Job overview
Specialist Occupational Therapist - Band 6 Permanent
2-hour Urgent Crisis Response (UCR) and Community Frailty Team
- hours post
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Occupational Therapist to join the St Helens 2-hour UCR, Community Frailty and Virtual Ward Therapy Team. This integrated multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team will provide specialist rapid assessment and interventions to our local population of St Helens. Whilst being predominantly community based you will also work as part of a larger team in several Frailty specialist areas. Working in a diverse environment offers scope to build on skills across all our pathways including the community, a high paced AED setting as well as a specialist service within Bevan Court - our Frailty and Reablement Unit.
Our progressive working environment will manage ‘crisis’ on a daily basis, taking referrals from community, care homes and acute colleagues as well as self-referrals. Your clinical skillset will contribute to people being able to remain safely and supported in their own homes wherever possible and preventing unnecessary A&E attendances.
Our Crisis Response Service operates as a clinically led multi-disciplinary team comprising of Frailty Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Social Workers and support workers.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and are subject to change.
Main duties of the job
The service provides a 7 day, 8am-8pm, urgent and timely response to referrals. Following this, a rapid assessment and community intervention for up to 72 hours will support adults ‘in crisis’ with health or social care needs at home.
You will be a champion of an integrated community care approach, a strong team player with experience of MDT working and an excellent communicator. You will be adaptable, committed, able to organise and prioritise work effectively and able to work well under pressure. You must be able to travel around various community locations delivering care. You must be motivated, enthusiastic and have proven experience of working as an autonomous practitioner. A commitment to improving the patient’s experience is essential.
The successful candidate should have a working knowledge and experience of community or acute services and be familiar with the patient pathways between hospital and home. You will be required to process referrals, manage a caseload independently and take responsibility for providing assessment and treatment of patients with a variety of medical conditions.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
As a Trust, we are committed to continuing professional and personal development and will therefore provide support with regular supervision and training. We are keen to promote collaborative practice and to develop staff within a supportive and friendly environment. You will participate in delivering training to other staff to facilitate their development.
Current HCPC registration is essential.
The successful candidate will have a valid DBS check with the Trust and will be required to pay for the cost of the DBS disclosure, the cost of which will be deducted from their first salary.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
- Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
- Have a flexible approach to working with good time management
Desirable
- Mentorship skills
Experience
Essential
- Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence-based practise in relevant health setting
- Awareness of own strengths and limitations
- Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
- Experience of line managing a team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and co-ordination
- Evidence of effective working within an MDT
- Experience of Service development
- Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
- Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Desirable
- Audit and research in a clinical area
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Occupational Therapist
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Clinical Educators Certificate
- Post Grad accredited study e.g. MSc in relevant health studies
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Specialist Occupational Therapist with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Prescot, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Occupational Therapist role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 02 Aug 2026.
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