Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist - Acute Stroke

The closing date is 04 March 2026

Job summary

Dorset County Hospital therapy team are actively recruiting for a dynamic Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our Acute Stroke team. The stroke service at Dorset County Hospital is expanding due to reconfiguration within the Somerset system, so we are recruiting into newly created posts to support the increased bed base.The post holder will provide day to day clinical cover to the Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) and input to the Acute stroke unit, stroke Same Day Emergency Care and ED as required.The Therapies Service at Dorset County Hospital is an integrated Therapies Service working together to ensure that therapies provision is the best that it can be, balancing quality and acute pressures to provide and improve patient centred services.. The team is very supportive and there are lots of opportunities to develop both clinical and non-clinical skills, with access to internal and external courses.It will be necessary to participate in weekend rotas in this role as part of a 7 day service.

Main duties of the job

As a senior therapist you will be required to demonstrate leadership skills and be confident to work as an autonomous practitioner with a focus on early assessment and discharge planning for acute stroke patients, with rapid and robust decision-making essential for efficient patient flow.You will be familiar with the assessment of stroke patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, cognitive and psychological health conditions in order to develop and deliver treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans.To provide clinical guidance and the delegation of work to staff of all disciplines.

About us

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.

Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.

UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.

Details

Date posted

18 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Pro Rata Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

405-26-AHP082THE

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Road

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • Appropriate post graduate study in specialist field
  • Registered as an Occupational Therapist with the Health Professions Council
  • Evidence of other relevant and recent CPD/training in stroke
  • RCOT membership

Desirable

  • Member of Special Interest Group
  • Undertaken appropriate managerial/leadership training

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Senior OT experience
  • Evidence of team leadership experience
  • Inpatient stroke/neuro experience
  • Appropriate level of awareness of stroke guidelines and national policy direction
  • Service Improvement experience, including ability to work with complex data, such as SSNAP
  • Experience of working closely with community services to facilitate early discharge from hospital
  • Training of junior staff and MDT in relevant conditions, treatment and management.

Desirable

  • Evidence of engagement with regional networks /other partners (Community Trust, social services
  • Community Stroke Rehabilitation Experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
  • Ability to keep accurate and legible clinical notes.
  • Ability to demonstrate clear depth of clinical reasoning and knowledge of OT assessment and interventions relating to this specialty, commensurate with Band 7 level.
  • Ability to work autonomously, prioritising case load effectively
  • To show an understanding of clinical governance and its implication for the Occupational Therapy Service.
  • Experience in completing local, regional, national projects
  • Evidence of supporting team members
  • Car driver
  • Ability to contribute to weekend working
  • Highly skilled in the assessment and treatment of patients presenting with acute stroke
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
  • Appropriate post graduate study in specialist field
  • Registered as an Occupational Therapist with the Health Professions Council
  • Evidence of other relevant and recent CPD/training in stroke
  • RCOT membership

Desirable

  • Member of Special Interest Group
  • Undertaken appropriate managerial/leadership training

Knowledge and experience

Essential

  • Senior OT experience
  • Evidence of team leadership experience
  • Inpatient stroke/neuro experience
  • Appropriate level of awareness of stroke guidelines and national policy direction
  • Service Improvement experience, including ability to work with complex data, such as SSNAP
  • Experience of working closely with community services to facilitate early discharge from hospital
  • Training of junior staff and MDT in relevant conditions, treatment and management.

Desirable

  • Evidence of engagement with regional networks /other partners (Community Trust, social services
  • Community Stroke Rehabilitation Experience

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Ability to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
  • Ability to keep accurate and legible clinical notes.
  • Ability to demonstrate clear depth of clinical reasoning and knowledge of OT assessment and interventions relating to this specialty, commensurate with Band 7 level.
  • Ability to work autonomously, prioritising case load effectively
  • To show an understanding of clinical governance and its implication for the Occupational Therapy Service.
  • Experience in completing local, regional, national projects
  • Evidence of supporting team members
  • Car driver
  • Ability to contribute to weekend working
  • Highly skilled in the assessment and treatment of patients presenting with acute stroke

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

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Road

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Road

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of Occupational Therapy

Vicki Piper

vicki.piper@dchft.nhs.uk

01305254969

Details

Date posted

18 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Pro Rata Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

405-26-AHP082THE

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital

Williams Road

Dorchester

DT1 2JY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)