Job overview
Specialist Occupational Therapist (Community Respiratory) – NHS AfC: Band 6. Contract Permanent. Hours: 22.5 per week (part time, across Monday to Friday; flexible working). Site: Entrance B, Long Term Conditions, Wigan Health Centre, Town Wigan. Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata. Closing date: 10/11/2025 23:59. Job reference: 302-25-7548828CM.
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Main duties of the job
* To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own workload.
* To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under your management.
* Post holders are required to work independently. Access to a more senior member of the therapy team is available when necessary.
* To take delegated responsibility from a senior therapist for managing patients with respiratory conditions and be responsible for providing occupational therapy assessments and treatment plans for patients.
* Formulate and deliver an individual occupational therapy treatment programme based on evidence-based practice and clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills (e.g., graded OT techniques, patient education, exercises, and other options).
* To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities.
* To assist the team in developing policy and procedures within therapy.
* To contribute to the provision of advice, teaching and training to other members of the respiratory team regarding patient management.
* To assess capacity, gain valid consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack consent to treatment.
Working for our organisation
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. WWL values staff and believes that “happy staff, makes for happy patients.” We have a track record in staff engagement and living our values “the WWL Way.”
WWL is committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do and providing safe, effective care with dignity. We welcome applications from all sections of society.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Job purpose
* Provide a high standard of occupational therapy services to patients within the Community Respiratory Team.
* Participate in the assessment and treatment of patients and maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
* Hold responsibility for own caseload.
* Participate in education and training of OT staff and students in respiratory management as appropriate.
Duties and responsibilities
* Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including patient management.
* Ensure high standards of clinical care for patients and support therapy assistants to do likewise.
* Work independently guided by clinical and professional guidelines; access to a senior therapist when necessary; clinical work is evaluated regularly.
* Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical data to form accurate diagnoses and prognoses across respiratory conditions; develop treatment and discharge plans.
* Take delegated responsibility from a senior therapist for managing patients and provide OT assessments and treatment plans.
* Formulate and deliver an individual OT treatment programme based on evidence-based practice and assessment, reasoning, and treatment skills.
* Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload and organise it with regard to priorities and time use.
* Accept partial responsibility for tasks delegated to unqualified staff.
* Demonstrate knowledge for coordinating a comprehensive OT plan for the individual being treated.
* Assist the team in developing policy and procedures within therapy.
* Provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of OT aims and ensure consistent patient care.
* Contribute to advising and training other respiratory team members in patient management.
* Assess capacity, gain valid consent and work within a legal framework with patients lacking consent to treatment.
Planning and organisational duties
* Plan and organise efficiently with regard to patient management and time use.
* Set priorities for own workload and balance with team priorities.
* Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation and communicate assessment and treatment results to relevant disciplines via reports and letters.
* Contribute to data collection and statistics as required.
* Undertake other duties as deemed appropriate by the team leader or senior therapist.
Communications and key working relationships
* Communicate effectively with patients and carers, ensuring understanding of respiratory conditions; use motivational and explanatory skills to support management.
* Maintain up-to-date electronic records in line with professional and Trust requirements.
* Refer to other health and social care professionals as appropriate; build strong relationships with local services to ensure holistic care.
* Overcome barriers to communication using a range of skills, including work with patients who have hearing/visual difficulties, memory loss, confusion, behavioural problems or limited English.
* Motivate patients to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
Fulfil a proactive role towards risk management, including risk assessment of situations, reporting incidents, near misses and hazards, and maintaining personal safety and that of others.
Responsibility for Teaching
Attend mandatory training as identified for the role.
The range of duties is indicative and may be modified in light of service demands and development requirements.
Person specification
Qualifications
* Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy
* HCPC registration
Experience
* Pre or postgraduate experience in diverse clinical settings
* Experience of treating a variety of conditions
* Experience applying the OT process with a range of patients
* Experience of caseload management
* Band 5 NHS experience
Skills
* Ability to utilise a range of OT interventions
* Effective interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written, non-verbal)
* Ability to manage a caseload
* Ability to work independently and in a multidisciplinary team
* Ability to stay composed under pressure
* Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Knowledge
* Knowledge of a wide range of medical and surgical conditions
* Knowledge of OT management in various conditions
* Knowledge of professional ethics in practice
* Knowledge of clinical governance principles
Additional
* Clear vision of role
* Clear interest in this area of practice
* Able to travel independently across the Trust
* Speak English to an appropriate standard
Our Trust prefers online applications. For difficulties applying, contact the Recruitment Team on 01942 244000.
Guidance on completing your application
Applications are scored against the person specification. Use the supporting information section to demonstrate how you meet criteria with examples.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post may involve Disclosure and Barring Service checks.
Name: Leanne Atherton, Lead Physiotherapist. Email: leanne.atherton@wwl.nhs.uk. Tel: 0300 707 1170
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