Specialist Occupational Therapist Stroke

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Occupational Therapist in West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust to join the Occupational Therapy Department at Watford General Hospital. In this role, you will be responsible for delivering specialist assessments and treatment for patients with complex physical and psychological needs. You will be managing a defined caseload, performing advanced occupational therapy assessments, and developing individualised treatment programmes that support safe patient discharges and help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. You will also be supporting patients, carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues by providing expert advice, guidance, and information to ensure effective care planning and rehabilitation. Working as an autonomous practitioner, you will contribute to high standards of clinical care while accessing professional support through structured supervision, training, and reflective practice.

Main duties of the job

As a Specialist Occupational Therapist, you will be responsible for supervising and supporting the development of junior occupational therapists and support staff, ensuring high standards of professional practice within the team. You will also be managing the supervision, education, and assessment of occupational therapy students, working collaboratively with universities to ensure training and placement standards meet the requirements of graduate-level professional qualifications. In addition, you will be supporting service development through participation in evidence-based audit and research activities, contributing to improvements in clinical practice and assisting in the development and implementation of service protocols. You will also be expected to actively participate in a seven-day service rota, fulfilling a 37.5-hour working week while supporting the delivery of a responsive and effective therapy service.

About us

Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

Details

• Date posted: 15 June 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £27.05 an hour Rates are inclusive of Base Rate + Holiday Pay
• Contract: Bank
• Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: M0042-87967-1
• Job locations: Watford General Hospital, 60 Vicarage Road, Watford, WD18 0HB, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including clinical practice, and to oversee the work and professional standards of line-managed staff, ensuring safe and high-quality care.
• To manage a designated caseload efficiently, organising assessments, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes while prioritising both patient and service needs, and adapting plans in response to changing circumstances.
• To undertake advanced occupational therapy assessments within your specialty, evaluating all aspects of occupational performance, applying clinical reasoning to formulate goals, and developing patient-centred treatment programmes.
• To communicate complex clinical information effectively with patients, carers, relatives, and multidisciplinary team members, addressing barriers such as cognitive, sensory, or language differences, and ensuring valid informed consent and understanding.
• To lead and support staff development and education, supervising junior staff and students, contributing to induction programmes, appraisals, and formal training activities, and promoting high professional standards within the team.
• To implement and evaluate service improvement initiatives, applying findings from audit, research, and evidence-based projects to enhance clinical practice, develop local protocols, and contribute to continuous improvement across the occupational therapy service.