James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Band 7 Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist – Acute Medicine
The closing date is 07 December 2025
BAND 7 CLINICAL SPECIALIST OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST – ACUTE MEDICINE 34 hours per week
Come join our forward‑thinking, committed and driven Acute Medicine Therapy Team who constantly put patient care and your professional and personal development to the forefront. We are looking for a positive, proactive clinician with specialist skills in Acute Medicine to help us build a strong future for therapy and increase the profile of Occupational Therapy within this specialism. You will have your own clinical caseload, providing advanced specialist assessments and interventions to a wide range of medical patients including palliative care, neurology, bariatric, dementia, frailty and multi‑pathological conditions. You will also provide clinical support to team members and students as well as assist in their training and development. You will play an integral role in service development and work closely with the Team Leaders in leading the team. We are working on projects including prevention of deconditioning, pathways for frailty, neurology and palliative care, working closely with our wider multidisciplinary team to achieve the best outcomes we can for our patients. We are a truly integrated department inclusive of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians and assistants and have great relationships between the different disciplines and teams.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 7 Occupational Therapist, you will be responsible for your own complex caseload consisting of patients with a variety of different conditions whilst leading on the supporting/training of team members to develop within this specialist field and to manage their own caseloads. Good prioritisation, organisational and time management skills will be needed to balance clinical and non‑clinical duties. You will be responsible for ensuring the use of advanced effective assessment skills to identify appropriate patients and to formulate, implement and evaluate individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans, some of which will be specialist in nature, based on expert analytical and clinical reasoning skills. You will need advanced communication skills to ensure a successful multidisciplinary approach to patient care and will be in regular discussions with patients, carers, JPUH colleagues and community partners on therapy plans. You will be responsible for other non‑clinical duties such as leading on team meetings, in‑service development ideas, training/supervision of students, therapy assistant practitioners and Band 5 and 6 colleagues. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation. You will be key to being actively involved in the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence‑based practice projects, audit and outcome measures. Through this you will be able to make recommendations for and assist with change.
About us
The James Paget is a vibrant university hospital providing the best possible care to the people of East Norfolk and North Suffolk. Situated on the coast with beautiful beaches and the Broads National Park on the doorstep we are within commuting distance of Norwich City. Our links with the Research Department are growing with joint projects being worked on. Our therapists represent the Trust at CSP, RCOT, BOA and BGS conferences. Personal and professional development is key. We are developing our research and innovation strategy in line with the national AHP Strategy. We will support you in achieving your career goals through our well‑structured supervision and appraisal system, actively encouraging utilisation of training courses (clinical, non‑clinical and leadership skills) with CPD funding. You will be supported to provide education to your team but also to our wider workforce. We also support development of our future workforce through our close links with the University of East Anglia, Suffolk College and City College Norwich providing teaching and placements to apprentices, under‑ and postgraduates.
Our core hours are 8.00am–4.00pm but able to be flexible. You will also work as part of our seven‑day roster. On‑site parking/car shares are available, and a driving licence is essential.
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for more details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role.
* To plan, co‑ordinate, deliver and evaluate the Therapy Service (Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy) provided to acute medicine patients including patients with multi‑pathology, respiratory conditions, palliative care needs, MS, cardiac and orthopaedic conditions, and bariatric patients throughout the Trust, on a day‑to‑day basis. This includes ensuring the team’s workload is appropriately prioritised and work is effectively distributed and coordinated across the team on a day‑to‑day basis.
* To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and advanced clinical reasoning skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care and complex discharge planning and maintaining own records as an autonomous practitioner, prioritising own workload alongside the demands of the team.
* To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and assist junior staff, support staff and students.
* To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used with a variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident, e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain and fear. Many patients will lack the capacity to consent.
* To be responsible for priority cases as delegated outside the scope of current post, when departmental pressures dictate (i.e. staff shortages) and to co‑ordinate junior staff to do the same.
* To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence‑based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with the therapy or multidisciplinary team. Make recommendations for change.
* To take a lead role in training, supervising and performance management of more junior therapy staff, assistant practitioners, assistants and undergraduate/MSc students. This will include formal appraisal.
* To take a leading role in service development.
* To assume line management responsibility for selected staff including recruitment, managing attendance and well‑being, performance, capability and disciplinary, and to take the lead role in the staff appraisal scheme for team members.
* To assist the Professional Leads for Occupational Therapy and the Integrated Therapies Clinical Lead in development of the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Service, accepting additional roles such as representing the Integrated Therapies Department in Trust initiatives.
* To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to the work situation.
* To be responsible for and maintain own Clinical Professional Development (CPD), actively reading around any updates/developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.
* To work a rostered seven‑day service within the James Paget University Hospital or in a community health setting as required.
Please watch the following videos for an insight into our Integrated Therapies Department:
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* Diploma/degree in Occupational Therapy (BSc/MSc)
* Current Health and Care Professions Council registration
* Evidence of relevant postgraduate courses
* Leadership training, e.g. 16 Steps
* Coaching/supervision training
Knowledge and Experience
* Band 6 experience which includes relevant work in a variety of settings, e.g. stroke, orthopaedics, medicine, palliative care, frailty, respiratory and must include an acute setting.
* Demonstrates specialist clinical skills within acute medicine settings including complex case management.
* Significant experience of team working including integrated teams.
* Evidence of variety of assessment skills within different clinical areas.
* Evidence of involvement in service development, e.g. working on projects.
* Training and clinical supervision of clinical staff and students including the teaching of specialist skills.
* Working knowledge of clinical governance/current topics in the NHS.
* Demonstrates self‑directional learning and the ability to evaluate own performance.
Skills, Abilities and Competencies
* Leadership skills, including team building and supporting others.
* Self‑motivated, proactive and resourceful.
* Ability to use own initiative and problem‑solve.
* Ability to act as an autonomous practitioner, organising, prioritising and delegating workload as appropriate.
* Good communication skills, including empathy, motivational and assertiveness skills.
* Able to work well with others and pass on skills and knowledge.
* Ability to remain calm under pressure and prioritise accordingly.
* Ability to work flexibly across clinical areas and adapt to the needs of the service, particularly when the service is under pressure.
* Role requires the ability to travel within the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area. Should hold a full current driving licence or be able to make own travelling arrangements to fulfil the duties of the post, including visits to patients’ homes with and without patients, delivery of equipment etc.
Other
* Evidence of motivation for Band 7 role.
* Ability to take on responsibilities and additional duties.
* Motivation for area and James Paget University Hospital Trust.
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.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
£47,810 to £54,710 a year, pro rata
#J-18808-Ljbffr