Senior Occupational Therapist | Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

This is an opportunity to work in both Functional and Organic wards providing therefore excellent broad based clinical experience covering both mental and physical health.

The role has a strong Occupational Therapy focus with experienced OTAs. As a professional group we meet weekly - be it virtually so there is a sense of belonging, regular opportunity for support, clinical sharing and service development.

We have tried and tested clinical pathways and procedures to support the patient's episode of care.

To work as part of the MDT to enable the smooth transition from hospital through effective assessment to the community.

To liaise with stakeholders to facilitate discharge.

To lead a team in the provision of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions and ensure effective communication between all parties.

To ensure appropriate interventions are provided for patients.

To analyse complex information that informs the MDT to enable decisions to be made and problems solved, Clinical Duties:

1. To assess all patients on the ward using a priority system.

2. To utilise specialist assessments when presented with complex cases.

3. To make decisions on the level of treatment intervention required.

4. To undertake treatment planning, communicating and negotiating treatment plans and clinical reasoning for intervention with patients and their carers.

5. To liaise closely with community based services as required.

6. To communicate agreed treatment/care plans to multi-disciplinary team colleagues and partnership agencies and liaise with them at formal and informal meetings.

7. To work in collaboration with others to modify aspects of the environment in order to empower patients and facilitate optimal functional performance.

8. To liaise with Social Services and Housing Organisations concerning provision of equipment and home adaptations.

9. To apply a variety of treatment modalities to meet the needs of patients in individual or group format, utilising clinical reasoning processes to determine the most appropriate setting for intervention.

10.To make clinically informed decisions in order to delegate aspects of patient care to assistants, junior staff, students, carers and statutory or non-statutory bodies.

11.To regularly review patients' progress in order to evaluate and interpret effectiveness of treatment plans, and amend treatment or discharge patients accordingly.

12.To ensure that treatment offered is based on the best available evidence for effectiveness in the specialist area where it is applied.

13.To develop and initiate interventions based on the integration of theoretical knowledge in order to meet unique patient needs.

14.To keep up to date clinical records in line with professional standards and local record keeping policies.

15.To provide written and verbal reports as required at any stage in the treatment process in line with Occupational Therapy Clinical Governance Standards.

Indirect Clinical Duties:

1. To plan and co-ordinate the specialist Occupational Therapy Service within the Acute Older Adult in-patient services, planning and prioritising work for self and junior staff.

2. To attend clinical case discussions at meetings or ward rounds, providing specialist professional advice and recommendations.

3. To participate in clinical audit, research and evidence based practice.

4. To initiate and lead projects to meet identified service needs.

5. To promote the roles and skills of Occupational Therapy to other professionals, students, patients and carers.

6. To contribute constructively to multi-disciplinary team working by contributing to policies and procedures for Occupational Therapy and close liaison with other professionals.

Profession Specific Duties:

1. To attend professional Occupational Therapy meetings as required.

2. To attend appropriate training events as appropriate.

3. To maintain a continuing professional development portfolio.

4. To undertake annual appraisal.

5. To contribute constructively to the supervision process.

6. To provide supervision and day to day operational management to junior staff in the Acute Older Adult in-patient Department.

7. To supervise students.

8. To occasionally represent the Occupational Therapy profession at service development forums.

9. To comply with policies and agreed procedures for annual leave, sickness and time owing.

10.To complete daily diary sheets for statistical purposes.

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans


• NHS discounts for staff


• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities


• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme


• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas


• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work


• Day One Flexible Employer


The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.