Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job overview

Band 7 Clinical Specialist Front Door

We have a fantastic opportunity for an Occupational Therapist with specialist experience within Front Door and short stay services, to join our friendly and vibrant Front Door Team.

The post will be based on the Priority Assessment Unit (PAU), Acute Medical Units (AMU), working alongside both OT and MDT colleagues to implement and develop the role of front door clinical specialist and providing specialist knowledge and intervention to our short stay patients. Using the discharge to assess model, we work alongside closely with our community teams, to ensure our patients are discharged in a timely manner to prevent unnecessary lengthy admissions, so they can continue their rehab and recovery at home, following our assessment and intervention within the hospital.

We are looking to recruit an Occupational Therapist who is a dynamic, forward-looking individual who would love the challenge of helping us implement clinical and strategic developments that will help us deliver what is most important to us - the highest quality patient care. Supporting service redesign will also be part of the role.

For further information on this role, please contact Sallyann Palmer, Occupational Therapy Service Lead on 01603 288697

Main duties of the job

We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who will be able to demonstrate sound experience of working in a clinical occupational therapy role, ideally with acute front door/admission avoidance experience, either in an acute or community setting. Although we are looking for someone with strong experience of working in a clinical occupational therapy role within front door, we are happy to consider both those already working in this area and those looking to broaden their clinical repertoire from a related or relevant alternative field.

We have close links with the University of East Anglia and take part in providing teaching to OT and Physiotherapy students around the role of the OT as well as taking students on placement with us.

As a Clinical Specialist

• Provide highly specialist clinical skills
• Support & supervise junior staff proactively aiding their                                          development
• Demonstrate expert communication skills
• Promote & participate in audit and research
• Be actively involved in integrated working with our Physiotherapy                  colleagues

Part time: 36hrs per week

Interview date: 28th May 2026

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Our modern hospital is set just outside the vibrant city of Norwich, in the beautiful county of Norfolk - the land of big skies, stunning beaches and rolling countryside.

Just think where your NNUH career could take you. Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is the 6th largest acute hospital in the UK, and with new clinics and services being introduced each year the possibilities are endless.  With strong links to the University of East Anglia and Norwich Research Park we want to give our staff every opportunity and support to achieve their potential.

‘My favourite part about working at NNUH is the support and encouragement that I have received from the teams that I have been based in. In each team I have made a good group of friends, ensuring that we all feel supported in the workplace and allowing us to meet outside of work as well’

In Norwich a staggering 77% of people say they love their job. Although less than 2 hours from London and serviced by excellent transport links, Norwich is one of few UK cities that still retain a strong local identity and with that a strong sense of community.

This strong sense of self along with excellent shopping, eating out, affordable house prices and excellent schooling is why Norwich has been ranked by the Guardian as the best city to work in.

We are looking for:

• Experienced Occupational Therapist with highly specialist skills responsible for the Occupational Therapy management of patients presenting to the relevant service/team within the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
• To be the clinical lead Occupational Therapist responsible for a defined area of work as specified in Appendix 1 (where relevant).
• To be an expert clinical resource for the Occupational Therapy management of patients presenting to the relevant specialty, both within the Trust and regionally, as required.
• To represent the Occupational Therapy service as a clinical expert in initiatives both within and outside the Trust as requested by the Occupational Therapy Services Manager or Occupational Therapy Service Lead.
• To be responsible for an individual caseload including prioritisation, assessment and management of patients with a range of acute and chronic conditions. Relying on expert clinical judgement and using highly analytical skills, to determine clinical diagnosis and treatment. To maintain records as a legally autonomous practitioner.
• To provide a leadership role clinically, educationally, professionally and managerially

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.