East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Community Occupational Therapist

The closing date is 19 February 2026

Job summary

Felixstowe Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) has an opening for a fixed term Band 6 Community Occupational Therapist post working 37.5 hours per week alongside other Health and Social Care professionals.The fixed term contract ends 14 March 2027.The Felixstowe INT consists of district & community nurses, generic workers, community Matron, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Social Care Workers. The team is governed and supported by a Lead Therapist, Lead Nurse, Lead Social Worker and overall, by the INT manager.The team is busy, dynamic and proud of their holistic care approach. The team continues to change to support developments in NHS which includes close working relationships with the local statutory, non-statutory and voluntary services including GP, acute hospital colleagues, GP Federation, Social Prescribers, SuffolkMind, NSFT and many local community voluntary groups.

Our service runs core hours of 08:00-18:00, 7 days a week. Staff are required to work approximately 1 in 10 weekends, with flexible working available within service provision.

Applicants need a valid drivers licence and access to a car for community-based work.

Main duties of the job

The role involves providing therapy interventions to the residents of Felixstowe and surrounding area, who are aged 18+ and registered with a Felixstowe GP. Our main aim is to support, maintain and encourage people to make healthy lifestyle choices and adopt healthy behaviours in the ageing and live well process.

Conditions include long-term neurological conditions, acute medical episodes, falls and frailty, palliative and end of life care; - all with a view to preventing admission and supporting early discharge. Many of our patients have a complexity of needs across the spectrum of physical, mental and social care.

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 thatTime Mattersto 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

02 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR1242-25

Job locations

Felixstowe Community Hospital

Constable Road

Felixstowe

IP11 7HJ

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

Qualifications

Essential

BSc / MSc Occupational Therapy
HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist

Desirable

Post registration courses

Experience

Essential

Experience of the supervision of staff and students.
Experience of participating in research and audit.
Experience of working with adults with complex physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities.
Proven post registration experience within a multi-disciplinary service.

Desirable

Current professional student practice placement educator training and associated skills
Membership of a special interest group relevant to the role.

Knowledge

Essential

An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the NHS Plan, relevant NICE guidelines and NSF's relating to own and associated services and the implications for service provision.
High level of skill in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
A specialist knowledge and application of current best practice in the rehabilitation of adults with physical disabilities.
A clear understanding of, and a high level of commitment to clinical governance.
Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Personal Skills

Essential

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Willingness to work off site in patients own homes and/or community hospitals/care home settings
High level of communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure and set priorities to achieve service objectives.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

BSc / MSc Occupational Therapy
HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist

Desirable

Post registration courses

Experience

Essential

Experience of the supervision of staff and students.
Experience of participating in research and audit.
Experience of working with adults with complex physical, sensory and cognitive disabilities.
Proven post registration experience within a multi-disciplinary service.

Desirable

Current professional student practice placement educator training and associated skills
Membership of a special interest group relevant to the role.

Knowledge

Essential

An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the NHS Plan, relevant NICE guidelines and NSF's relating to own and associated services and the implications for service provision.
High level of skill in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
A specialist knowledge and application of current best practice in the rehabilitation of adults with physical disabilities.
A clear understanding of, and a high level of commitment to clinical governance.
Documented evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Personal Skills

Essential

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
Willingness to work off site in patients own homes and/or community hospitals/care home settings
High level of communication skills.
Ability to work under pressure and set priorities to achieve service objectives.

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

Felixstowe Community Hospital

Constable Road

Felixstowe

IP11 7HJ

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

Felixstowe Community Hospital

Constable Road

Felixstowe

IP11 7HJ

Employer's website

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