Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 21 December 2025
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join the Inpatient Therapy Team at Whitstable and Tankerton Hospital.
Friends Ward is a well-established Inpatient Rehabilitation and Recovery Ward providing care and therapy for the local community. The ward mainly caters for the older population but also for younger patients with long‑term conditions or following significant trauma.
You will benefit from working with a well‑established multidisciplinary team including Speech Therapists, Pharmacists, Dieticians, Doctors, Consultants, Nurses and, of course, the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy staff.
You will gain further experience working in an inpatient setting with patients who have multiple comorbidities. There will be opportunities to further your interests by becoming a potential link worker for issues such as falls, which can help you develop experience and knowledge for progression to the next stage in your career.
Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom. If you feel you qualify for sponsorship via a discounted salary threshold, please contact us via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number and how you feel you qualify for a discounted salary threshold.
Main duties of the job
Join our forward‑thinking Therapy Team providing a high‑quality rehabilitation service, working closely with the multidisciplinary team.
Assess patients’ physical, social and psychological needs within the hospital setting and in discussion with the patient, carer, family and multidisciplinary team, formulate and implement treatment programmes and discharge planning.
Support and supervise Band 5 staff and Therapy Assistants, and participate in the training of others as appropriate. You should also be able to supervise students if the need arises.
For this role you are required to have:
* A degree‑level qualification or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
* Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
* At least 2 years post‑qualification experience including elderly care, community work and working as part of a multidisciplinary team
* Very good knowledge of a range of physical conditions relating to older people, including rehabilitation, falls and orthopaedics
* Very good clinical assessment skills and very good communication skills
* Be pro‑active and passionate about empowering patients, their carers and their families
* Experience of working in the NHS system
* Ability to drive and access to a car is essential to carry out access and home visits as required
About us
Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we are passionate about delivering high standards of patient care and excellent services to improve the health of our communities. We need outstanding people who share our values of compassion, aspiration, responsiveness and excellence.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from people with varied backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. We ask for information about your protected characteristics on our application forms; this information is confidential and only considered under the guaranteed interview scheme for disability.
We support flexible working arrangements that suit both the needs of our patients and our staff.
See where you can go with our career pathways.
Job responsibilities
At present the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts and the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB).
As a community trust many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive. You must confirm you have a full UK driving licence where driving is a requirement of the role. If you cannot drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via kentchft.recruitment@nhs.net quoting the vacancy reference number so we can support you further.
Read the job description and person specification carefully and provide evidence in your application of how you meet the criteria. If you need an application form in an alternative format, let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.
We can receive many applications for some roles; to improve your chances of being shortlisted, apply as soon as possible. A vacancy may close early if there is a lot of interest.
We strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non‑clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated to ensure safety for you, your colleagues and the patients we serve.
Find out more about the community difference here.
Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT.
Person Specification
Qualification
* Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy
Experience
* Demonstrable experience at Band 5 level
* Evidence of a broad-based clinical experience including care of the older person, neurology, orthopaedics and rehabilitation
* Clinical experience within the community, respiratory, medical, surgery, amputees, mental health and learning disabilities
Knowledge
* Knowledge of recent government initiatives and their impact on practice
* Evidence of continuing professional development within the last 2 years
* Aware of Trust objectives and current initiatives
* Areas of special clinical interest
* Comprehensive knowledge of the service
Skills and Abilities
* Adaptable communication skills, demonstrating a wide range of skills used appropriately in complex situations
* Previous experience of clinical education
* Well-developed autonomous and team approach to prioritisation and organisational skills
* Able to travel efficiently across the Kent health economy; driving licence and access to a car is essential
* Able to train, appraise and supervise others
* Research and audit skills
Personal Attributes
* Ability to adapt to change
* Evidence of leadership skills
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required.
£38,682 to £46,580 a year, pro rata.
#J-18808-Ljbffr