Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist
The closing date is 25 January 2026
Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist ready to make a meaningful impact on the lives of older adults? Join our dynamic Frailty Therapy Intervention Team as a Band 7 Advanced Occupational Therapist and become a key player in delivering innovative, patient‑centred care across a broad and diverse clinical landscape.
Why This Role Is Exceptional
The care of frail patients is evolving rapidly, with national and local initiatives focusing on preventing hospital admissions, promoting early intervention, and supporting timely discharge. This is a great opportunity to be at the forefront of these transformative changes, applying your advanced clinical reasoning skills and up‑to‑date evidence to improve outcomes for one of the most vulnerable patient groups.
You will enjoy a varied and stimulating caseload, working across multiple settings including a fast‑paced GP Assessment Unit, Medical Assessment Unit, Bevan Court’s specialist frailty service with acute bedded care, and the Frailty Reablement Unit. Collaboration with our Admission Avoidance team will further broaden your experience, including work in the Emergency Department, Frailty Ambulatory Clinic, Urgent Crisis Response, Community Frailty, and Virtual Ward services based on service demands.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.
Main duties of the job
Your Impact
As an integral part of a multidisciplinary team, you will utilise your advanced clinical reasoning skills to holistically assess and treat frail patients and thorough follow‑ups. Your proactive interventions will help prevent crises, reduce hospital stays, and maximise patient independence, supporting people to live safely in their own homes wherever possible.
You’ll have the opportunity to:
* Lead specialist assessments and treatments with autonomy and confidence.
* Collaborate closely with consultants, nursing staff, ACPs, and other therapists to deliver high‑quality, coordinated care.
* Engage actively in service evaluation and quality improvement projects, with the chance to present findings at local, national, and international forums.
* Contribute to research and service development initiatives, shaping the future of frailty care.
* Support and mentor junior therapists and contribute to staff training programmes.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements
* Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
* Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
* National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
You will be expected to undertake the Trusts’ commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Job responsibilities
What Were Looking For
* HCPC registration and a proven track record as an autonomous, advanced clinician.
* Expertise in managing complex frailty cases with clear, confident clinical reasoning and decision‑making skills.
* Resilience and adaptability to thrive in a fast‑paced, often high‑pressure environment.
* A genuine passion for improving patient experience and outcomes.
* A collaborative spirit and excellent communication skills to champion multidisciplinary working.
* Commitment to ongoing professional development and a willingness to engage in teaching and service innovation
What We Offer
* A supportive, friendly team culture committed to your growth and wellbeing.
* Regular supervision, training opportunities, and access to professional development.
* The chance to influence and lead within a rapidly expanding specialty.
* Work environments that value innovation, research, and a patient‑first approach.
If youre looking for an opportunity to elevate your career and help transform frailty care, we want to hear from you. Join us and be part of a team that truly makes a difference every day.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree in Occupational Therapy
* HCPC registration
* Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience
* MSc in relevant health studies or equivalent qualification/experience
Experience
* Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence‑based practise in relevant health setting
* Awareness of own strengths and limitations
* Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
* Experience of leadership of a team including change management
* Evidence of effective working within an MDT
* Experience of Service development
* Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
* Audit and research in a clinical area
* Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Skills
* Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
* Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
* Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
* Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
* Have a flexible approach to working with good time management
Other
* Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
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.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata
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