Specialist Occupational Therapist Elderly Care

We have

an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Occupational Therapist at West

Hertfordshire Hospital NHS Trust to join the Occupational Therapy Elderly Care Department

at Watford General Hospital. You will be responsible for providing specialised

assessment and treatment for patients with complex needs, offering expert

advice, guidance, and information to health and social care professionals,

carers, relatives, and other non-professionals. You will manage your own

caseload, performing advanced occupational therapy assessments for patients

with diverse and complex physical and psychological conditions, and develop and

deliver individualised treatment programmes that contribute to safe discharges

and prevention of hospital admissions. You will also be responsible for a

defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working independently

while accessing supervision, training, peer review, and reflective practice as

required.

Main duties of the job

As a

Specialist Occupational Therapist, you will be responsible for undertaking all

aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner. You will be managing

the supervision, education, and assessment of junior occupational therapists

and support staff, as well as supervising and assessing occupational therapy

students to a graduate standard in collaboration with universities. You will

support evidence-based audit and research projects to develop and enhance

personal and team clinical practice, contribute to the preparation of service

protocols, and assist in implementing changes to practice as suggested by the

team lead, clinical lead, or head of service. You will also be responsible for

actively participating in a seven-day roster.

About us

Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

Details

Date posted

10 August 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£27.05 an hour

Rates are inclusive of Base Rate + Holiday Pay

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Full-time,

Part-time,

Flexible working

Reference number

M0042-26-0247

Job locations

Watford General Hospital

60 Vicarage Road

Watford

WD18 0HB

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally accountable for ensuring all work meets

Trust, legal, and professional standards, including compliance with policies,

procedures, and governance frameworks.

• To communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers,

addressing barriers such as cognitive, sensory, cultural, or language

challenges, to support understanding and self-management of health conditions.

• To lead the professional development of junior staff, students, and

support staff by planning and delivering induction programmes, teaching core

clinical skills, and contributing to performance appraisals.

• To undertake evidence-based service evaluation and quality improvement

initiatives, including contributing to audits, research, and outcome

measurement projects to enhance team practice and patient experience.

• To maintain and develop personal professional knowledge through ongoing

CPD, participation in training, tutorials, journal clubs, clinical networks,

and special interest groups, ensuring current best practice is applied.

• To manage resources and equipment effectively, including stock,

departmental supplies, and clinical equipment, ensuring safe use, training of

others, and compliance with health and safety regulations.

Job responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally accountable for ensuring all work meets

Trust, legal, and professional standards, including compliance with policies,

procedures, and governance frameworks.

• To communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers,

addressing barriers such as cognitive, sensory, cultural, or language

challenges, to support understanding and self-management of health conditions.

• To lead the professional development of junior staff, students, and

support staff by planning and delivering induction programmes, teaching core

clinical skills, and contributing to performance appraisals.

• To undertake evidence-based service evaluation and quality improvement

initiatives, including contributing to audits, research, and outcome

measurement projects to enhance team practice and patient experience.

• To maintain and develop personal professional knowledge through ongoing

CPD, participation in training, tutorials, journal clubs, clinical networks,

and special interest groups, ensuring current best practice is applied.

• To manage resources and equipment effectively, including stock,

departmental supplies, and clinical equipment, ensuring safe use, training of

others, and compliance with health and safety regulations.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
• Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent qualification with evidence of CPD and reflective practice.
• Experience in NHS acute hospital settings, including elderly care/medical wards.
• Competent in discharge planning, caseload management, and use of equipment.
• Proven ability to work independently with complex medical patients.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
• Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent qualification with evidence of CPD and reflective practice.
• Experience in NHS acute hospital settings, including elderly care/medical wards.
• Competent in discharge planning, caseload management, and use of equipment.
• Proven ability to work independently with complex medical patients.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Professionals Limited

Address

Watford General Hospital

60 Vicarage Road

Watford

WD18 0HB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

NHS Professionals Limited

Address

Watford General Hospital

60 Vicarage Road

Watford

WD18 0HB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.nhsprofessionals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally accountable for ensuring all work meets

Trust, legal, and professional standards, including compliance with policies,

procedures, and governance frameworks.

• To communicate effectively with patients, relatives, and carers,

addressing barriers such as cognitive, sensory, cultural, or language

challenges, to support understanding and self-management of health conditions.

• To lead the professional development of junior staff, students, and

support staff by planning and delivering induction programmes, teaching core

clinical skills, and contributing to performance appraisals.

• To undertake evidence-based service evaluation and quality improvement

initiatives, including contributing to audits, research, and outcome

measurement projects to enhance team practice and patient experience.

• To maintain and develop personal professional knowledge through ongoing

CPD, participation in training, tutorials, journal clubs, clinical networks,

and special interest groups, ensuring current best practice is applied.

• To manage resources and equipment effectively, including stock,

departmental supplies, and clinical equipment, ensuring safe use, training of

others, and compliance with health and safety regulations.

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered Occupational Therapist.
• Occupational Therapy degree or equivalent qualification with evidence of CPD and reflective practice.
• Experience in NHS acute hospital settings, including elderly care/medical wards.
• Competent in discharge planning, caseload management, and use of equipment.
• Proven ability to work independently with complex medical patients.