senior Occupational Therapist- Frailty

The closing date is 06 April 2026

Job summary

This is an exciting opportunity for Band 6 Occupational Therapist's to join the existing Frailty Therapy team. The post will be based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. The team work across 3 frailty wards, one of which is a specialist dementia ward. There is funding for 1.5wte Occupational Therapists. Please state on your application the number of hours you would like.

The Team comprises of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and a Therapy Assistant. The nature of the team allows for an integrated therapy approach, meaning this post creates an interesting role to carry out comprehensive and holistic assessments with the aim to deliver the highest standards of patient care.

The Frailty Therapy team works closely with the ward multidisciplinary team members as well as building strong working relationships with our community colleagues. The multidisciplinary approach works to achieve patient goals in rehabilitation, effective discharge planning and improved patient flow from the hospital setting.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

Main duties of the job

  • To provide specialist Occupational Therapy Interventions using an evidence based, flexible and patient-centred approach.
  • To work within a Multi-Disciplinary Team to meet the complex health and social care needs of people who are referred to our services.
  • ToprovideOT support within the existing Frailty Therapy Team,whilst working within anintegratedtherapy model with the Physiotherapists.
  • To provide supervision and leadership for relevant junior members of occupational therapy staff in conjunction with the team leader.
  • To provide supervision and training for students on practice placement
  • To participate in the planning, development and evaluation of Occupational Therapy services within a designated specialist team.
  • To maintain a flexible and adaptable approach will be necessary to ensure delivery of an excellent OT service across all pathways.

About us

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Details

Date posted

23 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

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

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7864999-MAR26

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Attached you will find the job description and person specification which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role.

We highly recommend you view this document and use it when completing the application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement andauthorisationfrom your current Trust/Manager. Secondmentscantbe agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gainapproval,you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Attached you will find the job description and person specification which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role.

We highly recommend you view this document and use it when completing the application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting.

Please note that if you currently work for another NHS Trust or UHSussex and you are applying to accept this position as a secondment opportunity, before applying you must seek agreement andauthorisationfrom your current Trust/Manager. Secondmentscantbe agreed without this approval. If you are unable to gainapproval,you should refrain from applying unless you wish to take this role as a fixed term position.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC registered
  • Evidence of recent and relevant Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Practice educators' course

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of the role of an acute OT in the specialist area and the use of assessment, treatment and rehab interventions for these patients
  • Experience in the assessment and formulating treatment plans for patients
  • Experience of working with patients with complex physical, psychological, emotional, sensory and social needs
  • Experience of working with patient/family/carers to ensure the effective communication of complex and sensitive information about conditions and treatment plans
  • Experience of using standardised and non-standardised assessment forms

Desirable

  • Understanding of preceptorship

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise caseloads daily, demonstrate effective time management and delegate appropriately
  • To be able to work autonomously as well as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team
  • To be able to clinically reason and prescribe a range of equipment to assist ADL's and adaptations within the home setting.
  • To be able to manage under pressure and respond to the rapidly changing demand of the hospital environment, whilst supporting other team members to do the same
  • To be able to coordinate complex discharges and follow up care and support junior staff with this.
  • To be able to produce clear, concise written and verbal reports
  • Excellent communication skills to manage clinical or team issues
  • Competent and confident with therapeutic handling of patients with or without aids.

Desirable

  • Experience of clinical audit and outcome measures
  • Presentation and training skills

People Management and Development

Essential

  • To be able to provide support with leadership when the team is under pressure or in the absence of the team lead.
  • Evidence of supporting staff with clinical role and development
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients, carers and colleagues
  • Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
  • Experience in providing clinical supervision formally and informally for students and staff

Desirable

  • Evidence of being a practice educator for students

Specific Requirements

Essential

  • Being responsive and resilient to change clinically and non-clinically
  • To be able to balance and respond effectively to the demands of clinical, non-clinical and unplanned situations.
  • Willingness to become involved with new roles/projects

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Professional Qualification in Occupational Therapy
  • HCPC registered
  • Evidence of recent and relevant Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

  • Practice educators' course

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Knowledge of the role of an acute OT in the specialist area and the use of assessment, treatment and rehab interventions for these patients
  • Experience in the assessment and formulating treatment plans for patients
  • Experience of working with patients with complex physical, psychological, emotional, sensory and social needs
  • Experience of working with patient/family/carers to ensure the effective communication of complex and sensitive information about conditions and treatment plans
  • Experience of using standardised and non-standardised assessment forms

Desirable

  • Understanding of preceptorship

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise caseloads daily, demonstrate effective time management and delegate appropriately
  • To be able to work autonomously as well as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team
  • To be able to clinically reason and prescribe a range of equipment to assist ADL's and adaptations within the home setting.
  • To be able to manage under pressure and respond to the rapidly changing demand of the hospital environment, whilst supporting other team members to do the same
  • To be able to coordinate complex discharges and follow up care and support junior staff with this.
  • To be able to produce clear, concise written and verbal reports
  • Excellent communication skills to manage clinical or team issues
  • Competent and confident with therapeutic handling of patients with or without aids.

Desirable

  • Experience of clinical audit and outcome measures
  • Presentation and training skills

People Management and Development

Essential

  • To be able to provide support with leadership when the team is under pressure or in the absence of the team lead.
  • Evidence of supporting staff with clinical role and development
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients, carers and colleagues
  • Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance
  • Experience in providing clinical supervision formally and informally for students and staff

Desirable

  • Evidence of being a practice educator for students

Specific Requirements

Essential

  • Being responsive and resilient to change clinically and non-clinically
  • To be able to balance and respond effectively to the demands of clinical, non-clinical and unplanned situations.
  • Willingness to become involved with new roles/projects

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist

Liz Tungate

elizabeth.tungate@nhs.net

01273696955

Details

Date posted

23 March 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

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

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7864999-MAR26

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)'s privacy notice (opens in a new tab)