Specialist Occupational Therapist | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 02 April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £39,959 - £48,117 per annum pro rata |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 02 May 2026 |
| Location: | Oxford, OX3 9DU |
| Company: | Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7876855/321-MRC-7876855-B6 |
Summary
Band 6 Specialist Occupational Therapist
Specialist Medicine Inpatients
We are looking for a proactive and committed Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Specialist Medicine Inpatient Team (Osler Respiratory Unit and John Warin Ward). This role offers the opportunity to work with patients presenting with complex medical conditions within a dynamic acute hospital environment.
You will provide specialist assessment and intervention, contributing to goal-focused rehabilitation and effective discharge planning. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will support patient flow while ensuring safe, high-quality care. The role requires confident clinical reasoning, flexibility, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
The successful candidate will contribute to the supervision of junior staff and students, participate in service development and audit, and support the ongoing improvement of therapy services within Specialist Medicine. Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach are essential.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and forward-thinking team, offering regular supervision, peer support, and access to continuing professional development. This post is ideal for an experienced Band 6 therapist or a Band 5 therapist seeking progression within acute Specialist Medicine inpatient services.
To act as an autonomous practitioner, providing therapeutic interventions of the highest standard, in alignment with national and professional guidelines, working across a range of disciplines and settings, including (but not limited to):
1. To provide specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment, treatment and discharge planning
to patients within Specialist medicine inpatient wards as an autonomous practitioner.
2. To clinically supervise and train junior staff and students in their assessment of rehabilitation needs and therapy goals for the patients.
3. To provide specialist clinical skills in the provision, monitoring and on-going development of the service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the service users and responds to government and Trust initiatives.
4.To actively participate in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to theten core principles
Oxford University Hospitalspromotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Clinical
1. To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults in Respiratory and Infectious Disease Wards.
2. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
3. To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
6. To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards
9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.
10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions.
11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment and treatment of patients
12. To represent Occupational Therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.
13. To be an integral part of the team’s extended hours and seven-day service provision.
Communication
1. To liaise with all members of the MDT, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery.
2. To communicate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective. This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.
3. To be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive, and contentious information such as discussing limitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges and
providing appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills are required.
4. To be able to assess a patient’s understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to
treatment.
5. To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers.
6. To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings.
7. To promote understanding of the aims of OT intervention within the MDT team and with external agencies involved in the patients care.
Leadership and Management
1. To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.
Education, Training and Research
1. To organise and contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational Therapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.
4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the Occupational Therapy profession.
2. Research and development
3. 1. To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects
2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based Occupational Therapy practice through continuing
professional development.
3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards
Effort
1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.
4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
This advert closes on Thursday 16 Apr 2026
Specialist Medicine Inpatients
We are looking for a proactive and committed Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Specialist Medicine Inpatient Team (Osler Respiratory Unit and John Warin Ward). This role offers the opportunity to work with patients presenting with complex medical conditions within a dynamic acute hospital environment.
You will provide specialist assessment and intervention, contributing to goal-focused rehabilitation and effective discharge planning. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will support patient flow while ensuring safe, high-quality care. The role requires confident clinical reasoning, flexibility, and the ability to manage competing priorities.
The successful candidate will contribute to the supervision of junior staff and students, participate in service development and audit, and support the ongoing improvement of therapy services within Specialist Medicine. Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach are essential.
We pride ourselves on being a supportive and forward-thinking team, offering regular supervision, peer support, and access to continuing professional development. This post is ideal for an experienced Band 6 therapist or a Band 5 therapist seeking progression within acute Specialist Medicine inpatient services.
To act as an autonomous practitioner, providing therapeutic interventions of the highest standard, in alignment with national and professional guidelines, working across a range of disciplines and settings, including (but not limited to):
1. To provide specialist Occupational Therapy (OT) assessment, treatment and discharge planning
to patients within Specialist medicine inpatient wards as an autonomous practitioner.
2. To clinically supervise and train junior staff and students in their assessment of rehabilitation needs and therapy goals for the patients.
3. To provide specialist clinical skills in the provision, monitoring and on-going development of the service to ensure it continues to meet the needs of the service users and responds to government and Trust initiatives.
4.To actively participate in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trustis one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.
In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to theten core principles
Oxford University Hospitalspromotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Clinical
1. To undertake specialist assessment and treatment of adults in Respiratory and Infectious Disease Wards.
2. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
3. To carry out comprehensive assessments of patients including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
6. To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards
9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.
10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out Occupational Therapy assessment and interventions.
11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment and treatment of patients
12. To represent Occupational Therapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.
13. To be an integral part of the team’s extended hours and seven-day service provision.
Communication
1. To liaise with all members of the MDT, patients, carers, Health and Community Services, relevant external agencies and OUH staff to ensure a co-ordinated, consistent approach to service delivery.
2. To communicate with individual patients and those involved in the patients care to gain consent and understanding of treatment programmes to ensure OT intervention is effective. This will frequently be with patients who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. aphasia and cognitive problems and will need expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tool, or with patients from different cultural/ethnic backgrounds where English is not their primary language.
3. To be able to provide and receive complex, sensitive, and contentious information such as discussing limitations associated with diagnosis/procedures/prognosis, managing complex discharges and
providing appropriate emotional support where persuasion motivation and reassurance skills are required.
4. To be able to assess a patient’s understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to
treatment.
5. To keep accurate written records of assessment and treatment in accordance with the trust, NHS and professional OT standards including comprehensive discharge/home and progress reports to medical and therapy referrers.
6. To attend and contribute to relevant service-related meetings.
7. To promote understanding of the aims of OT intervention within the MDT team and with external agencies involved in the patients care.
Leadership and Management
1. To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.
Education, Training and Research
1. To organise and contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student Occupational Therapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.
4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the Occupational Therapy profession.
2. Research and development
3. 1. To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects
2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based Occupational Therapy practice through continuing
professional development.
3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards
Effort
1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.
4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
This advert closes on Thursday 16 Apr 2026
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