University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Occupational Therapist- rotational
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Job Overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for Band 5 Occupational Therapists, who are able to start work with us in 2026, to join our large Therapy Services department, working in acute care, on a variety of wards as part of our therapy workforce. Our appraisal programme includes a one-year preceptorship programme for anyone with less than 1 years’ experience, and you will be allocated a mentor to support you.
- You will have the opportunity to work in over 12 different clinical areas, with rotations lasting 6 months, enabling you to expand your knowledge and develop robust skills in acute care.
- This post is part of the wider Therapy Services department and therefore you will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge, through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 300 Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.
- We run a 7-day therapy service working on weekends and Bank Holidays, on a rota basis, as part of your usual working hours.
- You will be working alongside advanced and specialist clinicians in all areas, and will have access to regular supervision, in-service training, development, and a personal development plan.
- This role involves specialist assessments and interventions, including complex discharge planning, cognitive assessments, specialist equipment (pressure relief, bariatric manual handling, splinting, seating) and acute rehab, integrated working with Physios and Therapy Support staff.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
- Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
- We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.
- At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
- At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
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Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
We have several B5 OT opportunities suitable for either Newly Qualified Occupational Therapists, including 2026 summer graduates, or experienced B5s wishing to widen their skill set in acute care. Experience of working in the acute setting and recent NHS, as a student or therapy support worker, is desirable and we welcome applications from people who have previously undertaken student placements with us.
Our B5 rotations are for 6 months each and initially you will slot into vacancies, being able to request rotations when these are due to change. Rotations currently include cancer care, cardiac, surgery, AMU/ED, orthopaedics, neurology, stroke, paediatrics, medicine, and medicine for older people, however these may change as services develop. This means you will develop a broad knowledge base on which to plan the rest of your career, and help you decide what area of OT you may want to specialise in for the future, or you can continue rotating as part of our B6 workforce as another future option.
Please make sure you fit the following criteria before you apply, and read the attached Job Description and Person Specification:
Essential Skills And Qualifications
- Qualified Occupational Therapist, or in the process of completing your degree.
- HCPC registered, or in process of applying.
- Able to treat patients with care, compassion, and dignity.
- Happy working alone, making autonomous decisions, as well as part of a wider team.
- Good communicator (verbal and written)
- Clear desire for wanting to work at UHS in an acute rotational post
- Knowledge and understanding of NHS systems.
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Desirable Skills
- Previous experience working in an acute hospital as a student, or therapy support worker.
- NHS experience
- Previous experience working at UHS on a student placement (please reference in employment section of form)
Please Note
- Please answer all the questions on the application form with your own experience.
- Interviews will be held in face to face, in person, on either 23rd or 24th July 2026, due to having a practical assessment, so please dress in smart and comfortable clothing for your interview.
- No alternative virtual interviews will be offered, please do not apply if you cannot attend an interview in person in Southampton, England.
- We do not accept CV applications.
- We may offer fixed term opportunities following interview.
- If we receive a high volume of applications, this advert may close early.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have.
For other therapy opportunities please email: Annette.Purkis@uhs.nhs.uk
We look forward to hearing from you
Person specification
Patients First
Essential criteria
Tell us about what this means to you and how you feel the role you are applying for links to this
Working Together
Essential criteria
Tell us what being a team player means to you and provide an example of when you have demonstrated this in the past
Always Improving
Essential criteria
Tell us about how you approach change and give us an example of an improvement you’ve made from doing things in a different way
Patient Scenario
Essential criteria
A patient is ready for discharge, and their family are happy to support, however they need a rollator and a commode, and these are not available in time. What would you do?
Professional Development
Essential criteria
Please tell us why you have applied for this UHS B5 OT role and what would your 2-year development plan be within this role?
Patient Scenario
Essential criteria
You have 3 patients referred to you on the same day, what criteria will you use to prioritise these?
Patient Scenario
Essential criteria
When treating a patient what do you think you would need to do / find out before approaching them?
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