Specialist Occupational Therapist Surgery

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and compassionate Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Acute Surgical Team!

The Band 6 Occupational Therapist will play a key role within the Surgical Therapy Team at York Hospital, delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred assessment and rehabilitation for adults undergoing elective and emergency surgical interventions. The postholder will work across a fast‑paced acute environment, supporting patients to achieve safe, timely discharge and optimal functional recovery following procedures such as general surgery, colorectal, vascular, urology, and trauma‑related surgical admissions.

This role is ideal for an experienced Band 5 looking to progress or an existing Band 6 seeking to specialise further in acute surgical care. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong communication skills, resilience, and the ability to work efficiently within a dynamic clinical environment.

Main duties of the job

You will provide advanced clinical reasoning, autonomous decision‑making, and specialist intervention planning for patients with complex needs, including those with multi‑morbidities, reduced functional capacity, and post‑operative complications. The role requires close collaboration with the wider MDT, including surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, discharge coordinators, and social care partners, ensuring coordinated care pathways and effective discharge planning.

The Band 6 OT will also contribute to service development, supervision of junior staff and students, and the ongoing improvement of clinical standards within the surgical therapy service. You will support the implementation of evidence‑based practice, contribute to audit activity, and help shape innovative approaches to early mobilisation, functional rehabilitation, and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.

Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

Working for the Trust

Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.

Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities.  We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds.  If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: yhs-tr.[email protected].

As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment.  It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can.  We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.

Armed Forces Friendly Employer

We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers.  This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.