Senior Occupational Therapist – Prevention of Deconditioning

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 January 2026

This pioneering AHP role focuses on preventing deconditioning in acute hospital wards. Around 30% of older inpatients experience hospital‑associated deconditioning, affecting physical function, cognition, independence, and wellbeing, and increasing length of stay, falls risk, and care needs.

As part of Bedford Hospital's Prevention of Deconditioning Team, the post-holder supports patients through reconditioning, promoting early mobilisation, meaningful activity, and patient‑centred care to maintain or restore function and confidence.

Collaboration is central: working closely with nursing, therapy, and medical teams, providing education and practical support to embed prevention into everyday practice and enhance staff capability.

The role also leads innovative projects, including the PIVOT study using volunteers for ward exercise programmes, Dance for Health to improve activity and wellbeing, and the planned Bedford Health Radio Exercise project, providing weekly exercise guidance for patients in hospital and at home.

Through service development, research, and auditing, the role drives sustainable improvements in patient outcomes and multidisciplinary practice.

The Prevention of Deconditioning Team is currently working on targeted wards at Bedford Hospital South Wing. The aim of the service is to gather data and understand how and why patients are deconditioning, and to develop projects that address the culture around immobility and inactivity in a hospital setting.

As an Occupational Therapist within this team, you will be responsible for completing complex assessments to support patients' ongoing reconditioning and rehabilitation goals, as well as supporting Band 5 staff within the hospital and assisting with the use of our new Therapy Assessment Suite. You will also bring valuable professional insights to the role to increase the robustness of the service.

You will need to work autonomously in some situations, as the role may require you to work across multiple ward areas without constant direct supervision. You will also support ward teams with their clinical caseloads as needed for ongoing rehabilitation and, in some instances, to assist with patient discharges.

You will be expected to build effective relationships with colleagues from different areas of the MDT to help reduce the impact of deconditioning in our hospitals. Opportunities to deliver training and education as part of a broader initiative throughout the hospital and to external partners where required will also be available.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high‑quality training and development to help you grow your career. We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting‑edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work including management of patient caseloads. Formulate and develop individual treatment programmes underpinned…