East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 25 January 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for enthusiastic and motivated individuals to join our Reactive Emergency Assessment Community Team (REACT) as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist (OT). REACT is a multidisciplinary, integrated community service within ESNEFT. This role will support the development of care pathways focusing on Urgent Community Response (UCR) and the acute Frailty Virtual Ward--two fast paced and exciting government initiatives.

Our team is committed to delivering excellent, patient-focused care to individuals across Ipswich and the wider East Suffolk community. Could you be a valued and key member of our team?

This is a full-time post of 37.5 hours per week, including weekdays and weekends, covering an 8am-8pm service.

Main duties of the job

Support with the management of a defined caseload under the guidance of the REACT senior team, using evidence based patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in designated clinical areas.

You will:

Have an awareness of admission avoidance, frailty and caring for the older person in the community.

Manage and escalate patients on the REACT virtual ward (VW) and community caseload (UCR), utilising guidance and support from senior colleagues.

Attend and support senior colleagues with 999 Ambulance calls.

As a static Band 5 OT will need to demonstrate competent skills in triaging incoming patient referrals, responding appropriately in the patients and service best interest. Escalating any issues or capacity concerns, to the leadership team.

To actively be involved in supervision and provide supervision, complete appraisals and support the development of other team members including students.

To be responsible and accountable for ensuring the REACT team complies with clinical governance and quality.

To be flexible in working in a 7 day service with extended hours to 8pm.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is that Time Matters to everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Date posted

08 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR1126-25

Job locations

Constantine House

5 Constantine Road

Ipswich

IP1 2DH

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

oWide range of fieldwork placements
oExperience of functional assessment techniques and activity analysis
oExperience of practice evaluation
oApplication of OT process
oDocumented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
oExperience of working and communicating effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team.

Desirable

oPrior work/voluntary experience (in associated field)
oSpecialist fieldwork placements
oOT community experience
oUCR / virtual ward experience
oExperience supporting or leading on students
oCommenced or completed preceptorship year

Qualifications

Essential

oDip COT/BSc/MSc in Occupational therapy
oRegistration with HCPC
oValid Driving licence with the ability to travel across ESNEFT where needed. Hold a clean and valid UK driving licence and have access to a car with business insurance

Desirable

oAssociated prior learning qualification
oMembership of professional body / specialist Interest Group

Knowledge

Essential

oAwareness of relevant legislation e.g. NHS reforms etc
oKnowledge and application of current best practice in OT

Desirable

oKnowledge of Frailty and admission avoidance and the role OT's play in facilitating this.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

oWide range of fieldwork placements
oExperience of functional assessment techniques and activity analysis
oExperience of practice evaluation
oApplication of OT process
oDocumented evidence of Continuing Professional Development
oExperience of working and communicating effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team.

Desirable

oPrior work/voluntary experience (in associated field)
oSpecialist fieldwork placements
oOT community experience
oUCR / virtual ward experience
oExperience supporting or leading on students
oCommenced or completed preceptorship year

Qualifications

Essential

oDip COT/BSc/MSc in Occupational therapy
oRegistration with HCPC
oValid Driving licence with the ability to travel across ESNEFT where needed. Hold a clean and valid UK driving licence and have access to a car with business insurance

Desirable

oAssociated prior learning qualification
oMembership of professional body / specialist Interest Group

Knowledge

Essential

oAwareness of relevant legislation e.g. NHS reforms etc
oKnowledge and application of current best practice in OT

Desirable

oKnowledge of Frailty and admission avoidance and the role OT's play in facilitating this.

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

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

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Constantine House

5 Constantine Road

Ipswich

IP1 2DH

Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Constantine House

5 Constantine Road

Ipswich

IP1 2DH

Employer's website

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