Specialist Occupational Therapist - Rehabilitation - FTC March 2026
Job overview
Closing Date: 12.05.25 (this may change dependent on response)Shortlisting to take place in the week following closing date: commencing 13.05.25
Interview expected to take place in the week following shortlisting: commencing 19.05.25
After securing significant additional funding, we are excited to announce that we have the opportunity for motivated, flexible and forward-thinking therapists to join the rehabilitation team in the Bradford District and Craven Integrated Rehabilitation Pathway (previously Long Covid Pathway).
With 5 years supporting Long Covid patients in a primarily group based, virtual format, and have built an experienced, supportive team leading the way in complex rehabilitation delivery, including but not limited to Fatigue, Breathing Pattern Disorders, Stress, Pain, Symptoms of Dysautonomia and a very successful Vocational Rehab offering.
We are now expanding this offer of Vocational Rehabilitation to other long-term conditions to support people to remain in and return to work. We understand this is often an unexplored clinical area, as a team we are committed to supporting you to build your clinical rehabilitation skills in symptom-based management and Vocational Rehabilitation.
This will consist of a combination of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists. We would be keen to support secondments from other NHS organisations to provide opportunities for development across the local area and beyond.
Main duties of the job
Main duties of the role
This unique role encourages therapists to use their core skills in rehabilitation to promote behaviour change and support patients to self-manage their symptoms / condition and in turn support them to return to work/remain in work in a healthy capacity.
You will have the opportunity to run and continue the development of group-based interventions. Whilst also utilising 1:1 work with patients for a more individualised approach where required. You will develop skills in AHP Work and Health report writing and utilise Med3 FIT notes to support these, as well as reasonable adjustments and phased return to work planning.
As a team we currently provide a range of group-based interventions using a CBT style approach in the following areas: sleep, stress management, brain fog / cognition, fatigue management, remaining in work, returning to work, breathing pattern disorder, mindfulness for health, gentle movement, as well as weekly drop-in sessions for mindfulness and mindful movement.
You will be supported by both regular MDT meetings and clinical supervision, as well as an engaging IST programme.
Working for our organisation
The recent Darzi report and subsequent 10-year health plan highlights the NHS need to shift care closer to home, tilt towards technologically driven services and support the public back to work. As a team we are consistently striving to push forward our care delivery, and the use of technology to provide and evaluate patient care is heavily utilised.We welcome change and encourage staff at all levels to contribute to service development.
Our People Charter outlines the behaviours we can expect from one another and what you can expect from Bradford Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust:
- We value people
- We are one team
- We care
We’re keen to meet people who share these values and are passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are looking to recruit a total of 3.4 WTE band 6 therapists.
We believe this is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced B5 or B6 therapist who is seeking a unique opportunity to further both their clinical and behaviour change skills. The team are one of few in the country selected to support this work and you could be at the forefront of this symptom based, patient led service expansion.
With close links to Bradford University and system wide support across Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Bradford District Care Trust and Airedale NHS Foundation trust we can offer training opportunities that may be required to help meet the needs of this patient group.
Flexible working patterns and contracted hours will be considered within for the role advertised and we would encourage you to discuss this on an individual basis. The role will be prodmenantly based at home with regular travel to clinic settings across the patch.
We support a mixture of home, virtual and out-patient clinic based working due to the area that we cover across Bradford, Airedale, and Craven with a personalised approach to patient care. Patient contact will vary from telephone, video, face to face, individual and / or group sessions.
The Integrated Rehab team provides a holistic service putting self-management and rehabilitation at the centre of the care we provide for our service users. We strive to provide the right level of care that the patient requires at that time. We are excited to provide a brilliant learning opportunity for a therapist to further their skill set across the broad spectrum of symptom-based management within a supportive team.
Working as part of a large MDT including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Mental Health Nursing, Speech and Language therapy and Long Covid Assessors enables us to think innovatively about how we meet the complex needs of our clients.We also have access to respiratory, cardiology and rehabilitation specialist consultants at regular MDT meetings.
These roles are currently until end of March 2026. There may be potential for these to be extended depending on future announcements. If you would like any further clarity please don't hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria- Relevant and recent experience working at band 5 level
- Relevant and recent experience working in rehabilitation across a range of clinical areas
- Experience of multidisciplinary team working and working collaboratively with other professions and agencies including statutory, private and voluntary sector services
- Experience of some core presentations of persistent physical symptoms inclusive of (but not limited to) Fatigue, Breathlessness/ Breathing pattern disorders, stress.
- Experience of clinical supervision both as supervisee and supervisor
- Recent experience of student training / mentoring
- Experience of using telehealth, video conferencing and other remote methods of clinical practice.
- Experience of working at band 6 level
- Experience of vocational/ fatigue assessments and treatments
- Experience of clinical management of patients with long term conditions, including Long Covid, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Post Viral Fatigue
- Experience writing AHP Reports or Phased Return plans
- Experience of taking part in or leading on Projects/ service improvements
- Experienced in use of IT applications
- Experience of taking part in or leading an audit or research project
- Conducting appraisals
Skills
Essential criteria- Ability to work well within a team, to empower people to realise and maintain their potential in relation to health and wellbeing.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills
- Excellent communication and counselling skills including observation, listening and empathy
- Able to adjust style to suit the situation
- Highly developed negotiation and problem-solving skills in complex situations
- Excellent analytical and reflective skills
- Excellent presentation skills, both written and verbal, and ability to adjust style and content as appropriate
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Ability to cope with working in a stressful environment, including emotional or aggressive patients and carers
- Ability to concentrate and work intensely in a busy environment
- Ability to work flexibly to meet own and service needs
- Motivational interviewing skills
- Audit and critical appraisal skills
- Ability to facilitate skills in others
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
- Knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to support advanced clinical practice across post Covid rehabilitation
- Knowledge of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership working
- Knowledge of clinical standards and ability to implement and audit these in the team
- Knowledge of the principles of student-centred learning and reflective practice
- Knowledge of relevant national and local legislation in regard to Long Covid Management and Vocational Rehabilitation
- Knowledge of the Equality Act (2010) and reasonable adjustments in the workplace
- Specialist knowledge and clinical reasoning skills to support expert clinical practice
- Knowledge of behaviour change principles
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree or equivalent pre-registration award in Physiotherapy
- State registration with the Health and Care Professions Council
- Recent post graduate courses relevant to holistic rehabilitation
- Completion of course in Professional Practice education
- Successful completion of a professionally validated specialist courses
- MSc modules in a relevant area of practice
- Leadership course
- ECDL or formal qualifications in word processing and spreadsheets
Other Requirements
Essential criteria- Ability to travel between clinics and sites in a timely manner.
- Willingness to uphold the Trust’s values
- Willingness to engage in Tele-rehab
- Member of relevant Professional special interest groups/organisations