Senior Community Occupational Therapist

This is advertised as a permanent full time (37.5 hours) post working across Monday to Sunday, however we welcome applicants who may be looking for part-time or flexible working arrangements.


Within the Community Services Division of Wrightington Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust , The Frailty SDEC supports individuals who require both short term medical interventions and a period of bed-based, Nurse & Therapy led rehabilitation. It will support individuals to achieve specific goals which enable safe discharge back into the community or their own home .


An Enhanced DBS with Adults' Barred List checks will be obtained during pre-employment checks.


To provide a high standard of intervention to support individuals who are medically well enough to be discharged from hospital, but who require a period of bed-based, Nurse & Therapy led rehabilitation within the interdisciplinary Frailty SDEC.
To act as a source of knowledge for patients presenting with a range of rehabilitations, acquired, congenital and progressive in nature and provide advisory/educational service to patients, relatives, therapists and other healthcare professionals
To provide leadership and clinical supervision for other junior staff as delegated by manager and/or professional supervisor. To regularly supervise junior staff members, Rehab Practitioners and students on placement within the service.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information available by contacting covid-19.vaccine@wwl.nhs.uk where you can also ask about how to access vaccinations.
To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care, and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
Jean Heyes Reablement Unit or clients homes.
To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and long-term condition management and ensure high standards of holistic clinical care.
To provide advice and support to colleagues working within other clinical areas regarding patients with rehabilitation needs.
To comply with the Code of Ethic and Professional Conduct, Health and Care Professions Council Guidance and National and Trust Policies and Procedures.
To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
To maintain a professional portfolio of Continuing Professional Development recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities.

~ Planning and Organisational Duties


To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs/pathology in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
To be responsible for ensuring the appropriate and effective selection of treatment modalities and sites for delivery of interventions i.e. in a community or hospital setting
To maintain accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Trust Policies and professional standards of practice.
To justify own clinical judgments when differences of opinion occur and demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work practises
To contribute to the Trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
To monitor the quality of record keeping for support staff and students.
To demonstrate understanding of national and local guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and their impact on service delivery.
To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practices, clinical pathways and protocols within your clinical area.

~ To participate in the day-to-day organisation and development of the unit.


To contribute to the Trusts and Teams Clinical Governance arrangements and the quality agenda.
To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects
To demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management
To assess capacity, gain valid consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
Must demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management

To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

~ Be responsible for the monitoring of materials and equipment and bring defects or deficits to the attention of the team leader / clinical manager.
To advise, assess and prescribe appropriate equipment for patient use within resources available in Health, Social Services and Education.

To plan and implement the induction of junior staff/students.
To receive, plan and deliver in-service training for own profession and others.
To undertake the supervision of junior staff as delegated by senior staff.

~ To ensure annual retention on Health Professions Council Register to maintain state registration, taking responsibility for own continued professional development and document this evidence in a professional portfolio, showing proof of competence to practise within the NHS.
Responsibility for Health & Safety


~ To comply with the Trust Manual Handling and Health and Safety Policies at all times and within guidelines for therapeutic handling.


To assess risk to ensure safety of user/carer/self and colleagues and report back to senior member of team where applicable.

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.


To promote the service to the wider community delivering awareness training to other health professionals as required.
To take part in training/education of colleagues and staff/students of other disciplines.

Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
Evidence of Post Graduate Study and relevant post graduate qualifications
Training from a higher education institution for graduate student supervision

Post registration experience in rehabilitation and condition management
Post graduate experience related to clinical speciality
Experience of working in a community setting
Must demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long term condition management
Good literacy in computer use i.e. Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.