Occupational Therapist/Physiotherapist Urgent Care
Band 5
Main area Occupational Therapist / Physiotherapist Urgent Care and Frailty Grade Band 5 Contract Fixed term: 3 months (December 2026-March 2027) Hours Full time – 37.5 hours per week (weekend working) Job ref 265-8258904-CSS-A
Site University Hospitals of Northamptonshire Town Northampton Salary £32,073 – £39,043 per annum/pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 28/10/2026 23:59
Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join our Urgent Care team in the Therapy Department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire group. This post is a 3 month fixed term contract to support with winter pressures.
Professional Development is supported through access to our Allied Health Professional Preceptorship Programme for newly registered staff during which you will receive regular 1:1 support from an experienced therapist and attend regular workshops. In addition to this you will also commence on our rolling Band 5 therapy training programme as well as attending peer group meetings where you will have the opportunity to learn from and share your experiences with your Band 5 Physio and OT peers.
Main duties of the job
To provide a professional Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy service to patients on own caseload, under the supervision of senior colleagues.
To supervise therapy support staff and technical instructors
To actively contribute to the discharge planning process by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions to address the needs of patients including those with an acute illness, following injury or surgery and those with chronic disease, terminal illness or undergoing a period of acute re enablement.
Provide effective input into the work of the Trust, to support the achievement of our vision and values.
The post holder will be required to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including but not extensive to: Therapy Department and Enablement Centre clinical and non-clinical staff, Therapy Management Team and the broader trust staff group as required.
The post holder will participate in relevant working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide information and analytical advice and expertise.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To work autonomously and within departmental teams to provide excellent occupational therapy or physiotherapy care to a diverse client group.
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.
- To provide ‘specialist’ occupational therapy or physiotherapy advice to MDT colleagues in clinical areas.
- To carry out assessment and develop treatment plans for all patients within the designated caseload without direct supervision, ensuring appropriate feedback to patient, carers and colleagues regarding findings and patient progression.
- Analyse and take into consideration results of medical tests, scans and x-rays to formulate and adapt therapy treatment plans.
- To assess capacity, gain valid, informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment independently.
- To undertake the assessment of patients who may have complex or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical problems and the indicated treatment.
- To plan, deliver and evaluate effective and appropriate treatments in partnership with the patient, MDT colleagues and the wider service providers.
- To constantly monitor patients’ responses to treatments and interventions and propose changes which may directly influence other MDT actions.
- To act as part of the MDT in facilitating appropriate and safe discharges.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the medical, nursing and MDT staff to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service including attendance at ward rounds, MDT and discharge meetings.
- To make appropriate and thorough onward referrals
- To assist colleagues to train, supervise and help manage the workload of band 2 and 3 staff and some students on clinical placements.
- To decide priorities for own caseload, balancing other patient-related and professional demands, ensuring that the priorities remain in accordance with the whole team
- To be responsible for issuing and ordering specialist equipment, ensuring correct and safe use.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical work, including the management of designated caseload of patients, ensuring a high standard of clinical care at all times.
- To continually develop an up-to-date knowledge base and maintain own continuous professional development folder.
- To undertake evaluation of own and the team’s work, reflecting on current practices and experiences in order to continue own professional development.
- To be an active member of the therapy in-service training programme by preparing for and attending meetings, tutorials, training sessions and external courses.
- To maintain up-to-date Trust mandatory training.
Person specification
Shortlisting Criteria Educations, Training and Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
- HPC registered ( or evidence of application for HPC)
- Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Knowledge and Experience
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team, an understanding of their roles and respect for the other professionals within the team.
- Experience working in an NHS setting in the following clinical areas: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Medical, Respiratory, Neurology
- Entry level assessment and treatment knowledge required for Acute Hospital setting.
- Demonstrable proactive approach to own learning and CPD.
- Experience of working in a team of people.
- Experience of participation in work based learning
- Awareness of structure, and current important issues effecting the inpatient physiotherapy department at Northampton General Hospital
- Ability to access knowledge to improve patient care
- Experience working in an NHS setting in the following clinical areas: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Medical, Respiratory, Neurology
Skills
- Able to assess a patient’s needs and plan a treatment plan with short and long term goals
- Able to manage caseload autonomously and work as part of team
- Able to modify and progress patient treatment
- Demonstrate good written and verbal communication
- Able to get to the hospital within 45 minutes (for on call purposes)
- Ability to work in situations and conditions that may involve: Physical effort (e.g. therapeutic handling, moving patients) Mental effort (e.g. concentration levels) Emotional effort (e.g. distressing and traumatic circumstances)
- Car driver with access to vehicle during working hours, appropriate driving license and car insurance
- Basic IT and presentation skills
At Northampton General Hospital we provide general acute services and hyper-acute stroke, vascular and renal services to people living in Northamptonshire. As well as this we are an accredited cancer centre and provide cancer services to a wider population of Northamptonshire and parts of Buckinghamshire.
We are proud to be the first hospital in the UK to have obtained Pathway to Excellence designated accreditation from the American nurses credentialing centre (ANCC).
We celebrate staff achievements and value the importance of working as one big team. That’s why we talk about Team NGH. It’s all about working together to provide the best possible care for our patients and supporting each other to grow and develop our skills. We are driven to helping you to be the best you can be.
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust recognises that staff of differing backgrounds and life experiences enrich our workforce and bring different skills and knowledge. We therefore encourage and welcome applications for our vacancies from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Our Excellence Values:
- Compassion
- Respect
- Integrity
- Courageous
- Accountable
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
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