Job Summary
CLINICAL SPECIALIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST - EARLY INTERVENTION THERAPY TEAM Permanent | Full Time (37.5 hours per week)
The Integrated Therapies Department at the James Paget University Hospital is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Occupational Therapist to join our Early Intervention Therapy Team. The successful candidate will deliver high‑quality occupational therapy interventions across the specialty, support junior staff and students, and actively contribute to quality improvement projects that drive service development.
The Early Intervention Therapy Team covers Accident & Emergency, the Emergency Assessment and Discharge Unit (soon to be the Acute Medical Unit) and the new Same Day Emergency Care Unit. Additional support may be required in other clinical areas such as the Frailty Assessment Unit and Older Persons Medicine at times.
As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist you will be an integral part of the team leadership, working alongside the Therapy Team Leader to provide direction, development and support.
Main Duties of the Job
* Lead and support advanced assessment and treatment of patients with complex pathology and social issues, formulating intervention plans based on expert analytical clinical reasoning.
* Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams, patients, carers, colleagues and community partners, ensuring a successful multidisciplinary approach to patient care.
* Provide specialist advice and teaching to Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Therapy Assistant Practitioner colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
* Support the education of students in an educator role as required.
* Prioritise and distribute the team workload, coordinating efficiently across the day‑to‑day service.
* Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to receive referrals and use patient information to help prioritise the workload.
* Proactively develop service improvements and individual development within the team, implementing changes such as policy updates.
* Provide clinical leadership to registered and unregistered members of the Therapy Team.
* Conduct clinical supervision through direct observation or formal training/clinical reasoning sessions (at least monthly).
* Work a rostered seven‑day service/five plus two shift pattern within the hospital.
About Us
The James Paget University Hospital is a vibrant university hospital providing the best possible care to people in east Norfolk and north Suffolk. Located on the coast with beautiful beaches and the Broads National Park on the doorstep, it is within commuting distance of Norwich City.
The Integrated Therapies Department is forward‑thinking, always striving to improve services. Our links with the Research Department are growing, and our therapists represent the Trust at CSP, RCOT, BOA and BGS conferences.
Personal and professional development is key. Our well‑structured supervision and appraisal system, CPD funding, and access to training courses in clinical, non‑clinical and leadership skills support your career goals.
We support the wider workforce through strong links with the University of East Anglia, Suffolk College and City College Norwich.
Payment and Working Hours
Band: 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Permanent – Full‑time
Core hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, with flexible working supported.
Roster: Seven‑day service five plus two shift pattern.
Application Details
Reference number: 177‑EMER‑7638001‑A
Date posted: 08 January 2026
Location: James Paget University Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Diploma/Degree/MSc in Occupational Therapy
* Current Health and Care Professions Council registration
* CPD record showing up‑to‑date manual handling, in‑service training and reflections of learning
* Completed a student/fieldwork educators’ course
Knowledge and Experience
* Experience as an autonomous Band 6 practitioner in an acute hospital managing complex patients (respiratory, cardiac, surgical, frailty, falls, neurological, orthopaedic, general medicine, palliative and end‑of‑life care).
* Teamworking experience within integrated teams.
* Specialist clinical skills with complex caseload management.
* Ability to formulate complex discharge plans.
* Experience of planning and implementing service improvement projects and using research to inform practice.
* Experience supervising and providing specialist guidance to staff or students.
* Reflective learning and self‑directed development, with knowledge of clinical governance.
* Awareness of professional practice guidelines, legal issues, safeguarding and mental capacity.
* Experience in fast‑paced, high‑pressure environments such as Accident & Emergency or Same Day Emergency Care Unit.
Skills, Abilities and Competencies
* Leadership skills and team building.
* Calm under pressure, prioritising effectively.
* Flexible and proactive approach to workload management.
* Autonomous practice with appropriate supervision and recognition of limitations.
* Excellent communication (empathy, assertiveness, negotiation) and rapport building.
* Forward‑thinking, initiative, problem‑solving and promotion of change.
* Competent IT skills and written/verbal presentation skills.
* Motivation for a Band 7 role.
Legal and Additional Information
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. This role requires a Disclosure and Barring Service check under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Employer Details
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
James Paget University Hospital, Lowestoft Road, Gorleston, NR31 6LA
Website: https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/work-for-us/
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