Senior Specialist Occupational Therapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Occupational Therapist to join our dynamic Stroke and Neurology team at St Thomas' Hospital. This is a unique role that offers the chance to shape and define Occupational Therapy practice within this area, supported by an experienced and innovative OT leadership team that values staff well-being, collaboration, and quality improvement. We are seeking a motivated and flexible clinician with strong communication and problem-solving skills who is passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. You will play a key role in leading and coordinating Occupational Therapy input for patients with stroke and neurological conditions, both inpatients and outpatients, ensuring timely assessment and intervention, with a focus on facilitating appropriate pathway management. This role will enable you to apply your specialist clinical skills in the management of individuals with complex neurological and rehabilitation needs. You will also have the opportunity to grow your leadership capabilities, contribute to service development initiatives, and engage with both local and national agendas related to stroke/neurology, and patient pathways.,

• Provide expert Occupational Therapy service to individuals with stroke and neurological conditions, aiming to optimise physical ability, functional independence, and prevent deterioration.
• To independently manage a complex caseload using advanced clinical reasoning and a client-centred approach to inform assessment, treatment, and discharge planning.
• Provide leadership and line management to junior staff, therapy assistants, technical instructors and students, offering supervision, guidance, and performance management.
• Lead the development and implementation of evidence-based practice within the Stroke and Neurology service, contributing to local service improvements and engaging with national initiatives.
• Take responsibility for personal CPD, supervision, and contribution to the wider Occupational Therapy evidence base.
• Deliver patient-centred, evidence-informed interventions to optimise function in individuals with complex neurological needs.
• Manage a complex caseload of adults with sub-acute, chronic and progressive neurological conditions in an outpatient setting (e.g., stroke, MS, Parkinson's, TBI).
• Develop and review individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans for presentations such as, UL weakness, spasticity, loss of ROM, tremor, cognitive impairments impacting independence and engagement, and fatigue management.
• Work collaboratively with other disciplines (e.g., physiotherapists, neurologists).
  
  Guy's and St Thomas' is among the UK's busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King's Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King's College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of 'good'. Our adult community services achieved a rating of 'outstanding'. The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care.