Occupational Therapist - Triage and Assessment Lead


Company:	NHS Jobs
Salary:	Negotiable
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Wolverhampton, WV1 1RL
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	16 Sept 2026
Closing date:	2 Oct 2026

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Summary

Occupational Therapist- Triage and Assessment Lead Job Purpose:To provide a responsive Occupational Therapy triage and assessment service, ensuring that adults and children receive the right support at the right time. The post holder will act as a first point of contact for Occupational Therapy referrals, undertaking strengths-based assessments, applying clinical reasoning and risk management skills, and identifying appropriate interventions that maximise independence and wellbeing. This includes providing advice, information, equipment, adaptations, assistive technology and signposting to relevant services Main responsibilities: Assessment and Triage Screen and triage Occupational Therapy referrals. Undertake telephone, virtual and face-to-face assessments where appropriate. Identify levels of need, risk and urgency. Prioritise referrals in line with service criteria and agreed pathways. Determine the most appropriate intervention or onward referral. Occupational Therapy Practice Apply strengths-based and person-centered approaches. Assess functional ability and occupational performance. Identify solutions that promote independence and reduce reliance on long-term services. Recommend equipment, minor adaptations and assistive technology where appropriate. Provide advice and guidance to individuals, families and carers Corporate and Professional Responsibility To have responsibility for own professional practice, as defined within corporate guidelines and priorities. Adhering to Occupational Therapy and HCPC professional standards. Take responsibility to ensure the practice and learning of other staff where appropriate to include registered and non-registered staff. To ensure that Customer Outcomes are achieved Take responsibility for own practice. Apply the principles of holistic practice using reasoning skills to analyse and prioritise workload and outcomes. Take responsibility in this area to ensure the practice of other staff, where appropriate. Quality assuring and authorising own outcome led assessments within an agreed budgetary envelope. Ensure assessments are focused on supporting independence, demonstrating optimum and proportionate use of available resources across the community. Safeguarding Ensure that vulnerable children/adults are safeguarded by appropriately identifying and reporting potential abuse in accordance with local safeguarding policy and practice procedures. Performance/Supervision Active participation in the supervision process to improve performance and enhance confidence in own Occupational Therapy practice. Provide professional supervision and support to others when/ where appropriate to include OT students. Staff Development/Coaching To actively participate and where necessary take responsibility for receiving and providing staff development opportunities to apply critical reflection and analysis to inform decision making. Resource Use To take responsibility for the identification of suitable resources to meet the assessed needs of individuals and carers informed by evidence based practice. Administration/Meetings To take responsibility for working in accordance with systems and quality standards for communication and administration in accordance with council and legal duties and responsibilities. Service Development To participate in activities that will create opportunities for new and different outcomes for individuals and carers that will maximise fewer financial resources. Specialist Skills and Knowledge To contribute to identifying, developing and evaluating specialist skills and knowledge in own and others practice. To be up to date and have an understanding of all legislative requirements impacting on assessment and care management for adults and children. Joint Working To demonstrate the ability, skills and knowledge to engage and make competent assessments of need with individuals, families, groups, communities and carers that identifies relevant partners who need to be involved in further intervention. Risk Assessment & Management To ensure to apply risk assessment in accordance with legislative and procedural requirements whilst adhering to the principles of maximising choice, control and potential. Equality & Diversity To be responsible for ensuring self-practice reflects and promotes the principles of equality and diversity and are compliant with the current legislation. Core Skills Collaborative Practice: Building effective relationships with individuals, carers and professionals that promote engagement, shared decision making and strengths based outcomes. Virtual Assessment and Triage: Undertaking telephone and virtual Occupational Therapy assessments to identify functional abilities, needs, risks and priorities, using professional judgement to determine the most appropriate intervention or pathway. Enablement: Supporting individuals to maximise independence, wellbeing and participation in daily activities through advice, guidance, self management strategies, equipment and assistive technology solutions. Clinical Reasoning and Decision Making: Applying Occupational Therapy knowledge and evidence based practice to analyse information, prioritise referrals, assess risk and make timely decisions regarding support and intervention. Problem solving: Identifying occupational performance difficulties and developing practical, person centred solutions that promote independence and prevent escalation of need. Risk Assessment and Management: Assessing and managing risk through information gathering, professional judgment and proportionate decision making, ensuring individuals receive the right support at the right time. Equipment, Adaptations and Independent Living Solutions: Using knowledge of equipment, minor adaptations, assistive technology and community resources to support safe and independent living, primarily through virtual assessment and advice. Abilities Demonstrate the ability to undertake strengths based Occupational Therapy triage, screening and assessment using telephone, virtual and digital approaches. Apply professional judgement and clinical reasoning to analyse information, identify risks, prioritise referrals and determine appropriate interventions or pathways. Effectively gather, interpret and evaluate information from individuals, carers, professionals and records to support timely decision making. Communicate complex information clearly and confidently, providing advice, guidance and recommendations to individuals, families, colleagues and partner organisations. Work autonomously within a fast paced duty environment, managing competing demands and responding flexibly to changing priorities. Model and promote effective information sharing, ensuring compliance and information governance, safeguarding and professional standards. Demonstrate the ability to manage uncertainty and incomplete information whilst making proportionate, defensible decisions that promote independence and well-being. Utilise knowledge of equipment, assistive technology, adaptations and community resources to identify practical solutions that support independent living. Maintain accurate, timely and person centred records using electronic case management systems. Build effective working relationships with health, housing and social care partners to facilitate coordinated and timely responses.

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