Job summary

Are you a current B5 Occupational Therapist, Newly Qualified Occupational Therapist or completing your MSc or BSc in Occupational Therapy looking to start your career in a dynamic, supportive and exciting environment with a lot of different learning opportunities?

At ESNEFT, we are the largest Trust in the East of England with a fully integrated therapy service working across acute services and in the community.

We are looking for talented Occupational Therapists with commitment and enthusiasm, who are keen to learn and have the ambition to be the best they can be. Our vision for the next five years is to be recognised as the hospital of choice by placing patients at the centre of everything we do, based on principles of quality and safety, access and accountability and continuous improvement.

We are proud to offer a diverse range of rotations across the acute setting and community settings. These are ideal positions for new graduates and will offer you the opportunity to develop your clinical skills across a range of core rotations including:

Trauma and OrthopaedicsNeurologyStrokeOlder People's ServicesSurgeryGeneral medical'REACT' team (admission avoidance, emergency department and falls/ frailty clinics).Ipswich West Integrated Neighbourhood Team

Main duties of the job

You will work as part of an award winning progressive and innovative integrated therapies team to deliver patient-centred, quality care. We have a robust band 5 meeting schedule and offer frequent peer support opportunities.

The Therapy service has a high profile within the Trust operating a 7-day service and thrives on innovation and challenge. It has taken a lead role in many developments, which are helping to shape the future of patient pathways within the local area.

You will demonstrate good communication and organisation skills, and work as part of a large service both as an effective team member and an autonomous practitioner. Our workforce is fully committed to staff development and CPD, with opportunities to specialise and for onward career progression through to Extended Scope Practitioner level.

About us

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients' own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisations in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what's widely regarded as the world's best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

Details

Date posted

28 September 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £39,043 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

432-HR874-26

Job locations

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description.

For further information or an informal chat please contact:

Shelley Lachenicht, Band 7 Occupational Therapist, 01473 702 071

Job description Job responsibilities For full details of the responsibilities and duties of this role please see the attached job description. For further information or an informal chat please contact: Shelley Lachenicht, Band 7 Occupational Therapist, 01473 702 071

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Dip COT/BSc/MSc in Occupational therapy
• Registration with HCPC

Desirable

• Associated prior learning qualification
• Membership of professional body / specialist Interest Group
• Full UK drivers licence

Experience

Essential

• Wide range of fieldwork placements
• Application of OT process
• Experience of working and communicating effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team.

Desirable

• Prior work/voluntary experience (in associated field)
• Specialist fieldwork placements

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of relevant legislation e.g. NHS reforms etc.
• Knowledge and application of current best practice in OT
• Knowledge and application of Clinical Governance principles/CQC

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Discharge to Assess model and the role OT's play in facilitating this.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential Dip COT/BSc/MSc in Occupational therapy Registration with HCPC Desirable Associated prior learning qualification Membership of professional body / specialist Interest Group Full UK drivers licence Experience Essential Wide range of fieldwork placements Application of OT process Experience of working and communicating effectively as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team. Desirable Prior work/voluntary experience (in associated field) Specialist fieldwork placements Knowledge Essential Awareness of relevant legislation e.g. NHS reforms etc. Knowledge and application of current best practice in OT Knowledge and application of Clinical Governance principles/CQC Desirable Knowledge of the Discharge to Assess model and the role OT's play in facilitating this.

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 (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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 (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Ipswich Hospital

Heath Road

Ipswich

IP4 5PD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.esneft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)