Occupational TherapistNHS

Plymouth, PL4 7QD Permanent £39,959 to £48,117

Posted 16 September 2026 Closing date 1 October 2026

Plymouth Rail Station (1.3 miles, direct) Buckfastleigh (South Devon Railway) (16.8 miles, direct) Bus Depot (37.7 miles, direct)

Job summary

37.5 hours per week.

Make a real difference where it matters most helping people stay safely at home during times of urgent care. Are you a passionate Occupational Therapist looking for an exciting challenge in Urgent Care? Do you thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy making a tangible difference to people's lives? If so, we'd love to hear from you. The Community Crisis Response Team (CCRT) is a dynamic, innovative multidisciplinary team providing urgent, person-centred care to people experiencing illness in their own homes, seven days a week. Our mission is simple: prevent avoidable hospital admissions and deliver outstanding care where people want to be most at home. Working within our highly respected team, you'll be at the forefront of urgent community care, using your OT expertise to support patients during periods of acute illness. We embrace shared learning, integrated working and positive risk-taking, ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. An OT is a highly valued profession within CCRT, and you'll have the opportunity to work alongside trusted health and social care colleagues while developing advanced skills in urgent care, frailty assessment, clinical reasoning and holistic assessment. You'll also collaborate closely with our Acute Response Practitioners, broadening your physical assessment skills and enhancing your confidence in managing complex presentations.

Our service provides 7 day working from 08:00 to 20:00.

Main duties of the job

The opportunity to work autonomously with a diverse and complex caseload of acutely unwell patients in the community
Advanced experience in urgent and crisis response care.
Exposure to holistic assessment and management of frailty and long-term conditions.
Strong multidisciplinary working with experienced health and social care professionals.
Ongoing training, competency development and access to professional courses
Supportive leadership

As an OT within CCRT, you will manage your own caseload of complex patients, providing timely assessment and intervention to help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions. You will work both independently and as part of a large multidisciplinary team, delivering responsive, person-centred care in people's homes

Whether you are looking to build your expertise in holistic urgent care assessment, develop advanced frailty skills, or make the transition from an acute hospital setting to community practice, this role offers an exceptional platform for professional growth. If you are an OT who is enthusiastic, adaptable and committed to delivering outstanding care, this role could be the perfect next step in your career.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route; please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

Job description

Clinical:

Prioritise the day-to-day management of own caseload and that of the team, delegating activities as appropriate.
Ensure the patient is aware of the role and philosophy of OT and components of the OT process.
To be responsible for the comprehensive assessment, treatment and evaluation of patients, including those with complex presentation using treatment techniques to promote normal movement, motor relearning, cognitive therapy, compensatory techniques and daily living skills.
To work as part of a MDT to manage acutely unwell patients in the community, including taking observations and liaising with relevant medical professionals/team members.
To use a selection of both standardised and non standardised assessments to assist and aid diagnosis of cognitive, sensory, perceptual, behavioural, physical, psychosocial and social functioning e.g. to make clinical interpretations resulting from assessments of your own caseload and that of your team.
To assess, prescribe and authorise aids and adaptive equipment from the core catalogue and make recommendations for minor and major adaptations to increase / enable or compensate for independent function, teaching compensatory techniques as required.
To assess seating and positioning needs and treat as appropriate including assessment for and prescription of standard wheelchairs and accessories when accredited referring on to the wheelchair services as required for assessment of complex and specialist mobility and seating needs.
To assess for potential splinting and positioning to prevent, treat and manage deformity and improve function for the upper limb.
Plan and review treatment programmes in close liaison with all members of the multi disciplinary team, patients carers and family in accordance with consent given.
To record and report regularly on patients progress and treatment to the multi disciplinary team or in accordance with the policies and procedures laid down in individual clinical areas including the original referrer.
To plan, organise and lead both formal and informal treatments and health education groups for both patients and carers.
Education of patients and carers regarding the impact of cognitive, perceptual and physical deficits on patient safety and independence in the home, leisure and workplace.
To impart sensitive information and advice to patients and carers which could have life changing consequences.
To provide an opportunity for patients and carers to express their feelings whilst encouraging acceptance and adjustment to their new circumstances.
Demonstrating to and informing other community staff re ongoing patient needs in the community, i.e. home care staff, district nurses.
To facilitate return of patients currently in residential or nursing care who wish to return home after a period of stay in a care setting.
Liaise with and ensure good communication with statutory and voluntary bodies to establish a comprehensive package to ensure continuation of care in the community.
Refer to follow up services to ensure treatment programmes are in place to progress functional independence based on identified needs at the end of episode of care.
To provide support and supervision to Band 5 OT's, assistants and students as required.
To identify occupational therapy clinical areas of strengths and weaknesses within the team and monitor both workload and caseload of Band 5 / non-professional staff and give advice on treatment interventions.
To be responsible for the discharge of patients from your caseload.
To provide written communication with outside agencies and charitable bodies to support the need for services and equipment on discharge from the service.
Actively contribute to service development.
To provide cover for staff who are absent, taking responsibility for aspects of service delivery.
To be responsible for utilising the goal planning process and the outcome measures used in the clinical area to review progress of the patient.
To use a range of verbal and non verbal communication methods with patients, who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating and who may be low in mood or lack insight.
To maintain competence in the use of manual handling techniques and equipment including the prescription of manual handling equipment for use in the community setting, demonstrating the use to carers as necessary.
To ensure use of risk assessment in all areas of your work are undertaken and comply with the Trust's Health and Safety policies and Lone Working Policy.
To demonstrate a high level of understanding of conditions relevant to the diagnostic area and those patients presenting with multi pathology

Departmental and Administrative:

To maintain an up to date record of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, OT assessments and reports whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times in line with Professional and Trust policies and procedures.
To take an active role in audit, research and interdisciplinary development within the service.
To be responsible for collecting and reporting statistical data in line with Trust policies and procedures.
To be responsible for maintaining stock control systems, advising on resources and the responsible management of petty cash.
To co-ordinate the day to day delivery of the OT service within designated team.
To jointly manage the OT waiting list of referrals to ensure appropriate screening and prioritisation are utilised in accordance with service eligibility criteria and standards.

Professional:

To take responsibility for ensuring own personal and professional development and statutory training demonstrating the ability to apply increasingly complex skills / knowledge
To attend and contribute to staff meetings and attend relevant professional meetings and courses as agreed with OT Professional Lead / Operational Manager/clinical lead.
To review and reflect on own practice through effective use of professional and clinical supervision in line with Trust policies and procedures
To participate in providing instruction, learning opportunities, work experience and training staff and students from other units / disciplines / schools / colleges and training schemes as agreed with Line Manager and Occupational Therapy Lead. This includes providing regular fieldwork education for student OTs
To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within your area
Maintain high professional standards at all times as laid down in the College of OT / Health Professional Council Code of conduct
To comply with the College of OTs, HPC Standards of Practice and Occupational Therapy policies and procedure
To undertake the supervision and appraisal of junior staff as requested by OT Lead demonstrating the ability to reflect on professional and ethical issues
To plan and implement the induction, training and education of other staff
To contribute to the Trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda
To apply professional, local and national guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care provision
To adhere to LWSW policies and procedures, including Health and Safety at work
To respect the individual values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to those needs
To take responsibility for the recruitment process of unqualified staff and assist in the recruitment of junior qualified staff

Please see full job description attached

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values, kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, while empowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

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