Specialist Occupational Therapist

Job summary

The Steps to Health service in Sunderland provide an innovative and dynamic approach to individuals who are at risk or who have developed a long term condition and would benefit from exercise and rehabilitation to keep them well. Education complements a programme of rehabilitation to provide knowledge and support enabling patients to make healthy choices and self care.

The team support people living with complex, long term conditions. Many of our patients experience overlapping needs from breathlessness and fatigue to anxiety and social isolation. We know that joined up, person centred rehab can make a huge difference to their quality of life.

We would like to invite applications for an Occupational Therapist to join our multi-disciplinary team and deliver bespoke programmes to patients face to face, virtually and at home.

Main duties of the job

• To assess, design, and deliver specialised interventions, exercise and education programmes for patients referred to the service.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of treatment plans.
• To apply advanced level of understanding of the effect of disability and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the clients environment.
• To support the assessment and review the management of patients/clients under the care of the GP and nursing team.
• To act as a specialist clinical resource for the services on the clinical management of intermediate care patients and develop appropriate training and education programmes, for staff, patients and carers.
• To maintain patient records and documentation which conform to Trust and professional standards, using the specified electronic patient record.
• To design and implement ways in which service users views can be sought and inform future service delivery.
• Maximise opportunities for health promotion/education/self-care during all contacts with patient/client.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

• Date posted: 26 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9155-CMAHP-0826-26
• Job locations: Springwell Health Centre, Springwell Road, SUNDERLAND, SR3 4HG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

• To work as an autonomous practitioner within a specialist team using clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist Occupational therapy assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice to an independently managed caseload which will incorporate routine and complex presentation of conditions.
• To begin to develop specialist skills to take a lead role in clinical practice issues, raising the profile of the service and offering specialist advice to planning and service development teams in order to assist in the implementation of service improvements.
• To consolidate post-graduate skills and continue professional development, including participation in Occupational Therapy in-service training programmes and external postgraduate training.
• To undertake research relevant to the needs of the specialist area.
• To comply with the trusts vision, values and behavioural compact.
• To sustain agreed standards of care in to order to maintain integrity and dignity of all patients in an environment which is conducive to delivering care in their usual place of residence or temporary place of residence including bed based rehabilitation.
• Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective and evidence based.
• To develop his /her scope of professional practice in order to support the team to meet service requirements in accordance with professional guidelines.
• To ensure the provision of expert knowledge to all users of the service.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).