Summer might feel like a time to slow down, but in NHS recruitment, it's anything but quiet. June, July, and August are some of the busiest months of the year for locum demand across occupational therapy, and if you haven't registered yet, now is exactly the right time to do it.

Here's why the summer window matters more than you might think.

The NHS gets busy. Fast.
NHS trusts plan their staffing around the calendar, and summer always brings a surge in cover requests. Permanent OT staff take annual leave, caseloads still need managing, and patient demand doesn't pause for the school holidays. The result? A spike in short-notice locum bookings across community, inpatient, mental health, and social care OT settings.

Trusts have already started filling these gaps, and the pace only picks up through July and August. If you're registered and available, you're still well placed to get ahead of the rush.

It's also peak season for locum funding
With permanent OT staff taking annual leave and caseloads holding steady through the school holidays, many trusts release additional locum funding specifically to cover summer gaps. That creates a window where OT roles appear quickly and rates can be competitive, but it tends to move fast as services fill positions on a first-come, first-served basis.

Summer locum work fits around your life
One of the reasons so many OTs love locum work is the flexibility, and summer makes that even more appealing. Whether you're looking to fill a gap between permanent roles, boost your income over the summer months, or simply try a new setting before committing, locum work gives you that control. You set your availability. You choose your locations. And with JustOT behind you, you've got a specialist recruiter who lives and breathes occupational therapy recruitment.

Don't wait until the last minute
If you register now, you'll be compliance-ready while summer demand is still at its peak. That means no delays, no missed opportunities, and no frustration of watching roles fill while you're still uploading documents.

What JustOT can do for you
We specialise exclusively in occupational therapy recruitment. It's all we do. That means when you call us, you speak to someone who genuinely understands your specialism, your banding, your preferred settings, and what matters most to you in a role.

Whether you're a newly qualified OT exploring your first locum experience, or a band 6 or 7 looking for a change of pace this summer, we'd love to help.

Ready to make this summer count? Register with JustOT today and let's find you something great.