Specialist Occupational Therapist - Neuro Rehab

Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Occupational Therapist to join our Community Based Neuro Rehabilitation and Early Supported Discharge for Stroke teams in a full-time, permanent split role.

You will work 22.5 hours per week in the West Berkshire community and 15 hours on the inpatient Neuro Rehabilitation Unit at West Berkshire Community Hospital, Thatcham.

Working within a supportive interdisciplinary team, you will deliver specialist neurological assessments and rehabilitation alongside OTs, Physiotherapists, Neuropsychologists, Speech and Language Therapists, Stroke Nurses and Therapy Assistants.

You will work closely with the consultant-led ward MDT, assess specialist equipment needs and coordinate complex discharges to support safe transitions home or to other care settings.

You will benefit from structured supervision, specialist training, professional development opportunities and involvement in service improvement projects.

Community working offers flexibility to manage your diary and caseload, including independent and joint home visits. You will also support the wider Berkshire Neuro Rehabilitation service as required, working with other neurological conditions within your competency.

A full driving licence and daily access to a vehicle are essential due to travel across Berkshire.

Main duties of the job

• Use specialist Occupational Therapy skills to assess and rehabilitate patients with neurological conditions, working with the MDT to maximise outcomes and achieve meaningful goals.
• Undertake assessments, differential diagnosis and treatment planning for patients with varying complexities, maintaining accurate clinical records and reports using evidence-based practice.
• Apply specialist manual therapy, sensory, cognitive and perceptual assessment skills to develop appropriate treatment plans.
• Liaise with external agencies and services to address patients' care, social, postural and equipment needs.
• Collaborate with the MDT on clinical decisions, patient care and triage of new referrals.
• Provide specialist advice, education and guidance to patients, relatives, carers, colleagues and external professionals to ensure consistent care.
• Supervise, train and support Therapy Assistants and students.
• Contribute to service development, clinical audits, team training and improvements in clinical practice.
• Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively.
• Maintain professional competence through CPD, clinical guidelines and current research.
• Adhere to Trust policies, professional standards and clinical governance requirements.

About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Benefits
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites

Date posted: 23 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 371-CHS1377
Closing date: 01 November 2026

Job responsibilities
The must haves for this role:

• Qualified Occupational Therapist
• Health Care Professions Council Registration
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Car driver with access to a vehicle for daily use to travel to patients homes

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification. Your application is your opportunity to demonstrate to us how you meet the requirements of the role. We recognise that AI tools can support accessibility, equity and confidence for applicants. However, it's important that examples and responses given in your supporting statement genuinely reflect your own experience and abilities, as these will be explored further during the selection process. AI must not be used to provide misleading or false information during any stage of the application journey.

In addition to explaining how you meet the person specification, you must complete your employment history for at least the last five years. Any experience, skills or responsibilities referenced in your supporting statement should be evidenced within your employment history. Applications that do not include sufficient employment history to support the experience claimed may not be shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Stonewall Proud Employer, Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Lisa Ellis on 0118 904 3440 or email: lisa.ellis@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification
Education, qualifications or training
Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Royal College of OT Membership
• Formal post-graduate qualification in relevant area e.g. MSc
• Membership of Relevant Special Interest Group

Continuous Professional Development
Essential

• Post-graduate training in a relevant clinical speciality such as: 1. Accredited courses in Cognitive impairment 2. Accredited courses in Perceptual impairment 3. Accreditation of Practice Educators

Previous Experience
Essential

• Post graduate experience within a neurological service
• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of appraising staff
• Experience of Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary teamworking
• Experience of audits
• Experience of research methods
• Experience of liaising with social care in the UK

Desirable

• Minimum of 6 years post graduate experience
• Minimum of 2 years experience as a senior Occupational Therapist
• Experience of formal and informal teaching

Knowledge, skills and abilities
Essential

• Able to demonstrate confidence in own decisions
• Proven clinical leadership ability
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work well within a team
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence and clinical development of the team
• Forward thinking
• Ability to work independently
• Understanding national policies/guidelines relevant to clinical area
• Understanding of clinical governance and it's relevance to this clinical area
• Presentation skills
• Computer skills
• Evident of own self development through PDP
• Ability to develop others through CPD/PDP/In-service training
• Flexible and adaptable
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Understanding of social services in the United Kingdom
• Willingness to learn
• Ability to pass on skills and knowledge to others - both formally and informally

Desirable

• Highly specialist knowledge of Occupational Therapy in management of patients with neurological conditions
• Knowledge of Assistive Technology for neuro patients
• Knowledge of audit and research

Additional Requirements
Essential

• DBS clearance
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Able to travel effectively between sites and patient's homes
• UK driving licence holder and car driver

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
Address: West Berkshire Community Hospital, London Road, Thatcham, Berkshire, RG18 3AS
Employer's website: https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Service Manager Neuro Rehabilitation, Lisa Ellis, lisa.ellis@berkshire.nhs.uk, 01189043440