Job overview

The award-winning Medicine for Older People's therapy team at University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is looking for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to lead the team, alongside the existing senior staff. We are seeking a dynamic, flexible, and enthusiastic Occupational Therapist with an interest in frailty.

The post is focused on delivering person-centred care across a 7-day service, through enhancing function and quality of life. This is the perfect opportunity to utilise your clinical, managerial and leadership skills in an integrated Medicine for Older People therapy team.

Our team encourages innovative working and pioneering approaches to complex frailty. Recently, we partnered with the Saints Foundation to introduce an exercise practitioner role that supports inpatient rehabilitation in a newly refurbished gym. UHS also have excellent links and teaching opportunities with the University of Southampton.

We are looking for someone enthusiastic about frailty, dedicated to quality improvement and delivering excellent care.

Support will be given towards your continued learning and personal and professional development.

This post is part of the wider Therapy services department. 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 260 wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff, all working in acute care.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

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. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

On the acute Medicine for Older People wards patients present with a wide range of diagnoses and often have multiple pathologies, with complex social situations. It is a fast-paced environment where effective communication, prioritisation, and multi-disciplinary teamwork are essential. Our focus is early assessment and complex discharge planning.

We are looking for someone who loves working in a team, supporting and advising less experienced staff to develop and learn with support and guidance. This includes a number of therapy technicians, apprentices, students and newly qualified OTs and Physios.

Desirable skills for this role:
•    Experience in completing comprehensive geriatric assessments
•    Experience working in the acute hospital setting (ideally within Elderly Care)
•    Experience within a variety of acute areas e.g. Orthopaedics, Medicine, Neuro
•    Experience working in a large multidisciplinary team and communicating effectively.
•    Involvement in service developments and facilitating change
•    Experience in managing and supporting staff, rotas, and other team management skills
•    Evidence of leadership skills
•    Evidence of providing teaching to wider MDT, therapy teams and students
•    Ability to stay calm and make appropriate decisions under pressure in a fast-paced environment 

Desirable skills include:
•    Understanding of complex equipment need,  including hoisting and managing pressure care
•    Knowledge of cognitive assessments appropriate to the acute setting

As part of this role, you will be expected to work across 7 days, including BH and weekends on a rota basis. Training and support can be offered to meet your learning requirements. 

Please note: Applications using AI may not be shortlisted.

If you are interested in a therapy role and want to know what other jobs we offer, please feel free to email [email protected], as our therapy department has lots of different opportunities.

Person specification

Trust values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent level of experience
• Current HCPC registration
• Significant relevant clinical experience or with the ability to demonstrate significant experience in Occupational Therapy practice
• Evidence of proven leadership and supervisory skills
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of audit, evaluation, or research
• Evidence of implementing change in a clinical environment

Desirable criteria

• Leadership qualification, or experience
• Management qualification, or equivalent experience
• Able to demonstrate sound understanding of healthcare priorities and political agendas
• Attendance at post-graduation courses, or conferences, relevant to clinical area
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication
• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Diplomacy
• Working autonomously
• Interpersonal skills
• Taking the initiative
• Collaborative approach
• Teamwork
• Influencing
• Report writing
• Presentation skills
• Working under pressure

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.