Specialist Occupational Therapist - Surgery
Season: 12 month secondment/fixed term to cover maternity leave. Closing date: 02 June 2026.
We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced Occupational Therapist to join the Surgical Occupational Therapy Team at Scarborough Hospital.
This role suits those with experience in Surgery, Critical Care, or post‑operative rehabilitation, or those wishing to develop in these areas. The surgical Occupational Therapists deliver inpatient services to a range of specialities, including step‑down from critical care and general surgery. The department supports the development of junior Occupational Therapists, therapy assistants and OT students. You will contribute to in‑service education and training for other health care professionals, focusing on functional assessment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning. You will join the therapy surgical team – Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and therapy assistants – and be a core member of the wider MDT across the surgery care group.
Main duties of the job
You will provide advanced clinical reasoning, autonomous decision‑making, and specialist intervention planning for patients with complex needs, including those with multi‑morbidities, reduced functional capacity, and post‑operative complications. The role requires close collaboration with the wider MDT, including surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, discharge coordinators, and social care partners, ensuring coordinated care pathways and effective discharge planning.
The Band 6 Occupational Therapist will also contribute to service development, supervision of junior staff and students, and the ongoing improvement of clinical standards within the surgical therapy service. You will support the implementation of evidence‑based practice, contribute to audit activity, and help shape innovative approaches to early mobilisation, functional rehabilitation, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways.
Person Specification
Experience and Knowledge
* Experience in a relevant junior role, including the management of a range of conditions, with evidence of additional knowledge acquired through formal and informal clinical supervision.
* Developed / Specialist clinical skills within relevant area.
* Delivery of relevant audit and service improvement.
* Experience of working in a client‑driven/NHS environment.
* Experience of training/supporting/supervising others (including students).
Qualifications and training
* HCPC registered occupational therapist.
* Evidence of relevant specialist CPD activities.
* Evidence of significant highly specialist postgraduate training within designated area.
* Degree in Occupational Therapy.
* Experience in the use of outcome measures to evaluate occupational therapy intervention.
Skills and Abilities
* I am able to communicate complex information effectively, clearly, and accurately in plain simple language, both verbally and in writing.
* I am organized, prioritise my own workload and take responsibility for delivering results within agreed timescales with changing priorities, pressures and with frequent interruptions.
* I am committed to development and improvement of myself and the wider team. I welcome the opportunity to implement change and improvements.
* I can use my own initiative, exercise judgement, resolve problems and stay calm under pressure.
* Where appropriate I am able to transport myself and large pieces of equipment around a rural area where public transport may not be available.
* I am able to contribute to flexible rosters, providing profession specific treatment to patients.
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.
Benefits
* Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants.
* 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service).
* A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave.
* Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relation issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme.
* NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme.
* An extensive range of learning and development opportunities.
* Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers.
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