Search for more NHS jobs in Cambridge
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced Clinical Lead Therapist to provide expert leadership across inpatient rehabilitation services in the North locality (Peterborough/Wisbech), working in close partnership with the South locality Clinical Lead Therapist to ensure consistent, high-quality care.
You will lead multidisciplinary teams to deliver person-centred rehabilitation, supporting recovery, maximising independence, and enabling safe, timely discharge. As an autonomous practitioner, you will undertake advanced assessment and clinical decision-making for patients with complex needs, while promoting integrated and high-quality care across services.
This cross-site role requires flexibility to support service delivery across Peterborough and Wisbech, ensuring continuity of leadership and care. You will drive service development and continuous improvement, ensuring therapy provision is evidence-based and aligned with organisational priorities.
You will also play a key role in developing staff through supervision, training, and competency development, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and enhance inpatient rehabilitation services, improving patient outcomes and strengthening a coordinated approach to intermediate care across the locality.
Please note for this role you will need the ability to travel independently and in a timely manner across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to meet strict time deadlines.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be professionally and legally accountable for their own and delegated practice, ensuring safe, effective and evidence-based care across inpatient rehabilitation services. Working alongside the South locality Clinical Lead Therapist, they will provide visible leadership across four inpatient rehabilitation units, driving standardised practice, pathways and ways of working to promote consistent, equitable care.
They will lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams, overseeing assessment and care delivery for patients with complex needs. Using advanced clinical reasoning, they will support recovery, maximise independence, prevent avoidable admissions and reduce length of stay, ensuring care is effectively planned, prioritised and delegated.
A key focus will be leading admission avoidance, discharge planning and timely transfers of care, working closely with ward managers, Intermediate Care teams and system partners. The post holder will act as a specialist clinical leader, offering expert advice on rehabilitation, patient flow and discharge processes, and aligning practice across localities.
They will model compassionate communication in complex situations, support day-to-day service delivery, and provide leadership in staffing, risk management and governance. The role includes leading and contributing to audit, quality improvement and service development, strengthening integrated pathways and embedding consistent models of care across all units.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.
- Act as Clinical Lead Therapist for inpatient rehabilitation services, providing expert clinical leadership and strategic direction across intermediate care pathways
- Work with other Locality Clinical Lead Therapists to ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to service delivery across all wards, including alignment of clinical standards, pathways, and workforce practices.
- Support cross-site working by providing professional and operational cover where appropriate, ensuring continuity of care and leadership.
- Partner with Ward Managers and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred rehabilitation, supporting timely recovery, maximising patient independence, and enabling safe, effective discharge planning.
- Function as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking advanced assessment and clinical decision-making for patients with complex and multifactorial needs.
- Provide specialist advice and guidance across disciplines, promoting integrated working and consistent standards of care.
- Lead service development and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring therapy provision is evidence-based and aligned to organisational priorities.
- Support workforce capability through supervision, education, and competency development, fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and high performance.
- Contribute through effective leadership and stakeholder engagement to improved patient outcomes, enhanced service efficiency, and a coordinated approach to intermediate care across inpatient rehabilitation settings.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Ability to manage challenging and high-pressure situations, responding calmly and constructively.
- Positive, person-centred approach to caring for older people.
- Flexible, proactive attitude with a willingness to embrace integrated working and service change.
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration clinical experience across a range of relevant settings
- Demonstrable experience of managing complex patients with multiple comorbidities, using advanced clinical reasoning
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team, including supervision and support of junior staff and students
- Evidence of leadership and management within a clinical service, including service development and quality improvement
- Experience of delivering care within community and/or intermediate care settings
Desirable
- Experience of budget management and resource allocation
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and service provision.
- Ability to work flexibly and effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Competent in report writing, with the ability to present information clearly and concisely.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate individualised programmes of care.
- Experience of supporting and developing Integrated Care Workers, Therapy Support Workers and registered professionals.
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of partnership working across health, social care and wider stakeholders.
- Flexible and proactive approach to change, with the ability to support service development and improvement.
- Demonstrates leadership capability, including supporting teams to deliver high standards of care.
Physical Requirements
Essential
- Ability to safely move and manoeuvre patients and equipment in accordance with moving and handling policies.
- Competence in the use of moving and handling equipment and aids to support safe patient care.
Desirable
- Ability to travel independently and in a timely manner across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to meet strict deadlines.
Education /Qualification
Essential
- Degree or equivalent entry-level qualification in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy (e.g. BSc, MSc, or Diploma)
- Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Evidence of management or leadership qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience
- Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD) and its application in practice
- Recognised Fieldwork / Practice Educator qualification
Desirable
- Completion of a recognised Clinical Assessment Skills course for health professionals
- Evidence of professional knowledge and training to master’s level or equivalent
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential
- Demonstrates accountability for own practice and a clear understanding of role responsibilities, including the ability to appropriately delegate and define the responsibilities of others.
- Recognises the importance of professional support and actively seeks and utilises supervision, advice and guidance to inform safe and effective practice
- Demonstrates professional curiosity
- Knowledge of relevant outcome measures.
WhatsApp job alerts
Get instant WhatsApp alerts for Band 7 Manager and Corporate roles in Cambridge
Create your Job Clerk account first. We'll collect your alert preferences during onboarding and help you turn on WhatsApp notifications for matching healthcare roles.
Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Clinical Lead Therapist - Physical Health with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust in Cambridge, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 7 Manager and corporate role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 04 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (21 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
For more context, review related Job Clerk pages for the same profession, band or location where they exist, then use the application-support guides to tailor your statement and prepare for interview.