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Job summary

Main area
Occupational Therapy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent: 6 monthly rotations (April and October) within the department.
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shifts may include weekend and bank holiday working - team dependent.)
Job ref
297-7364400
Employer
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Queen Elizabeth Hospital/ Bensham Hospital
Town
Gateshead
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
19/08/2025 23:59
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust logo

Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist

NHS AfC: Band 5

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible  

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register  or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required. 

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

 

Job overview

We are delighted to be advertising the opportunity for Band 5 Occupational Therapist's to join the expanding Rotational Programme in our Occupational Therapy Department at Gateshead NHS Trust. These posts are ideally suited for existing Band 5’s who wish to broaden their clinical experience as well as final year OT students who are seeking their first clinical post (including those due to qualify summer 2025). The Preceptorship programme is in place to support student to practitioner transition. 

The Occupational Therapy rotation has wide clinical variety  including:  Acute Medicine, Older Person Medicine, Surgery, Trauma and Elective Orthopedics,  Stroke and Older Persons Mental Health Community Services and Rapid Response. You will have the opportunity to apply the Occupational Therapy Process with patients presenting with a variety of needs arising from occupational dysfunction in a variety of clinical teams. The rotations currently operate on a 6 monthly cycle; some of the services operate over 7 days.

We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic Band 5 Occupational Therapists’ to join our well-established and friendly team. Within the department we actively support Supervision, Appraisal, Preceptorship, Service development and CPD opportunities. If you would like to know more please get in touch to arrange an informal visit/chat. 

Main duties of the job

We are a friendly department that work collaboratively to provide a dynamic and pro-active service for our patients. We have staff ranging  from Technical Instructors to Clinical Specialist’s; all staff contribute to support and training within the department. We offer opportunities for professional and personal development; we have a robust structure for clinical supervision. You will be well supported by our motivated therapy staff and you will be expected to be a proactive member of the team.

We would welcome applicants that have excellent communication and interpersonal skills to enable you to work well as part of a team;  ideally you will have experience of working within multi-professional teams. You should have a flexible and adaptable approach. We are looking for you to have enthusiasm to develop skills and experiences in a range of settings.  

Essential Requirements

  • Diploma/Degree/ Masters  in Occupational Therapy and are registered with HCPC at the time of appointment.
  • You have a valid UK driving license with access to a vehicle for work purposes. As this role is rotational you will based across the Trust premises depending on clinical demands. 

 

Working for our organisation

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead. 

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients. 

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region. 

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement. 

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks. 

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.  

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Purpose of the Job

To provide an assessment and therapeutic service in line with the  core skills of Occupational Therapy to people presenting in the following specialties within the service:

  • Medical Team
  • Older Person’s Medical Team
  • Older Person’s Mental Health Community Service
  • Orthopaedics (Trauma and Elective)
  • Surgical Team
  • Inpatient Stroke Team
  • Rapid Response

The post will offer experience of working in a variety of settings including community and hospital. It will involve working as an integral member of multi-disciplinary teams.

 

Dimensions

  1. To perform OT assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex conditions and to develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.
  2. To be responsible for your own caseload and a defined area of the service, working without direct supervision.
  3. Responsible to the Team Lead/ clinical specialist within the clinical area.
  4. To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver a holistic patient-centered approach to care.
  5. To regularly liaise with MDT members including those from heath, social services and voluntary agencies to ensure an integrated and comprehensive service is provided.
  6. To ensure that patients are identified for prompt discharge and handover to community services.
  7. Maintaining clinical records as an autonomous practitioner
  8. To supervise non-qualified staff within the team.
  9. To supervise occupational therapy students on clinical placements.
  10. To participate in CPD and develop skills and knowledge through participation in the in service training.
  11. To be an active participant on the weekend working rota.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Hold a qualification enabling registration with the Health Professions Council (HCPC) as an Occupational Therapist (or working toward Summer 2025 graduation)
  • Sound knowledge of Occupational Therapy core skills – including knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patients using a holistic approach.
  • Experience of working as part of an occupational therapy team and/or multidisciplinary team, showing an understanding of other professional roles and team dynamics.
  • Maintain a professional portfolio for CPD / evidence of learning and reflection.
  • Full UK Driving License with access to a vehicle for work purposes.
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in a range of environments including clients’ homes/ community.
  • Experience of organising and prioritising a complex patient caseload in a busy acute hospital and community based settings.
  • Membership/involvement in relevant special interest group/network

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Maintain and develop current evidence based practice in relation to patient group.
  • Problem solving skills
  • Standard I T Skills
Desirable criteria
  • Understanding of NHS organisation

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of working as part of an Occupational Therapy team and/or multidisciplinary team, showing an understanding of other professional roles.
  • Experience of organising and prioritising a patient caseload in a busy acute hospital and community based settings.
  • Experience of working under indirect supervision and as an autonomous practitioner.
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of contributing to CPD activities.
  • Experience of supporting students within a clinical setting.
  • Membership/involvement in relevant special interest group/network.

Disposition

Essential criteria
  • Good team worker
  • Enthusiastic & flexible
  • Motivated & hard working.
  • Willing and motivated to take part in change/ service improvement.
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Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Claire McAuley
Job title
Occupational Therapy Service Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0191 445 3125
Additional information

Laura Hetherington ([email protected])

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