Occupational Therapist - Rotational

at  University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
We are looking for Band 5 Occupational Therapists to work in our large Therapy Services department, working in acute care, on a variety of wards as part of our therapy workforce. You will have the opportunity to work in over 11 different clinical areas, with rotations lasting 6 months, enabling you to expand your knowledge and develop robust skills in acute care. UHS is one of the largest acute hospitals in the UK and is fast paced and busy so if you are a dynamic and enthusiastic OT looking for a challenge, we would love to hear from you.
This post is part of the wider Therapy Services department and therefore you will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge, through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 290 wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.
We run a 7-day therapy service working on weekends and Bank Holidays, on a rota basis, you will be expected to work as part of your usual working hours.
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.
All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service
This post is suitable for a newly qualified Occupational Therapist, or an established Occupational Therapist, looking to develop their knowledge further in a large teaching hospital, with a variety of specialities. Experience of working in the acute setting and recent NHS, as a student or current B5, is desirable and we welcome applications from students who have undertaken placements with us. Please make this clear on your application form.
Our B5 rotations are for 6 months each and initially you will slot into vacancies, being able to request rotations when these are due to change. We currently provide rotations in many different clinical specialities including cancer care, cardiac, surgery, AMU/ED, orthopaedics, neurology, stroke, paediatrics, medicine, and medicine for older people. This means you will develop a broad knowledge base on which to plan the rest of your career, and help you decide what area of OT you may want to specialise in for the future, or you can continue rotating as part of our B6 workforce as another future option.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Qualified Occupational Therapist
• HCPC registered, or in the process of applying.
• Able to treat patients with care, compassion, and dignity.
• Happy working alone, making autonomous decisions, as well as part of a wider team.
• Good communicator (verbal and written)
• Clear desire to work in UHS Therapies dept.

DESIRABLE SKILLS:

• Previous experience working in an acute hospital as a student, or B5 OT.
• NHS experience
• Previous experience working at UHS on a student placement (please reference in employment section of form)

PLEASE NOTE:

1. This is a face-to-face interview, being held in person at University Hospital Southampton, England, and not held digitally. There will be a practical task, as well as questions, so please dress accordingly.
2. The interview date for this post will be on Wed 2 October 2024. Please ensure you can travel and attend in person.
3. Please ensure you fulfil all the essential criteria and have read the job description before applying.
4. We appreciate people taking the time to write and submit applications, however those written using AI, or a computer system, might not be considered.
5. We are looking for OTs who can join us BEFORE March 2025, so please do not apply if you are qualifying in the summer of 2025, instead send your details to Annette.Purkis@uhs.nhs.uk to be notified of future opportunities.
6. We do not accept CV applications.
   We welcome enquiries and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please contact Mareli Neethling or Rebecca Hibbs if you have any questions.

You will be working alongside advanced and specialist clinicians in all areas, and will have access to regular supervision, training, development, and a personal development plan. Our excellent appraisal programme also includes a one-year preceptorship programme for new graduates.
Your role will include specialist assessments and interventions dependent on the area, including complex discharge planning, cognitive assessments, specialist equipment (pressure relief, bariatric manual handling, splinting, seating) and acute rehab, integrated working with Physiotherapists and Therapy Support staff