Occupational Therapist, Stroke (Band 5-6 Development)

Job overview

At UHCW, we are delighted to offer an exciting Band 5–6 Development Post, providing a structured and fully supported pathway to progress from a Band 5 Occupational Therapist into a Band 6 Specialist Stroke Occupational Therapist role. This is an excellent opportunity to enhance your clinical expertise, develop leadership skills, and work within a skilled and supportive multidisciplinary team.

You will work across our hyper-acute and acute stroke wards, playing a key role in patient recovery. As part of stroke centralisation, we are at the forefront of delivering specialised care and work closely with community services and neighbouring Trusts to ensure seamless patient pathways.

This role is ideal for a Band 5 therapist with some post-qualification experience looking to further develop their skills, or an experienced clinician seeking a new challenge within a Trust known for its diversity, innovation, and wide-ranging clinical experience.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

You will join our therapy team as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist, where you will:

• Manage a defined caseload delivering assessment, intervention and discharge planning
• Use a variety of physical, cognitive, perceptual and psychological interventions
• Develop skills in clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice
• Work collaboratively with the MDT across inpatient and discharge pathways
• Contribute to safe patient flow and timely discharge planning

As you progress and meet agreed competencies, you will transition into a Band 6 Specialist Stroke OT role, where you will:

• Manage a complex stroke caseload using advanced assessment and treatment skills.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner influencing patient care and MDT decisions.
• Provide leadership, supervision, and training to staff and students.
• Contribute to service development, audit, and quality improvement.
• Support clinical governance and innovation within stroke services.

The development post includes a clear competency framework aligned to Band 6 practice, with regular supervision, mentorship, and access to stroke-specific CPD. You will develop skills in specialist stroke rehabilitation, cognitive and functional assessment, leadership, and service improvement. Progression to Band 6 is supported through competency achievement and demonstration of specialist practice.

We provide a 7-day service, including weekend working, while supporting staff wellbeing and ensuring adequate time for rest and recovery.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Hold responsibility for own caseload within a defined area of the service and eventually work without direct supervision
• Carry a clinical caseload of patients, assess, evaluate, and provide a detailed written treatment plan with patient centred goals working within ward / department areas, home and community settings as identified by Occupational Therapist
• Carry out treatment using a variety of modalities, this may include physical, cognitive, perceptual and psychological intervention, evaluating modifying and recording all interventions and outcomes
• Work in accordance with RCOT & HCPC rules of professional conduct and within local care pathways, policies and standards
• Professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of his/her own professional activities and to manage clinical risk within own caseload at all times, whilst remaining responsible to Team Leader/Clinical Specialist
• Responsible for own personal development, keeping up to date with occupational therapy practice in order to establish and maintain competence and fitness to practice as an Occupational Therapist. To maintain a professional evidence-based portfolio, meeting the requirements of the HCPC
• Review and reflect on own practice and performance and make effective use of professional and operational supervision and annual review undertaking supervision of others as agreed.

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.