Job overview

The established Acute & Emergency Medicine team at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital are looking to appoint a highly motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist (OT). This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Band 5 OT considering progression or a current Band 6 OT.

The team provide therapy input, with a 7 day extended hours service, across all our front door areas such as Emergency Department, Emergency Assessment Units, Medical Short Stay units and Frailty Unit.

Our Emergency Department offers a friendly and supportive environment that will equip you with new knowledge and experience that will help to further build and progress your career. We as a therapy team are very keen for further development within Therapies to maintain high clinical standards and services in the pursuit of excellence.

The therapy team works closely with the MDT to enable efficient discharges with the patient at the heart of each decision.  We are involved in many quality improvement initiatives to drive service provision forward.

You will support members of the team including, developing students, apprentices and junior staff members. Promotion of personal development is offered via supervision, OT forums, OT Excellence training and enhanced CPD opportunities.

The post holder is required to demonstrate the Trust values, responsibilities of the job description and personal specification. You should have proven experience of working in an acute hospital setting at least at Band 5 level.

Main duties of the job

To perform advanced occupational therapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to determine a diagnosis, formulate and deliver an appropriate, individualised treatment programme.

To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service/particular patient group, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a more senior therapist is available if required. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a specialist occupational therapist but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To plan, supervise, educate and assess the performance of occupational therapy students on placement within the complex medicine wards. To work closely with the university and comply with all the standards required for the degree level qualification.

Supported by the specialist occupational therapist, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice and improve service delivery with the specialist therapist. Make recommendations and occasionally implement changes to practice or service protocols, as agreed with the specialist occupational therapist.

To deputise for the specialist occupational therapist in their absence, taking the lead role in the day-to-day operational management of the team.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.