Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job share
- Job ref
- 249-7171275
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospital
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £26,530 - £29,114 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant
NHS AfC: Band 4
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
Full time 37.5 hours per week - would consider part time (over 7 days per week)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Occupational Therapy Assistant to join the dynamic and busy Acute Occupational Therapy team at the Great Western Hospital.
The Occupational Therapy Team work closely with the Discharge Support Team, Social Workers, and Physiotherapists who specialise in facilitating discharges from the acute hospital setting.
High quality clinical supervision is provided for all our staff. You will be supported with professional development and training from Team Leads and Acute Therapies Leads. We also offer very robust training opportunities as part of the team and on a wider scale within GWH.
In return you will receive a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, including pension and discounts at major retailers.
For further information regarding this opportunity please contact the Acute Occupational Therapy Team Leads:
Briony Howard and Michaela Kirby on: 01793 646371
[email protected] or [email protected]
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Main duties of the job
As an Occupational Therapy Service we cover all the medical and surgical wards within the Great Western site. You will have the opportunity to work with a broad range of patients including respiratory, cardiac, palliative, intensive care and neurology. The pace is fast and requires excellent clinical judgement and MDT working. You will be part of a rota based 7 day service; which helps to improve continuity for our patients as well as maintaining patient flow through the hospital.
The main purpose of the job is to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to facilitate safe and timely discharges balancing the needs of our patients and the Organisation. The post holder will manage and co-ordinate their own caseload as well as assist the Occupational Therapist with more complex cases. The post holder will contribute to the day to day running of the service ensuring a high standard of care to our client group.
Working for our organisation
“Our STAR values – Service, Teamwork, Ambition and Respect – are a golden thread running through everything we do. These values serve as a guiding principle, driving us towards our vision of delivering great joined up services to our local community. Whether at home, in the community, or within the hospital, our goal is to empower individuals to lead independent and healthier lives.”
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To be responsible for co-ordinating and managing own caseload, seeking support and delegating as appropriate.
- To assist the qualified Occupational Therapists with their clinical duties as required.
- To undertake basic assessments, treatment plans and goal setting under the supervision of a qualified Therapist as required.
- To assess for and issue Occupational therapy equipment, teaching patients and carers in their use.
- To carry out general clerical, administrative and departmental duties to support the day to day running of the department as required.
- To contribute to the development and training of new starters/ students, providing mentorship or supervision if the opportunity arises.
Please see the attached job description for full information.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- 2 A levels or NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject
Desirable criteria
- Prepared to complete an NVQ Level 4
- Healthcare Apprenticeship
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of working with people.
- Experience in Health, social care or Teaching
- Life skills gained through work or personal experience.
Desirable criteria
- Experience as a carer
- Experience as a therapy assistant or Rehabilitation assistant Band 3 or Band 4.
- Experience working in a hospital environment
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to work single handed with individuals / groups within a hospital or community environment.
- Ability to work under instruction
- Basic knowledge and understanding of rehabilitation and its application e.g. personal care skills, leisure work.
- Ability to teach practical skills to patients/clients and new staff within the department.
- Responsible, non-discriminatory attitude to, and awareness of different patient / carer needs
- Observation skills
- Ability to cope under pressure.
- Good personal organisational skills
- Ability to work as part of a team.
- Good written and verbal communication skills including where there are barriers to understanding
- Basic awareness of Health & Safety and risk assessment.
- Computer literacy
Desirable criteria
- Basic knowledge and awareness of occupational therapy and it’s application.
- Experience in training others
- An understanding of professional conduct
- Awareness of clinical governance
- Supervisory and delegation skills
- Ability to manage departmental systems e.g booking systems, stock control.
- Evidence of recent training in - manual handling - infection control - food hygiene
Applicant requirements
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Briony Howard
- Job title
- Acute Occupational Therapy Team Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 646371
- Additional information
Michaela Kirby
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