Band 6 Locum Adults Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist – Urgent Response OT Team

Brief Job Overview

Location: London Borough of Barnet – Colindale

Area: North London Social Services

Salary: £34.31ph Limited/Umbrella

Job Type: Locum

Contract Length: Ongoing

Working Hours: Full time – Monday to Thursday, 09:00–17:15; Friday, 09:00–17:00

Working Pattern: Hybrid – 1–2 days per week in the office, with Thursday as the whole-team office day

The London Borough of Barnet is seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist to join its Urgent Response OT Team in Colindale. This is a fast-paced community service providing predominantly moving and handling assessments and urgent Occupational Therapy intervention for residents who require immediate support.

The successful Occupational Therapist will work autonomously, responding to urgent referrals and completing Occupational Therapy and Moving and Handling Risk Assessments. The role includes participation in the duty rota, with one duty OT day per week, and involves visiting residents across the whole borough.

This role would particularly suit an Occupational Therapist with excellent manual handling experience who is confident making professional decisions independently in urgent and complex situations. A supportive management structure is in place, with regular supervision, guidance and opportunities for professional development.

Key Responsibilities

• Complete urgent Occupational Therapy assessments and Moving and Handling Risk Assessments.
• Provide timely Occupational Therapy intervention to residents requiring immediate support.
• Undertake predominantly moving and handling assessments within a fast-paced urgent response service.
• Assess situations where equipment is unavailable or existing equipment is no longer appropriate.
• Assess and respond to high-risk manual handling situations where carers may be at risk of physical injury.
• Respond to safeguarding concerns relating to equipment or manual handling.
• Assess residents who are at immediate risk of injury because they cannot safely transfer on or off the bed, chair or toilet, or safely manage stairs.
• Assess cases where equipment has been deemed unrepairable or unreplaceable by NRS and the absence of equipment places the resident or carer at high risk of injury.
• Complete manual handling assessments where an increase from single-handed to double-handed care is requested.
• Support appropriate intervention for residents with palliative diagnoses where Continuing Health Care or North London Hospice is not involved.
• Participate in the duty rota, completing one duty OT day per week.
• Prioritise urgent referrals and respond appropriately to immediate risks.
• Work autonomously while accessing management support and professional guidance when required.
• Maintain accurate and timely clinical records and assessment documentation.
• Travel across the whole London Borough of Barnet to undertake urgent visits.

About You

We are looking for a confident and experienced Occupational Therapist with excellent manual handling skills and the ability to work autonomously. As moving and handling assessment is a major part of the role, you will need strong practical experience in this area and the confidence to make sound professional judgements in urgent situations.

You will be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment, prioritising urgent referrals and responding to residents who may be at immediate risk of injury. You will also be able to communicate effectively with residents, carers and other professionals while maintaining a strong focus on safety, independence and appropriate intervention.

Requirements

• Relevant Occupational Therapy qualification.
• Current HCPC registration.
• Excellent manual handling experience is essential.
• Experience completing moving and handling assessments and risk assessments.
• Ability to work autonomously and make professional decisions independently.
• Experience assessing equipment needs and identifying appropriate solutions.
• Ability to respond effectively to urgent and high-risk situations.
• Strong communication, assessment and clinical reasoning skills.
• Ability to participate in a duty rota, including one duty OT day per week.
• Ability to undertake visits across the London Borough of Barnet.
• Ideally based within or close to Barnet to support timely responses to urgent visits.
• Ability to work the required full-time hours; reduced or condensed hours cannot be considered.

Contract & Salary

• Job Title: Occupational Therapist – Urgent Response OT Team
• Location: London Borough of Barnet – Colindale
• Area: North London Social Services
• Job Type: Locum
• Contract: Ongoing
• Salary: £34.31ph Limited/Umbrella
• Working Hours: Monday to Thursday, 09:00–17:15; Friday, 09:00–17:00
• Working Pattern: Hybrid – 1–2 days per week in the office; Thursday is the team office day
• Hours: Full time only – reduced or condensed hours cannot be considered

How to Apply

To apply for this Occupational Therapist – Urgent Response OT Team role, apply using the form on the page.

Code: U/AH.005010. BE21147