Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Occupational Therapist Advanced (XR07)

The closing date is 26 February 2026

Job summary

Senior Occupational Therapist Major Trauma & Plastics

Specialist Surgery and Acute (SSA) OT Team

Leeds General Infirmary | Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

0.8 WTE | Flexible working

We are seeking an enthusiastic, forward-thinking Senior Occupational Therapist to join our Specialist Surgery and Acute (SSA) Occupational Therapy Team at Leeds General Infirmary. This role provides an exciting opportunity to act as the clinical lead for the Major Trauma and Plastics inpatient specialities, delivering high-quality, patient-centred occupational therapy within a fast-paced acute hospital environment.

The postholder will also take an operational leadership role within the Emergency Department Therapy Team, contributing to safe, effective service delivery and supporting therapy colleagues across both clinical areas.

This role is ideal for a motivated therapist who is ready to develop their leadership, influence service development, and work collaboratively within a large, supportive NHS Trust.

Main duties of the job

Provide specialist clinical leadership for the Major Trauma Centre and Plastics Occupational Therapy inpatient service.

Lead, supervise and support staff within the specialities, ensuring safe and effective use of resources and compliance with service standards.

Support the wider SSA OT Team by sharing clinical expertise and contributing to service development in response to changing priorities.

Manage a complex clinical caseload, including patients with multi-pathological presentations, using occupation-centred assessment and intervention approaches.

Champion high-quality, evidence-based practice and contribute to continuous quality improvement.

Provide operational leadership for the Emergency Department Therapy Team, including day-to-day management responsibilities.

Participate in weekend working on a rota basis.

About us

The postholder will join a diverse, inclusive and collaborative therapy workforce, where professional development and wellbeing are prioritised. Support includes:

Regular supervision from the Clinical Service Manager

Access to a wide range of specialist colleagues across the SSA OT Team and whole OT service

Opportunities for internal and external learning and development

Access to Mental Health First Aiders, Freedom to Speak Up Champions and Unison representatives

A variety of staff benefits and salary sacrifice schemes, including the Trust nursery, lease car scheme and Cycle to Work programme

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is proud to embody The Leeds Way values placing compassion, teamwork, integrity and patient-focused care at the heart of everything we do

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9298-ATH-476

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Job description

Job responsibilities

To work within the Occupational Therapy Service, leading coordinating and developing effective intervention in a specialist area, in conjunction with the Head Occupational Therapist Clinical Area and colleagues.

To manage autonomously a clinical workload at a highly specialist level: assessing and treating patients and maintaining associated records.

To apply evidence based knowledge of the specialist clinical area, acquired through in depth experience and/or academic study to specialist post graduate level or equivalent

To provide Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to patients with diverse, complex and multiple pathological presentations.

To adopt a key role in clinical risk assessment and discharge planning

To take responsibility for organising and carrying out home assessments. Leading and co-ordinating discussions with patients and carers, health and social care professionals and community agencies to plan and implement effective and safe hospital discharges.

To provide an evidence based service to the specialist clinical area.

To provide a patient-focused service following the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge) using Occupational Therapy core skills.

To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and act as a patient advocate in multi-disciplinary meetings, with external agencies such as Social Services, Housing, Intermediate Care Services.

To manage, supervise and delegate to Occupational Therapists within the team.

To manage, supervise and delegate to Occupational Therapy Support Staff. To supervise and educate Occupational Therapy Students. To act as a professional role model for other team members. To assist with the general caseload of the team as service needs dictate. To act as a highly specialist Occupational Therapy Resource for colleagues, carers and patients. To lead and participate in team and service developments including audit and research.

To be involved in multi-disciplinary coordination and development of services.

The trust acknowledges and supports the statements laid down by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (College of Occupational Therapy). The post holder will be professionally accountable to Health Professions Council, and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions.

3. Job Dimensions

Clinical Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the management of patients with highly complex health and social care needs. The post holder as a highly specialised, autonomous practitioner will address occupational therapy performance skills, social context and activity demands in collaboration with patients, carers and colleagues. Clinical intervention may take place in a variety of settings including wards, therapy departments, clinics, peoples homes, work places community facilities, child care and educational establishments. The work involves close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team and community based health and social care providers.

Team Responsibilities

1. To manage, supervise and support Occupational Therapists, Support Staff and Students

2. To deputise for the Head Occupational Therapist

3. To represent Occupational Therapy on working parties and multi-agency meetings

4. To act as a resource of clinical expertise and advice within the clinical specialty

for colleagues, patients and carers

5. To be responsible for routine organisation and maintenance of the department/section

6. To initiate, lead and contribute to service development

7. To support the team in meeting local and government targets

8. To lead and participate in projects

9. To lead and participate in in-service training

10. To initiate, promote and implement changes to policies, procedures and practices within the clinical area as identified in team plan

11. To be responsible for financial and physical resources, for example, the use of equipment store systems such as Leeds Equipment Service, petty cash

12. To be responsible for checking and cleaning equipment in line with Trust and service Health and Safety Policies

Professional Responsibilities

1. To support Trust objectives and business plan

2. To lead and promote Service objectives and business plan

3. Specialist knowledge of Modernisation Agenda/Government Initiatives

4. To ensure clinical governance, quality assurance and professional standards are adhered to.

5. Membership of COT specialist section relevant to post

6. Awareness of COT initiatives

7. To initiate, promote and lead changes to policies, procedures and practice within the clinical speciality which may impact on other disciplines.

5. Core Values

1. Listening to patients and carers in order to understand their needs, values, interests and aspirations.

2. Promoting personal identity and empowerment by giving information and choices to patients.

3. Working together in a supportive environment that values the contribution and proactivity of every team member.

4. Respecting each persons individuality, and treating others with the highest degree of dignity and equality.

5. Welcoming social and cultural diversity in patients, within teams and other colleagues.

6. Delivering high quality and equitable services for all service users.

7. Committing to the provision of the best practice underpinned by a sound evidence base.

8. Embracing personal learning experiences.

6. Core Behaviours and Skills

To a highly specialist level:

1. Communication Skills - Written and Verbal Skill

2. Computer skills

3. Ability to maintain clear lines of appropriate communication

4. Ability to work as part of a Team (OT and MDT)

5. Interpersonal Skills

6. Problem-Solving Skills

7. Clinical Reasoning

8. Analytical Skills

9. Investigative Skills

10. Presentation Skills

11. Facilitation Skills

12. Coaching Skills

13. Time Management and ability to prioritise

14. Ability to Delegate

15. Ability to motivate others

16. Effective Supervision

17. Ability to work within flexible hours

18. Ability to initiate and take responsibility for personal development

19. Ability to ensure that others take responsibility for their personal development

20. Links with relevant specialist section and other networks

21. Ability to work in a changing environment

22. Negotiation within limitations of service

23. Ability to work under pressure

24. Assertiveness Skills

25. Ability to move and handle patients

26. Complex discharge planning

27. Ability to promote Occupational Therapy

28. Adaptability

29. Initiative

30. Empathy and Sensitivity

31. Ability to influence and persuade

32. Patient-focused

33. Strive to empower

34. Ability to maintain confidentiality

35. Ability to promote and practice clinical governance

36. Involvement in relevant specialist groups and networks

8. Core Knowledge and Understanding

To a highly specialist level:

1. Occupational Therapy process - screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge

2. Assess motor, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and psycho-social components of occupational performance.

3. Apply relevant theory and models of Occupational Therapy

4. Awareness of Risk Assessment and Management

5. Complex discharge Planning

6. Understanding of functional implications of illness and disability

7. Disability Rights and Legislation

8. Awareness of the matrix of agencies involved in the delivery of services

9. Awareness of the facets of clinical governance

10. Understanding of research methodology

11. Organisational Awareness

12. Diversity Awareness

13. Current relevant legislation

14. Relevant national and professional guidelines, standards and frameworks

15. Relevant clinical conditions and prognosis

16. Specialised treatment techniques

17. Relevant standardised assessment

18. Provision and fitting of adaptive equipment

19. Fieldwork Education Training

9. Principal Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Clinical

1. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to identify patients who can be delegated to others.

2. To support with the general caseload in the team as service needs dictate.

3. To deliver a service using the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge) and core skills.

4. To establish capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

5. To assess individual patients, plan and carry out effective Occupational Therapy intervention to a highly specialist level, in the most appropriate environment taking into account each patients individual physical, social and emotional needs.

6. To research evidence and lead in evidence based practice.

7. To work autonomously, with mostly indirect supervision.

8. To interpret and analyse at an advanced level clinical and non-clinical information across a range of conditions.

9. To use advanced investigative and analytical skills regarding patients and services.

10. To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and analysis to develop individual goals and interventions which optimise functional ability.

11. To plan and prioritise clinical work.

12. To delegate work to support staff and obtain feedback from delegated tasks.

13. To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools/strategies to communicate complex information effectively to patients/carers. This may include patients/ carers who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work within the Occupational Therapy Service, leading coordinating and developing effective intervention in a specialist area, in conjunction with the Head Occupational Therapist Clinical Area and colleagues.

To manage autonomously a clinical workload at a highly specialist level: assessing and treating patients and maintaining associated records.

To apply evidence based knowledge of the specialist clinical area, acquired through in depth experience and/or academic study to specialist post graduate level or equivalent

To provide Occupational Therapy assessment and intervention to patients with diverse, complex and multiple pathological presentations.

To adopt a key role in clinical risk assessment and discharge planning

To take responsibility for organising and carrying out home assessments. Leading and co-ordinating discussions with patients and carers, health and social care professionals and community agencies to plan and implement effective and safe hospital discharges.

To provide an evidence based service to the specialist clinical area.

To provide a patient-focused service following the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge) using Occupational Therapy core skills.

To represent the Occupational Therapy Service and act as a patient advocate in multi-disciplinary meetings, with external agencies such as Social Services, Housing, Intermediate Care Services.

To manage, supervise and delegate to Occupational Therapists within the team.

To manage, supervise and delegate to Occupational Therapy Support Staff. To supervise and educate Occupational Therapy Students. To act as a professional role model for other team members. To assist with the general caseload of the team as service needs dictate. To act as a highly specialist Occupational Therapy Resource for colleagues, carers and patients. To lead and participate in team and service developments including audit and research.

To be involved in multi-disciplinary coordination and development of services.

The trust acknowledges and supports the statements laid down by the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct (College of Occupational Therapy). The post holder will be professionally accountable to Health Professions Council, and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions.

3. Job Dimensions

Clinical Responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the management of patients with highly complex health and social care needs. The post holder as a highly specialised, autonomous practitioner will address occupational therapy performance skills, social context and activity demands in collaboration with patients, carers and colleagues. Clinical intervention may take place in a variety of settings including wards, therapy departments, clinics, peoples homes, work places community facilities, child care and educational establishments. The work involves close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team and community based health and social care providers.

Team Responsibilities

1. To manage, supervise and support Occupational Therapists, Support Staff and Students

2. To deputise for the Head Occupational Therapist

3. To represent Occupational Therapy on working parties and multi-agency meetings

4. To act as a resource of clinical expertise and advice within the clinical specialty

for colleagues, patients and carers

5. To be responsible for routine organisation and maintenance of the department/section

6. To initiate, lead and contribute to service development

7. To support the team in meeting local and government targets

8. To lead and participate in projects

9. To lead and participate in in-service training

10. To initiate, promote and implement changes to policies, procedures and practices within the clinical area as identified in team plan

11. To be responsible for financial and physical resources, for example, the use of equipment store systems such as Leeds Equipment Service, petty cash

12. To be responsible for checking and cleaning equipment in line with Trust and service Health and Safety Policies

Professional Responsibilities

1. To support Trust objectives and business plan

2. To lead and promote Service objectives and business plan

3. Specialist knowledge of Modernisation Agenda/Government Initiatives

4. To ensure clinical governance, quality assurance and professional standards are adhered to.

5. Membership of COT specialist section relevant to post

6. Awareness of COT initiatives

7. To initiate, promote and lead changes to policies, procedures and practice within the clinical speciality which may impact on other disciplines.

5. Core Values

1. Listening to patients and carers in order to understand their needs, values, interests and aspirations.

2. Promoting personal identity and empowerment by giving information and choices to patients.

3. Working together in a supportive environment that values the contribution and proactivity of every team member.

4. Respecting each persons individuality, and treating others with the highest degree of dignity and equality.

5. Welcoming social and cultural diversity in patients, within teams and other colleagues.

6. Delivering high quality and equitable services for all service users.

7. Committing to the provision of the best practice underpinned by a sound evidence base.

8. Embracing personal learning experiences.

6. Core Behaviours and Skills

To a highly specialist level:

1. Communication Skills - Written and Verbal Skill

2. Computer skills

3. Ability to maintain clear lines of appropriate communication

4. Ability to work as part of a Team (OT and MDT)

5. Interpersonal Skills

6. Problem-Solving Skills

7. Clinical Reasoning

8. Analytical Skills

9. Investigative Skills

10. Presentation Skills

11. Facilitation Skills

12. Coaching Skills

13. Time Management and ability to prioritise

14. Ability to Delegate

15. Ability to motivate others

16. Effective Supervision

17. Ability to work within flexible hours

18. Ability to initiate and take responsibility for personal development

19. Ability to ensure that others take responsibility for their personal development

20. Links with relevant specialist section and other networks

21. Ability to work in a changing environment

22. Negotiation within limitations of service

23. Ability to work under pressure

24. Assertiveness Skills

25. Ability to move and handle patients

26. Complex discharge planning

27. Ability to promote Occupational Therapy

28. Adaptability

29. Initiative

30. Empathy and Sensitivity

31. Ability to influence and persuade

32. Patient-focused

33. Strive to empower

34. Ability to maintain confidentiality

35. Ability to promote and practice clinical governance

36. Involvement in relevant specialist groups and networks

8. Core Knowledge and Understanding

To a highly specialist level:

1. Occupational Therapy process - screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge

2. Assess motor, perceptual, cognitive, emotional and psycho-social components of occupational performance.

3. Apply relevant theory and models of Occupational Therapy

4. Awareness of Risk Assessment and Management

5. Complex discharge Planning

6. Understanding of functional implications of illness and disability

7. Disability Rights and Legislation

8. Awareness of the matrix of agencies involved in the delivery of services

9. Awareness of the facets of clinical governance

10. Understanding of research methodology

11. Organisational Awareness

12. Diversity Awareness

13. Current relevant legislation

14. Relevant national and professional guidelines, standards and frameworks

15. Relevant clinical conditions and prognosis

16. Specialised treatment techniques

17. Relevant standardised assessment

18. Provision and fitting of adaptive equipment

19. Fieldwork Education Training

9. Principal Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Clinical

1. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to identify patients who can be delegated to others.

2. To support with the general caseload in the team as service needs dictate.

3. To deliver a service using the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and plan discharge) and core skills.

4. To establish capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

5. To assess individual patients, plan and carry out effective Occupational Therapy intervention to a highly specialist level, in the most appropriate environment taking into account each patients individual physical, social and emotional needs.

6. To research evidence and lead in evidence based practice.

7. To work autonomously, with mostly indirect supervision.

8. To interpret and analyse at an advanced level clinical and non-clinical information across a range of conditions.

9. To use advanced investigative and analytical skills regarding patients and services.

10. To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and analysis to develop individual goals and interventions which optimise functional ability.

11. To plan and prioritise clinical work.

12. To delegate work to support staff and obtain feedback from delegated tasks.

13. To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools/strategies to communicate complex information effectively to patients/carers. This may include patients/ carers who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.

Person Specification

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly and adapt to the demands of an acute service

Desirable

  • Experience leading service development or quality improvement projects

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience in managing patients with complex, multi-pathological needs
  • Strong understanding of occupation-focused assessment and intervention
  • Evidence of leadership skills and ability to support and develop others

Desirable

  • Senior-level experience within plastics, orthopaedics and/or neurological specialities
  • Previous experience working within an acute NHS Trust

Qualifications

Essential

  • HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist
Person Specification

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

  • Ability to work flexibly and adapt to the demands of an acute service

Desirable

  • Experience leading service development or quality improvement projects

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrable experience in managing patients with complex, multi-pathological needs
  • Strong understanding of occupation-focused assessment and intervention
  • Evidence of leadership skills and ability to support and develop others

Desirable

  • Senior-level experience within plastics, orthopaedics and/or neurological specialities
  • Previous experience working within an acute NHS Trust

Qualifications

Essential

  • HCPC-registered Occupational Therapist

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Service Manager

Lucy May

lucy.may11@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

05 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

C9298-ATH-476

Job locations

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX


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