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Job summary
Are you an enthusiastic, innovative and motivated Occupational Therapist looking to develop your career within one of the UKs largest and most prestigious NHS trusts? Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust offers an exciting opportunity to join our trust-wide Occupational Therapy rotation, working across both Adult and Childrens Occupational Therapy services. With a team of over 100 Occupational Therapy staff, we provide specialist care to inpatients and outpatients from across a wide geographical area and a broad range of clinical specialities.
Main duties of the job
As a Band 5 Rotational Occupational Therapist, you will have the opportunity to gain experience across a variety of clinical areas, which may include Medicine, Older Peoples Services, Surgery, Oncology, Trauma and Elective Orthopaedics, Major Trauma and Plastics, Paediatrics, Acute Neurology, Stroke Rehabilitation, Neuro Complex Rehabilitation, and Cardio-Vascular Services. Rotations are typically six months in duration and are allocated according to service requirements and workforce needs. While you may not experience every specialty, we are committed to providing diverse learning opportunities across our hospital sites. You will be supported to develop your clinical and professional skills through regular supervision, appraisal, objective setting, and access to tailored training and preceptorship programmes. This role includes participation in team rotas. Some clinical areas operate extended hours, with services running between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday, and weekend services operating between 8am and 4pm. Successful applicants will be expected to contribute to the rota arrangements within their allocated team. Rotations are planned well in advance to support work-life balance and personal commitments. This is an excellent opportunity to build a strong foundation in acute and specialist Occupational Therapy practice while working alongside experienced clinicians in supportive multidisciplinary teams committed to excellence in patient care.
About us
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.
Details
- Date posted: 14 August 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 5
- Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Reference number: 001839
- Job locations: Cross Site, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
For questions about this job, contact:
Sarah Revel, Occupational Therapy Clinical Service Manager - sarah.revel@nhs.net or
Lucy May, Occupational Therapy Clinical Service Manager - lucy.may11@nhs.net
Interview Date: 10.09.2026
Why you should join our Team
This is a permanent rotation band 5 post
Working as part of multidisciplinary teams, you will provide high-quality, person-centred Occupational Therapy services under the supervision and guidance of experienced senior clinicians. You will be actively involved in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care, supporting individuals to maximise their independence, participation and quality of life.
As a rotational therapist, you will be expected to take responsibility for your own professional development by actively engaging in supervision, training opportunities, competency development and appraisal processes. You will work towards achieving agreed professional milestones within defined timeframes, demonstrating initiative, reflective practice and a commitment to continuous learning while seeking support appropriately when required.
We are looking for individuals who share our values and are committed to delivering compassionate, inclusive and evidence-based care. Successful candidates will demonstrate a genuine commitment to listening to patients, families and carers to understand what matters most to them, recognising their unique needs, strengths, aspirations and life experiences. You will empower patients through collaborative decision-making, providing information, advice and choices that enable participation and independence.
You will contribute positively to supportive team environments where every member is valued and encouraged to share ideas, show initiative and work collaboratively. Respect for individuality, dignity, equality and human rights is fundamental to this role, alongside a commitment to embracing and celebrating social, cultural and personal diversity.
We are dedicated to delivering high-quality, equitable services for all service users and promoting best practice informed by current evidence, innovation and continuous improvement. This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop as a confident Occupational Therapist within a learning-focused organisation that values curiosity, professional growth and excellence in patient care.
The application closing date for this post may close early if the maximum number of applications are received.
Interviews (in-person) are scheduled to take place on 10th September 2026
What you will bring to the role
Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.
About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
Our Trust values
The Leeds Way is working together to support each other and deliver the best possible care to patients.
We are….
Responsible Open and Honest One Team Kind
Our Trust priorities
Our purpose: Excellent, safe and sustainable care for every patient every time
Our priorities:
People Improvement and Innovation Partnerships Outcomes
To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.
Person specification
Knowledge and Understanding
Essential
- To comply at all times with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust policies and procedures.
- To contribute to policy and service developments as required.
- To participate in audit and research.
- Awareness of College of Occupational Therapy initiatives.
- The information may relate to prognosis and rehabilitation outcomes.
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- To take responsibility in agreement with line manager for personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority.
- To provide evidence of ongoing personal development.
- To undertake all mandatory training required for the role.
- To comply with professional codes of practice, departmental and trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
Clinical and Technical Skills
Essential
- To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information across a range of conditions.
- To use investigative and analytical skills to formulate and manage intervention.
- To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking and analysis to develop individual goals and intervention which optimises functional ability.
- To plan and prioritise clinical work.
- To delegate work to support staff and to obtain feedback from delegated tasks.
- To use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools/strategies to communicate appropriate information effectively to patients/carers. This may include patients/carers who have difficulty understanding or communicating.
- To utilise strategies of persuasion and motivation to encourage patients engage in intervention.
- To adopt a key role in discharge management, communicating appropriate information and acting as an advocate for patient/carers.
- To refer to internal and external agencies relevant to the patients' needs using designated referral systems.
- To liaise with and work in collaboration with internal and external agencies.
- To ensure safe use of equipment by self and others.
- To record interventions accurately and timely using team/ trust documentation. Complying with Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
- To complete activity data using team/trust documentation and outcome measures.
- To provide written reports conforming to Occupational Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
- To manage time effectively.
- To evaluate and prioritise clinical and non-clinical responsibilities.
Personal Qualities and Values
Essential
- To be able to work in a stressful environment.
- Listening to patients and carers in order to understand their needs, values, interests and aspirations.
- Promoting personal identity and empowerment by giving information and choices to patients.
- Working together in a supportive environment that values the contribution and proactivity of every team member.
- Respecting each person's individuality, and treating others with the highest degree of dignity and equality.
- Welcoming social and cultural diversity in patients, within teams and other colleagues.
- Delivering high quality and equitable services for all service users.
- Committing to the provision of the best practice underpinned by a sound evidence base.
- Embracing a personal learning experience.
Clinical Experience and Practice
Essential
- To manage a clinical workload at a novice level; assessing and treating patients and maintaining associated records.
- To provide a patient-focussed service following the Occupational Therapy process (screen referrals, assess and plan treatment programmes, implement and evaluate treatment programmes, monitor and discharge) and using Occupational Therapy core skills.
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.
- To assess individual patients, plan and carry out effective intervention in the most appropriate environment taking into account each patient's individual physical, social and emotional needs.
- To participate in clinical governance and evaluation of work and current practices through the use of audit and outcome measures, either individually or as part of a clinical team.
- To establish capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment, and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent.
- To demonstrate an understanding of Risk Management and apply to working environment and clinical intervention.
Supervision, Leadership and Teamwork
Essential
- To delegate work to and assist in the supervision of support staff.
- To assist in the supervision and education of Occupational Therapy Student.
- To assist in the management and supervision of Occupational Therapy students and students from other disciplines.
- To assist in the supervision and development of support staff.
- To participate in supervision and appraisal processes in line with Occupational Therapy and Trust Guidelines.
- The work involves close liaison with the multi-disciplinary team and community-based health and social care providers.
- To take an active role in in-service training and coaching colleagues, ensuring the sharing of information and reflection on learning experiences.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Essential
- To act as an Occupational Therapy resource for colleagues, carers and patients.
- To act as a resource for information and support to patients, carers and others.
- To be able to impart difficult and unwelcome information regarding rehabilitation outcomes and support services.
- To be able to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients/carers.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice/training to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of treatment plans and achievement of objectives.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice/training to relatives, carers and other professionals regarding the use of equipment, therapeutic procedures and handling of patients.
- To communicate all relevant information regarding the service and individual patients to the Occupational Therapy Team Leader/Supervisor.
Physical, Emotional and Working Requirements
Essential
- There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity lasting approximately 30 - 60 minutes e.g. treatment sessions involving facilitation of movement in functional transferring of patients/ provision and fitting of equipment / pushing wheelchairs / using manual handling equipment.
- The post holder will need to be able to concentrate during several (approximately 6) patient assessments treatments within a day.
- The post holder has to be able to carry out the assessment and take on board everything else that is being said.
- The post holder will required to break-off from tasks to respond to other urgent requests and tasks and often has to re-prioritise tasks and alter work plans for that day.
- This job involves occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.
- This job involves exposure to distressing circumstances such as terminal illness.
- The post holder will be required to work in isolation with patients and carers away from LTHT premises which may include home, residential / nursing homes, workplaces, education facilities and the wider community.
- There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in order to best meet the needs of the service.
Professional Registration and Accountability
Essential
- The post holder will be professionally accountable to HPC, and accountable contractually to their employer and to the law for their actions.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Occupational Therapist with Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Cross Site, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom, United Kingdom. It is listed as a Band 5 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £32073.00 to £39043.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 28 Aug 2026.
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