Senior Occupational Therapist - Specialist rotation in Neurology

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

NHS Band 6 Salary: £39,959 - £48,117 per annum

Hours per week:  37.5 Full-time  (Part-time considered)

Contract Type: Permanent

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our Band 6 Neurological Occupational Therapy rotation at Queen Alexandra Hospital. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated Occupational Therapist to develop specialist skills within a dynamic and supportive neurological service, working across the full patient pathway from acute care through to rehabilitation.

We are passionate about delivering high-quality, occupation-focused care, placing meaningful activity and patient-centred goals at the heart of our interventions.

About the Role

This rotational post offers 12-month placements across key neurological services, providing a rich and diverse clinical experience:

• Specialist Stroke & Neurological Rehabilitation (Level 2a Unit)
  
  A 26-bedded specialist unit delivering multidisciplinary rehabilitation for adults with stroke or complex neurological conditions

• Acute Neurology Team
  
  A specialist MDT managing a broad range of neurological conditions, with input from ICU through to acute wards
• Hyper Acute & Acute Stroke Unit
  
  A 34-bedded unit—one of the largest in the country—providing early, intensive stroke assessment and intervention
• Across each rotation, you will manage a diverse and complex caseload, developing advanced clinical reasoning and specialist skills within a highly regarded service.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Deliver specialist occupational therapy assessment and intervention within neurological care
• Work as an integral member of a collaborative multidisciplinary team
• Contribute to patient-centred goal setting and rehabilitation planning
• Support patients to achieve functional recovery
• Lead on complex discharge planning, working closely with community partners
• Use strong clinical reasoning to independently manage a varied caseload
• Adapt confidently across different neurological clinical environments
• Supervise and support Band 5 staff, therapy assistants, and students
• Contribute to audit, quality improvement, and service development initiatives
• Demonstrate a commitment to evidence-based practice and ongoing professional development

Support & Development

We are committed to helping you thrive in your role and develop your career:

• Supervision from experienced Band 7 Occupational Therapists
• Regular 1:1 supervision, joint sessions, and structured learning opportunities
• Access to in-house teaching and peer support across the neuro pathway
• Opportunities to engage in audit, research, and service improvement projects
• Access to external CPD funding to support specialist development
• Opportunities to gain experience in leadership and supervision

Why Join Us?

At Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are committed to:

• Staff wellbeing and flexible working
• Creating a supportive and inclusive team culture
• Promoting continuous professional development and career progression
• Delivering high-quality, compassionate care to our patients
• Valuing innovation, development, and clinical excellence
• Exposure to a highly varied and specialist neurological caseload

You will be joining a forward-thinking, motivated therapy team who are proud of their role in shaping and delivering excellence in neurological rehabilitation.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking an enthusiastic and adaptable Occupational Therapist who:

• Has HCPC registration and experience in a relevant clinical setting
• Is passionate about neurology and stroke care
• Demonstrates strong communication and teamwork skills
• Shows initiative, flexibility, and a commitment to service development and learning

Ready to Apply?

If you are looking to build your specialist neurological skills within a supportive, innovative, and forward-thinking team, we would love to hear from you.

For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact:

Kath Lake  [email protected]  Therapy Clinical Pathway Lead for Neurology

Esther Brimacombe [email protected]  Occupational Therapy Clinical Specialist in Neuro Rehab

Cecily Borgstein  [email protected] Occupational Therapy Team Lead in Acute Neurology Team

For full job details please refer to enclosed job description.

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent.
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration.
• Relevant clinical experience.

Desirable

• Post registration training within specialist area of care.
• Member of British Association of Occupational Therapists.
• Practice Placement Qualification.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is at the forefront of everything we do. We are proud to be able to offer our staff some fantastic benefits including our on-site Nursery, access to our free Beach Hut for those long summer days, our on-site Wellness Centre including a gym and a swimming pool, access to our fantastic staff networks including LGBTQ, Race Equality and Disability, and awards ceremonies to recognise your achievements. We believe we can offer support to all of our staff when they need it the most.

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs. 

For more information, please see our People and OD Strategy 2026