Job summary
Occupational Therapist - Clinical Lead (Band 7) | Intermediate Care Units
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist ready to take the next step in your career? Do you thrive in a dynamic, supportive environment where patient-centred rehabilitation is the focus? Would you like to develop your leadership skills while continuing to work clinically? If so, we have the perfect opportunity for you!
We are seeking an innovative, enthusiastic, and organised Occupational Therapist to join our Intermediate Care Units (ICUs) at Crawley and Horsham Hospitals as a Clinical Lead. This is an exciting leadership position where you will shape and develop the therapy service while continuing to deliver hands-on, high-quality clinical care.
Responsibilities
* Provide clinical and professional leadership to the therapy team within the ICU
* Work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, promoting a culture of rehabilitation and patient independence
* Deliver expert, complex occupational therapy assessments and interventions for a varied caseload
* Support and supervise staff through mentoring, coaching, and in-service training
* Lead on service development initiatives, including group activity plans and discharge planning
* Champion best practices in rehabilitation and contribute to achieving Trust-wide service delivery targets
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?
* Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing
* Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex
* Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement
* Excellent training, development, and research opportunities
* Accredited Living Wage Employer
* Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton
* Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networks
* Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values — Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence — guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Details
Date posted: 03 October 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per year (pro rata)
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 150-GM2143-UPC
Job location: Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH
Job responsibilities
We’re looking for a passionate Occupational Therapist who:
* Has extensive experience working with complex rehabilitation and frailty
* Demonstrates excellent clinical reasoning, leadership, and communication skills
* Is motivated to lead, inspire, and support a diverse therapy team
* Embraces change and has a positive, proactive approach to service improvement
* Enjoys working as part of a collaborative MDT and is committed to delivering high-quality patient care
We will provide:
* A friendly, welcoming team environment with strong peer support
* Opportunities for ongoing professional development through internal and external CPD
* Protected leadership time to support service development and staff supervision
* A chance to contribute to the evolution of a forward-thinking Intermediate Care service
* Access to mentoring, supervision, and leadership development programmes
Person specification
Education (Essential)
* Degree/ postgraduate diploma/ or equivalent in Occupational Therapy
* Current HCPC Registration
* Evidence of a range of clinical competencies appropriate for the role
* Post-registration qualification/training to master’s level in a relevant field or equivalent postgraduate training or experience
* Evidence of continued professional development
* Evidence of leadership education/development or willingness to undertake this
Experience (Essential)
* Significant experience providing clinical leadership to a team
* Significant experience in the specialist clinical setting
* Significant experience in supervision provision
* Experience of leading within a multi-professional team/collaborative working
* Experience of delivering quality improvement, innovation, and productivity
* Evidence of active participation in audit and clinically relevant research
Desirable
* Minimum of 4 years post-graduate experience
* Driver/owner of a vehicle
Disclosures and sponsorship
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a disclosure check will be required.
Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK will be considered alongside all other applications. For details visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers website for more information.
Employer details
Employer: Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH
Employer's website: https://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/work-with-us/
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