# Associate Director of Therapies > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Whittington Health NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/associate-director-of-therapies/56062691-beec-4028-ba1f-7e03b141c229 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/associate-director-of-therapies/56062691-beec-4028-ba1f-7e03b141c229.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** Whittington Health NHS Trust - **Town:** London - **Region:** London - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Manager and corporate - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £88,250 - £100,355 per annum - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-07-28T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-07-14T13:00:46.512Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/London/London/Whittington_Health_NHS_Trust/Allied_Health_Professionals/Allied_Health_Professionals-v8112316 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8112316?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.whittington.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview We are seeking an experienced, motivated and innovative Associate Director of Therapies to provide strategic, professional and operational leadership across therapy services within the Emergency and Integrated Medicine Division. The post holder will lead Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics and Speech & Language Therapy services, alongside the Integrated Discharge Team (IDT), ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe and effective patient-centred care. A key focus of the role is to support patient flow, improve discharge processes and reduce delays, working collaboratively across the organisation and wider system. As a senior leader, the Associate Director will contribute to the delivery of the Trust’s Nursing, Midwifery and AHP strategy, working closely with the Chief AHP to ensure strong professional leadership and representation. The role will also act as the Trust’s Trauma Repatriation and Rehabilitation Lead. This is an exciting opportunity to shape and influence therapy services, drive innovation and transformation, and support the Trust’s ambition to achieve an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating. ### Main duties of the job Provide strategic and operational leadership for therapy services across the division, ensuring high-quality, safe and effective care.Lead Therapy Team Leads and the Integrated Discharge Team, providing professional oversight, expert clinical guidance and operational direction.Support patient flow and timely discharge by working collaboratively with internal teams and system partners, including local authorities.Ensure delivery of evidence-based practice across all therapy pathways, supporting timely assessment, intervention and discharge planning.Oversee governance, quality and safety standards, ensuring compliance with regulatory and professional frameworks, including CQC requirements.Hold delegated budget responsibility, ensuring effective financial management and use of resources.Lead workforce development, including supervision, performance management, recruitment and retention.Promote a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture that prioritises staff wellbeing and continuous improvement.Act as the Trust’s Trauma Repatriation and Rehabilitation Lead, supporting pathways for patients returning from specialist centers. Monitor service performance using data, audit and outcome measures to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement.Work closely with the Associate Director of Nursing, Clinical Director and Director of Operations to improve service quality and outcomes. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities Operational Oversight Ensure that there is an annual AHP establishment and skill mix review and workforce planning within the division and aligned to the Trust wide approach Alongside the Chief AHP ensure that AHP job planning is implemented in line with the national agenda for the division Line management of the senior team including annual appraisal and support for their ongoing professional development Hold operational responsibility and accountability to support the reduction in NCTR rates across the organisation and service improvement work related to this Work closely with transformation teams to support service redesign and improvement, leading on deconditioning and the outflow workstream Line Manage IDT Team supporting professional development and appraisals Support effective flow processes and leading on improvement across the organisation Ensure MADE reviews are effective and engaging with system partners to review bottlenecks and escalate delays, working collaboratively to co-design solutions Oversee the Therapy Managers delivery of high-quality services that demonstrate the Trust values Work with the divisional directorate leadership teams to ensure that AHP and discharge services performance is regularly monitored through agreed KPIs Work with the divisional leadership team to ensure sound financial management of all services managed by this role Hold responsibility and accountability for resources within the areas of operational oversight, managing the budgets in line within agreed standing financial instructions Implement systems to monitor and ensure compliance with mandatory training and annual performance reviews Support staff to receive appropriate training and support including professional review and PDPs and staff wellbeing Support leads to improve recruitment and retention and the reduction of use of agency staff and associated costs for acute AHPs Ensure that all local and national targets relating to Acute AHP services are delivered within a safe, high-quality framework Take the lead where appropriate for AHPs on the development of major Trust-wide initiatives Support the development, ratification, implementation, review and evaluation of AHP related strategies, policies and guidance to ensure effective service delivery in line with national best practice. Clinical Responsibilities To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care and in a supporting role to ensure other members of the team do the same. To be an autonomous clinician with extended clinical skills in assessment, treatment provision, investigation, diagnosis and management strategies in chosen profession. Demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning, problem solving and analytical skills. Provide senior clinical leadership to ensure high‑quality, evidence‑based Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy practice in the general and speciality clinical areas at Whittington Health and across all acute pathways. Support trauma repatriation pathways working in partnership with local aligned teams e.g. site team, medical/surgical consultants, CCOT etc and with Northeast London and Essex Trauma Network (NELTN) to ensure safe repatriation for patients requiring acute rehabilitation and complex discharge planning. Oversee and maintain clinical standards, ensuring assessment, treatment and documentation for self and staff meet professional, legal and organisational requirements. Ensure safe cover linked to demand and appropriate delegation of clinical duties, maintaining accountability for all therapy and care delivered by staff in assigned in-patient and out-patient therapy teams. Lead implementation and development when required of clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways, ensuring consistency across teams and alignment with national best practice. To be responsible for hospital development and implementation of therapy trauma and trauma repatriation pathways working in partnership with associated Trust departments and with Northeast London and Essex Trauma Network to support high quality effective trauma pathways. Engage with the National Major Trauma Rehab Group and ensure any guidance is implemented within the Trust where appropriate Represent the Trust at local, regional, and national meetings developing appropriate links and acting professionally as an ambassador for the Trust Support complex clinical decision‑making, providing expert advice to staff and MDT colleagues. To coordinate patient management where there are challenges to therapy and care delivery or significant barriers to patient flow. Ensure delivery of extended‑hours services including late shifts, on‑call and 7‑day working models. Strategic Responsibility Support Directorate services to actively contribute to the delivery of the Trust’s strategic goals Support the Chief AHP for ensuring that the Trust’s AHP strategy is delivered With the Chief AHP support the AHP Leadership fellowship programme Deputise for the Chief AHP where appropriate for internal and external committee/networks Support the delivery of the Trust wide Flow Program and leading the Outflow workstream Develop effective relationships with local authorities alongside working closely with the Adult and Community Services Division Lead an effective strategy of AHP recruitment and retention and lead the development and implementation of therapy provision across Directorate services Promote and embed a culture of clinical supervision and clinical support Lead on the development and implementation of clinical pathways across the Directorate services Promote close collaboration and cohesive working relationships within teams and maintain effective communication channels Work collaboratively with external partners and co design solutions to ensure the delivery of key discharge KPI’s Be an effective leader for change and support a culture of continuous quality improvement and innovation in line with the Trust and Divisions strategic plans Ensure that the role and development of AHPs is reflected in Divisional strategic and operational plans Contribute to relevant business cases or contract negotiations to develop or sustain services in line with the strategic direction of the Trust Lead on the development of commercial opportunities in the Therapy services Co-ordinate the divisional involvement in national AHP projects, to include Model Hospital, NHS Benchmarking and AHPs in Action, overseeing the data collection and submission supporting these Promote clinical leadership training and development for the Therapy workforce Responsibility for Physical and Financial Resources Manage delegated budgets for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, ensuring effective financial planning, monitoring, reporting and use of resources in line with organisational governance and financial controls. Deliver on cost improvement projects (CIP’s) and other saving initiatives in line with Division and Finance objectives. Manage procurement and maintenance of therapy equipment, ensuring safety, compliance and appropriate use. Oversee resource allocation including staffing, equipment and clinical supplies to meet service needs. Authorise expenditure including timesheets, travel claims, training costs and procurement requisitions in line with Trust processes. Ensure safe working environments and compliance with Health and Safety legislation, maintaining an up‑to‑date risk register. Quality Governance Lead the AHP quality governance agenda, working closely with the divisional leadership teams Promote and support compliance with national professional requirements including NICE and CQC Contribute to achieving a CQC outstanding rating for the Trust Implement effective patient experience initiatives within AHP services ensuring effective collection of patient feedback in line with Trust targets Lead on ensuring that continuous Quality Improvement is understood and owned by AHP staff Lead serious incident and complaints investigations where required Manage any incidents in relation to safe discharges in line with PSIRF Responsibility Education,  Research and Development Supporting the Chief AHP in embedding an AHP education and training strategy to ensure a workforce fit for the future Lead completion of the annual Training Needs Analysis across the division for AHP staff and manage the education allocation awarded to the division through the strategic funding group annually Support the development of bids where appropriate to enable the strategic development of services and AHPs roles. Support increasing research profile for AHPs in the division through local, regional and national presentations, publications, study days and conferences Lead the education and training strategy for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, ensuring staff have access to high‑quality learning and development opportunities. Oversee appraisal and CPD processes, ensuring all staff have up‑to‑date development plans and meet mandatory training compliance. Support staff development through, mentoring and facilitation of advanced practice, leadership development and specialist skills training. Support student placements for Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, working with the Practice Education Team to ensure high‑quality learning environments and appropriate educator capacity. Promote inter‑professional learning by contributing to Trust‑wide training initiatives and supporting cross‑disciplinary education. Act as an expert educational resource for therapy staff, MDT colleagues and students, sharing specialist knowledge and supporting the development of clinical competence ## Person Specification ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - - Advanced leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate, influence and inspire teams. - - Ability to lead clinical governance activity including audit, guideline implementation and quality assurance. - - Analyse and interpret service data to identify trends, monitor performance, inform decision making and drive continuous improvement across Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy services **Desirable** - - Project Management skills ### Knowledge and Experience **Essential** - - Extensive senior clinical experience in acute Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy, including complex decision making and autonomous practice. - - Demonstrated experience leading AHP teams, including supervision, appraisal, performance management and workforce planning. - - Experience managing delegated budgets, budget setting, financial planning and resource allocation. - - Knowledge of national policy, professional standards and guidelines relevant to Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. **Desirable** - - Experience of writing business cases. ### Education and Qualifications **Essential** - - Registered and practicing AHP with current HCPC registration - - Postgraduate training in a relevant clinical or leadership specialty (e.g., MSc, PGCert, or equivalent experience). **Desirable** - - Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy - - Leadership or management qualification (e.g., ILM, NHS Leadership Academy) or willingness to work towards one. ## Documents - [jd/ps (pdf, 408.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10448368) - [whittington employment promise (pdf, 22.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?ddoc=839) - [whittington probationary policy (pdf, 298.0kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=621) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.