Job Description

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.



Please see below for the detailed job description of the role.



Are you an experienced Band 5 Occupational Therapist looking for a change, or perhaps you qualified this year and have taken some time out, or are you qualifying in Jan/Feb 2026?



We are looking for qualified Band 5 Occupational Therapists to join us in the next few months to work in our large Therapy Services department, working in acute care, on a variety of wards as part of our therapy workforce.



You will have the opportunity to work in over 11 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. You will be expected to work as part of your usual working hours.



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.



You will be working alongside advanced and specialist clinicians in all areas, and will have access to regular supervision, training, development, and a personal development plan. Our excellent appraisal programme also includes a one-year preceptorship programme for new graduates.



Your role will include specialist assessments and interventions dependent on the area, including complex discharge planning, cognitive assessments, specialist equipment (pressure relief, bariatric manual handling, splinting, seating) and acute rehab, integrated working with Physiotherapists and Therapy Support staff.



This post is suitable for either an experienced Band 5 Occupational Therapist, wanting to experience a wider variety of acute rotations than most hospitals offer, or a newly qualified OT graduating before February 2026 and looking to transition from student to qualified professional.



NB: Please do NOT apply if you are a summer 2026 graduate; we will be advertising again for summer/autumn 2026 starters.



Experience of working in the acute setting and recent NHS, as a student or current B5, is desirable, and we welcome applications from students who have undertaken UHS placements with us. Please make this clear on your application form.



Our B5 rotations are for 6 months each and initially,y you will slot into vacancies, being able to request rotations when these are due to change. We currently provide rotations in many different clinical specialities, including cancer care, cardiac, surgery, AMU/ED, orthopaedics, neurology, stroke, paediatrics, medicine, and medicine for older people. 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.



In addition to the Person specification, you need the following skills or experience to apply for this post:

Essential skills and qualifications:

HCPC registered, or in the process of applying. Good communicator (verbal and written) Clear desire for wanting to work as part of UHS Therapy services given on your application form. Clear reasons for wanting to work in a large acute physical hospital gare iven on your application form.

Desirable skills:

Previous experience working in an acute hospital as a student, or B5 OT. NHS experience Previous experience working at UHS on a student placement (please reference in employment section of form)

Please note:

1. Please ensure you will be able to attend a face-to-face interview before you apply, as we will carry out practical assessments as part of our interview process, which cannot be done virtually on Teams. The interviews will take place on Thurs, 27th Nov

2. We are looking for OTs who can join us by the end of February 2026.

3. We do not accept CV applications.

4. 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