Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Occupational Therapist-Bench
The closing date is 23 February 2026
We have an excellent opportunity for a motivated and highly enthusiastic Occupational Therapist to join our Inpatient team.
You will be working as a Specialist Band 6. You will support a Band Occupational Therapist and Band 3/4 Therapy Assistants. You will work alongside the MDT to support timely discharges for patients on the surgical wards. Part of the role will be supporting the Band 7 in service development initiatives and assisting the Team Manager, ensuring junior staff are supported in their roles. We offer regular supervision and actively encourage progression onto clinical leadership programmes to develop and enhance skills in this area.
Main duties of the job
* To work autonomously to manage a defined patient caseload whilst working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
* To utilise advanced communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively, taking into consideration the needs of carers.
* To gain consent for treatment and motivate patients to comply with treatment programmes, overcoming barriers such as dementia, cognitive impairment, hearing, visual or speech impairment.
* To undertake clinical assessment, taking into account all relevant information and clinical reasoning to formulate evidence based individualised treatment plans in agreement with the patient.
* To monitor progress and review treatment plans and interventions to facilitate the achievement of goals.
* To provide appropriate oral and written information for patients and carers where relevant.
* To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards, and local policies and procedures.
* To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.
* To ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients from the caseload, liaising with other agencies as required.
* To be responsible for safe and competent use of equipment including the provision of support, education and training to other staff, patients and carers as required.
About us
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT) provides good quality, safe and effective healthcare to the people of Cheshire and beyond. The Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford, was established as an NHS Trust in April 1991 and became a Foundation Trust in April 2008.
We employ almost 5,000 members of staff, provide around 540 hospital beds, with a range of services including accident and emergency, maternity, outpatients, therapies, and children's health.
The Trust is also part of Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP), a unique local health partnership that provides a range of community services for people across South Cheshire and Vale Royal.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, the Trust was recognised nationally for its 'Be Safe Be EquiPPEd' campaign, which aimed to make the Trust as safe as possible for staff and patients, through supporting the correct use of PPE. The results in the 2020 national NHS Staff Survey showed improvements in all elements of the safety culture theme, with 92% of respondents feeling their role made a difference to our patients. We were also recognised nationally for our workforce health and wellbeing initiatives.
At Mid Cheshire, we value our staff and appreciate that in order to give our patients the best quality, compassionate care, we also need to look after our colleagues.
Job responsibilities
As a clinical specialist provide a high standard comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment service to patients with complex presentation and provide clinical leadership and support to delegated staff. Work across the acute medical, to provide detailed assessments, develop treatment plans and facilitate early discharge. To collaborate closely with the patient and members of the multidisciplinary and multi‑agency team to ensure the best possible outcomes for patients. To continuously contribute to service development and innovation.
Service Delivery
* To work autonomously to manage a defined complex patient caseload whilst working as part of an integrated Therapy team.
* To contribute to the delivery of the service in a variety of defined clinical settings, which may include in‑patient wards, and the patient's home.
* To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients, contributing to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
* To utilise advanced communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively, taking into consideration the needs of carers.
* To gain consent for treatment and motivate patients to comply with treatment programmes, overcoming barriers such as dementia, cognitive impairment, hearing, visual or speech impairment.
* To comply with the Mental Capacity Act to gain valid and informed consent to specific treatment and intervention for patients who lack capacity to consent themselves.
* To undertake specialist clinical assessment, taking into account all relevant information and clinical reasoning to formulate evidence based individualised treatment plans in agreement with the patient.
* To implement specialist individual and/or group interventions for patients with diverse presentations and complex needs.
* To monitor progress and review treatment plans and interventions to facilitate the achievement of goals.
* To provide appropriate oral and written information for patients and carers where relevant.
* To develop and maintain good working relationships with other healthcare professions, social care and other appropriate agencies, to ensure integrated and high quality patient outcomes.
* To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decisions with regard to patient care programmes through attendance at ward rounds, case conferences and other multidisciplinary meetings.
* To maintain accurate documentation in line with professional standards, and local policies and procedures.
* To provide accurate and timely written information and reports to referring agents and other agencies where appropriate.
* To record and submit clinical activity data as required by the Trust in an accurate and timely manner.
* To ensure the safe and timely discharge of patients from the caseload, liaising with other agencies as required.
* To be responsible for safe and competent use of equipment including the provision of support, education and training to other staff, patients and carers as required.
* To identify appropriate equipment and adaptation needs, liaising with equipment providers, completing paperwork and complying with any tracking, stock control and maintenance systems as required.
* To be an active member of a weekend rota.
* Staff are encouraged to contribute to service development through participation in audit and service improvement projects both on a uni‑disciplinary and interdisciplinary basis.
On commencing the role you will have a full induction. We offer regular supervision, setting individual objectives, promoting self‑analysis/reflection and development. All staff irrespective of their post will be given equal opportunity to undertake a full variety of CPD to support and develop them in their role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree in Occupational Therapy
* Evidence of post qualification training in a relevant area
Registration
* HCPC registered
Experience
* Previous experience of working in the NHS
* Broad clinical experience, and knowledge of conditions
* Experience of working in an MDT
* Involvement with audit
* Completion of band 5 rotation
* Student educator or experience of having students
Communication
* Good written and verbal communication skills
* Evidence of managing complex situations using a range of communication skills
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.
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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