Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Therapy Service Lead for Professional Development

The closing date is 04 May 2026

Job summary

Join us as a Therapy Service Lead and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Therapy Services across Worcestershire Acute Hospitals. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced clinician and educator to lead innovation, drive high quality practice, and influence service development across WAHT. You will guide the therapy service in evidence based practice, clinical standards, leading education and CPD, and supporting the growth of our current and future workforce.

In this role, you will inspire and develop therapy teams, oversee training and quality assurance, and champion best practice through supervision, audit, research and service improvement. You will work closely with Therapy Managers and Service Leads to deliver our strategic vision, while maintaining your own specialist caseload and modelling exemplary clinical care.

If you are passionate about advancing therapy practice, motivated by developing others, and excited by the chance to influence service-wide change, this role offers the scope, support and professional environment to thrive. Join us and help shape a responsive, forward thinking Therapy Service that delivers outstanding care for our patients and communities.

Main duties of the job

The role provides expert leadership in evidence based Therapy practice and education across the service. It oversees the organisation and delivery of training, audit activity and quality assurance, ensuring alignment with Trust objectives and operating within allocated budgets.The post leads clinical supervision, teaching and development for Therapy staff, offering structured appraisal, guidance and support to junior and senior clinicians. It designs and delivers service wide development activities, promotes best practice, and ensures translation of emerging evidence into high quality clinical care.

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment:

As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role.

Applicants will be prompted in the application form to declare if they wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, and their response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

If you have any queries about expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please contact Rob Saunders (HR Manager - Recruitment) in confidence via email robert.saunders1@nhs.net

About us

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

DBS Checks and Costs

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Details

Date posted

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-26-0311

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Job description

Job responsibilities

For full list of duties please refer to the attached Job Description document of which includes Key Duties, Clinical, Professional, Communication, Development and Delivery, Leadership, Training, Education and Research.

Key Duties:

To be the Therapy services expert lead in evidenced based and current Therapy practice and Education.

Develops, oversees and is responsible for ensuring the organisation and delivery of training, audit and quality assurance within the Therapy Services.

Develops practice and educational developments and improvements in line with the service and Trust objectives.

Ensures the service operates within the budgetary constraints allocated to training and post graduate education and works with the Therapy Service Managers to identify and deliver high quality training and postgraduate study.

To be responsible for leading with the clinical supervision, teaching of junior and senior staff within the Therapy services and dependant on individual speciality.

To provide structured appraisals, formal meetings and informal support in order to manage and supervise the senior staff regarding clinical issues.

Design and deliver development activities for Therapy activities for Therapy staff throughout the service. This will include training activities, workshops and practice sharing forums

To be a clinical leader within therapy services leading by example, demonstrating good practice, openness and responsiveness to emerging evidence and its translation into excellent clinical practice.

Provide guidance and support to therapy teams in all specialist areas and to support the development of practice within Therapies.

To oversee the therapy student activity in partnership with local universities.

Participate in the planning, development and evaluation of practice within Therapies holding responsibility for defined projects.

To ensure regular managerial and clinical problem-solving and supervision of all clinicians within a structured clinical supervision framework.

To be responsible, with the other 8a Therapy Service Leads, for leadership in maintaining and improving all aspects of clinical governance, evidence based practice and quality assurance within the Therapy Service.

Contributes to strategic planning and service development of the Therapy service and deputises for Therapy Service Manager and other Therapy Service Leads when required.

To work alongside the 8a Therapy Service Leads to initiate and manage clinical service development initiatives, implementing and sustaining change where necessary.

To utilise expert clinical reasoning and specialist skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and to provide specialist support and advice to other therapy staff whilst maintaining a caseload as an autonomous practitioner which includes highly complex patients within speciality area.

To utilise evidence based principles and current best practise guidelines and ensure that all members of the Therapy service do likewise.

To develop and lead the CPD and other developmental activities and encourage all members of the Therapy service to do likewise.

To participate in, facilitate or lead, research projects within the Therapy services and designated clinical area.

To educate the multi-disciplinary team, therapists in the Trust and therapists nationally (as appropriate) on elements of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, and raise the profile of the service and Trust.

To work closely with the other members of the multi-disciplinary team and demonstrate excellent communication skills.

To support the Therapy Managers ensuring that the Therapy services is responsive to user requirements within the available resources and in accordance with directorate and departmental plans.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For full list of duties please refer to the attached Job Description document of which includes Key Duties, Clinical, Professional, Communication, Development and Delivery, Leadership, Training, Education and Research.

Key Duties:

To be the Therapy services expert lead in evidenced based and current Therapy practice and Education.

Develops, oversees and is responsible for ensuring the organisation and delivery of training, audit and quality assurance within the Therapy Services.

Develops practice and educational developments and improvements in line with the service and Trust objectives.

Ensures the service operates within the budgetary constraints allocated to training and post graduate education and works with the Therapy Service Managers to identify and deliver high quality training and postgraduate study.

To be responsible for leading with the clinical supervision, teaching of junior and senior staff within the Therapy services and dependant on individual speciality.

To provide structured appraisals, formal meetings and informal support in order to manage and supervise the senior staff regarding clinical issues.

Design and deliver development activities for Therapy activities for Therapy staff throughout the service. This will include training activities, workshops and practice sharing forums

To be a clinical leader within therapy services leading by example, demonstrating good practice, openness and responsiveness to emerging evidence and its translation into excellent clinical practice.

Provide guidance and support to therapy teams in all specialist areas and to support the development of practice within Therapies.

To oversee the therapy student activity in partnership with local universities.

Participate in the planning, development and evaluation of practice within Therapies holding responsibility for defined projects.

To ensure regular managerial and clinical problem-solving and supervision of all clinicians within a structured clinical supervision framework.

To be responsible, with the other 8a Therapy Service Leads, for leadership in maintaining and improving all aspects of clinical governance, evidence based practice and quality assurance within the Therapy Service.

Contributes to strategic planning and service development of the Therapy service and deputises for Therapy Service Manager and other Therapy Service Leads when required.

To work alongside the 8a Therapy Service Leads to initiate and manage clinical service development initiatives, implementing and sustaining change where necessary.

To utilise expert clinical reasoning and specialist skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and to provide specialist support and advice to other therapy staff whilst maintaining a caseload as an autonomous practitioner which includes highly complex patients within speciality area.

To utilise evidence based principles and current best practise guidelines and ensure that all members of the Therapy service do likewise.

To develop and lead the CPD and other developmental activities and encourage all members of the Therapy service to do likewise.

To participate in, facilitate or lead, research projects within the Therapy services and designated clinical area.

To educate the multi-disciplinary team, therapists in the Trust and therapists nationally (as appropriate) on elements of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, and raise the profile of the service and Trust.

To work closely with the other members of the multi-disciplinary team and demonstrate excellent communication skills.

To support the Therapy Managers ensuring that the Therapy services is responsive to user requirements within the available resources and in accordance with directorate and departmental plans.

Person Specification

Skills/ Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.
  • Highly developed clinical skills and advanced knowledge within the specialist therapy area.
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate others and manage change effectively.
  • Experience of people management, supervision and performance management.
  • Thorough understanding of professional, legal and clinical governance responsibilities.
  • Ability to analyse and manage complex professional and ethical issues.
  • Knowledge and application of audit and survey data to inform service improvement.
  • In-depth understanding of current local and national NHS priorities and issues.
  • Experience of leading or contributing to clinical audit, research, or guideline and policy development.

Desirable

  • Experience contributing to business planning and financial or budget awareness.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma or Degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy.
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Achieved or working towards a relevant postgraduate qualification at Level 7 (e.g. MSc, PGCert etc.).
  • Demonstrate evidence of management and leadership development (e.g. ILM, NHS Leadership Academy, MSc modules, or equivalent).

Desirable

  • Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) or Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience as a senior clinician, including team leadership or management responsibilities.
  • Extensive experience working within an acute NHS setting.
  • Extensive post-registration experience within the relevant specialty.
  • Evidence of recent and relevant continuing professional development (CPD).
  • Experience of staff supervision, appraisal and professional development from different professional backgrounds.
  • Demonstrable involvement in service development and change management.
  • Evidence of participation in clinical audit, research and service evaluation.
  • Operational management experience, including workforce management.
  • Experience of teaching and supporting staff and students.
  • Proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience of liaising with external stakeholders and boundary spanning.

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering teaching and lecturing.
  • Active participation in research activities.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Professional, approachable and confident manner.
  • Committed, enthusiastic and motivated.
  • Demonstrates initiative and resilience.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to motivate self and others.
  • Values-led and aligned with the Trust and therapy service vision and values.

Other Job Requirements

Essential

  • Willingness and ability to work across multiple sites.
  • Flexibility to work across a seven-day service, including participation in on-call and weekend rotas as required.
  • Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
  • Commitment to working in Worcestershire

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.
Person Specification

Skills/ Knowledge

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills.
  • Highly developed clinical skills and advanced knowledge within the specialist therapy area.
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate others and manage change effectively.
  • Experience of people management, supervision and performance management.
  • Thorough understanding of professional, legal and clinical governance responsibilities.
  • Ability to analyse and manage complex professional and ethical issues.
  • Knowledge and application of audit and survey data to inform service improvement.
  • In-depth understanding of current local and national NHS priorities and issues.
  • Experience of leading or contributing to clinical audit, research, or guideline and policy development.

Desirable

  • Experience contributing to business planning and financial or budget awareness.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma or Degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy.
  • Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  • Achieved or working towards a relevant postgraduate qualification at Level 7 (e.g. MSc, PGCert etc.).
  • Demonstrate evidence of management and leadership development (e.g. ILM, NHS Leadership Academy, MSc modules, or equivalent).

Desirable

  • Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) or Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT).

Experience

Essential

  • Substantial experience as a senior clinician, including team leadership or management responsibilities.
  • Extensive experience working within an acute NHS setting.
  • Extensive post-registration experience within the relevant specialty.
  • Evidence of recent and relevant continuing professional development (CPD).
  • Experience of staff supervision, appraisal and professional development from different professional backgrounds.
  • Demonstrable involvement in service development and change management.
  • Evidence of participation in clinical audit, research and service evaluation.
  • Operational management experience, including workforce management.
  • Experience of teaching and supporting staff and students.
  • Proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
  • Experience of liaising with external stakeholders and boundary spanning.

Desirable

  • Experience of delivering teaching and lecturing.
  • Active participation in research activities.

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Professional, approachable and confident manner.
  • Committed, enthusiastic and motivated.
  • Demonstrates initiative and resilience.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to motivate self and others.
  • Values-led and aligned with the Trust and therapy service vision and values.

Other Job Requirements

Essential

  • Willingness and ability to work across multiple sites.
  • Flexibility to work across a seven-day service, including participation in on-call and weekend rotas as required.
  • Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
  • Commitment to working in Worcestershire

Improving Diversity and Inclusive Recruitment

Essential

  • As part of the Trust's aim to improve diversity across the Trust, positive action is being taken and all applications for this post from BAME, Disabled and LGBT+ candidates can request to be considered under an expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum criteria as specified in the person specification for this role. Here you can declare if you wish to be considered under this expanded Guaranteed Interview Scheme and this response would be visible to the Shortlisting Panel.

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

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Therapy Service Manager

Ben Thomas

benjamin.thomas6@nhs.net

01905760624

Details

Date posted

20 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year Pro Rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9365-26-0311

Job locations

Charles Hastings Way

Worcester

Worcestershire

WR5 1DD


Supporting documents

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