Job summary
We're looking for a motivated Band 6 Occupational Therapist - or a Band 5 ready to step up - to join our Acute Orthopaedic and Surgical Therapy Team at Bedford Hospital. You'll work closely with patients recovering from musculoskeletal injuries, orthopaedic trauma, and a wide range of surgical procedures, helping them regain independence and return to daily life.
You'll be part of a supportive, well-established team that includes Band 7 Team Leads, rotational Band 5s, and highly skilled therapy technicians. Your caseload will be varied and engaging, from fractured neck of femurs and polytraumas to general, urology, ENT, and colorectal surgery. You'll also have opportunities to support outlier areas such as Gynaecology, Critical Care, Paediatrics (equipment provision), and the Surgical Assessment Unit.
This role is ideal for someone seeking a rewarding blend of clinical challenge, teamwork, and professional growth.
Main duties of the job
The Occupational Therapy Team specialise in complex assessment and intervention planning throughout the hospital. As an OT within the Acute Ortho/surgical Team, you will work as part of the larger MDT to ensure high quality care and treatment. Specialising in functional assessment and treatment to assist in ascertaining discharge plans, you will have the specialist skills to make high risk decisions. You will also be supporting band 5's to develop these skills.
You will need to be able to work in an autonomous way to facilitate good communication and effectively link with multiple on site and external teams. You will have the chance to work with our exciting Prevention of Deconditioning team and will also have the opportunity to be involved in service development and audit alongside our Practice Development OT.
High quality clinical supervision is provided for all our staff. You will be supported with your professional development and training by the Team Managers and the Practice Development Lead.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Details
Date posted
12 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share
Reference number
418-AHP9589-SSJ
Job locations
Bedford Hospital South Wing
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
* To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work including management of patient caseloads.
* Formulate and develop individual treatment programmes underpinned by sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and using a range of treatment options.
* Use clinical reasoning skills and evaluate outcomes of treatments to continually reassess and develop treatment programmes.
* Establish an accurate prognosis and recommend best course of treatments in addition to developing comprehensive treatment and discharge plans.
* Use a large range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients to progress and gain participation with rehabilitation treatment programmes. This will include patients who have difficulties in understanding and communicating.To be responsible for management of clinical risk of your own caseload.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
* To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work including management of patient caseloads.
* Formulate and develop individual treatment programmes underpinned by sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and using a range of treatment options.
* Use clinical reasoning skills and evaluate outcomes of treatments to continually reassess and develop treatment programmes.
* Establish an accurate prognosis and recommend best course of treatments in addition to developing comprehensive treatment and discharge plans.
* Use a large range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients to progress and gain participation with rehabilitation treatment programmes. This will include patients who have difficulties in understanding and communicating.To be responsible for management of clinical risk of your own caseload.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* HCPC Registered
* BSC Hons Occupational Therapy or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
Desirable
* Leadership course
* Manual handling qualification
Experience
Essential
* Experience within an acute NHS setting
* Understanding and ability to apply process OT
* Experience of MDT working
* Variety of relevant clinical experience
Desirable
* Supervising practice placements for O.T. students
* Previous audit experience
Knowledge
Essential
* IT literate including knowledge of Microsoft office tools
* Demonstrate a pragmatic approach to a range of unpredictable situations
* Professional and customer care skills
* Able to deal with variety of environmental factors
* Ability to prioritise work load and delegate tasks appropriately
Desirable
* Experience of services development
Other
Essential
* Communicating sensitive information to staff, patients or carers.
* Be able to undertake moderate physical effort throughout day
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* HCPC Registered
* BSC Hons Occupational Therapy or Diploma in Occupational Therapy
Desirable
* Leadership course
* Manual handling qualification
Experience
Essential
* Experience within an acute NHS setting
* Understanding and ability to apply process OT
* Experience of MDT working
* Variety of relevant clinical experience
Desirable
* Supervising practice placements for O.T. students
* Previous audit experience
Knowledge
Essential
* IT literate including knowledge of Microsoft office tools
* Demonstrate a pragmatic approach to a range of unpredictable situations
* Professional and customer care skills
* Able to deal with variety of environmental factors
* Ability to prioritise work load and delegate tasks appropriately
Desirable
* Experience of services development
Other
Essential
* Communicating sensitive information to staff, patients or carers.
* Be able to undertake moderate physical effort throughout day
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital South Wing
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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Employer details
Employer name
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bedford Hospital South Wing
Kempston Road
Bedford
MK42 9DJ
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
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