County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 16 December 2025
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust are one of the largest integrated organisations in the country, providing hospital and community services to a population of over 650,000. We are an ambitious and innovative organisation with a talented workforce of over 7,000 colleagues. Our Vision is to be "Right First Time, Every Time" and our mission is to provide safe, compassionate and joined‑up care to the population of County Durham and Darlington.
* Do you have enthusiasm and motivation to take on new challenges with our forward‑thinking Trust?
* Are you an excellent team worker but also have the drive to lead and influence change?
* Do you strive or aspire to provide seamless holistic patient‑centred care within a progressive multi‑disciplinary team?
We are looking for a dynamic Occupational Therapist to join our Community Therapy Team in Darlington. The post holder will work within our Stroke Team but will also cover general community and our Neuro team as the service needs require.
Main duties of the job
As a member of the organisation the post holder will independently manage their own caseload in the Community Therapy Team providing goal‑led interventions following a comprehensive assessment. They will work alongside Physiotherapists, Assistant Practitioners and Speech and Language Therapists within the community therapy team and other professionals within the wider organisation and partner organisations.
Opportunities to:
* Develop skills in holistic assessing beyond the scope of your traditional Occupational Therapy practice.
* Develop your supervisory, leadership and service‑development skills.
* Support assistant staff and help with their development.
* Lead and participate in peer support and service training.
* Work within a dynamic multi‑disciplinary team.
* Gain experience in Stroke/Neuro/Community/Falls/Rehab beds.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce all certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre‑employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. A centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community‑based settings and home care.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance on AI‑generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online.
From April 9th 2025 – Healthcare assistants – You must have been employed for a minimum of two years as a HCA within the NHS for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job responsibilities
* To organise and prioritise own workload and to monitor those clinically supervise within a defined area.
* To independently screen, prioritise and plan interventions for routine and priority referrals received within community therapy services.
* To use sound clinical judgement to prioritise patients within a demanding and unpredictable environment ensuring effective use of resources.
* To assist staff under your supervision to prioritise their caseloads and advise them on appropriate interventions in response to complex cases on a daily basis.
* To undertake holistic and comprehensive specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiple pathologies. To utilise analytical and clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide accurate diagnosis of their condition, these skills may be advanced; interpret facts and select the appropriate treatment and implement rehabilitation programmes.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* BSc Occupational Therapy or equivalent
* State Registration
* Continuing Professional Development Diary including evidence of reflective practice, training and clinical experience
* Recognised relevant academic qualification
* An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS FT, its culture, strategic direction achievements and NHS standing
Experience
* Relevant experience in physical rehabilitation including recent general rehabilitation
* Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team
* Evidence of communication skills within a variety of settings
* Experience in working in a wide variety of settings
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Up to date knowledge of professional practice and new research
* An understanding of legal responsibilities within the profession
* Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
* Ability to organise and prioritise
* Ability to maintain high levels of concentration
* Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
* Innovative approach to working life
* Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery
* Presentational skills
* Evidence of working across professional boundaries
* Competency achievement dependent on area of work.
Special Requirements
* Able to travel across Trust sites to meet the requirements of the post
Statutory Registration
* HCPC Registered
* Member of RCOT
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£31,049 to £37,796 a year, pro rata
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