Clinical Specialist Therapist, Band 7

Job overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Clinical Lead Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to join our Therapy Medical team on a fixed-term basis to cover a maternity leave. This post is a full-time at 37.5 hours.  We are looking for a candidate with proven specialist skills in Medicine, who will provide expert therapy assessment and interventions for an acute medical caseload.

The successful candidate will be passionate about acute medicine, motivated to develop their own skills and that of the service, and provide high quality and evidence-based therapy. They will be motivated to develop and support colleagues alongside the demands of working in a busy acute hospital.

There will be opportunities for innovation and an expectation that you will be actively involved in relevant quality improvement projects contributing to development of the acute medical service.  Our large, friendly therapy department offers support through regular supervision, appraisal, training and development opportunities.

Additional contract details: Fixed Term Maternity Leave cover ending 28/02/27

Main duties of the job

To use highly specialist clinical reasoning skills and knowledge to assess, diagnose, plan and offer a range of treatment options; deliver, evaluate and amend the treatment plan working as an autonomous practitioner.  Contribute to the medical diagnosis and management of Medical patients, who may have diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies in individual or group therapy sessions.

To maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures. This will include writing patient reports for e.g. medical practitioners and solicitor’s requests.

To communicate effectively with patients and carers potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information; in order to provide patient centred care, to encourage self-management, maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of the condition.  Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To assume responsibility for personal development and ensure other team members are supported for development and supervision by continuing professional development, linked to appraisal

As a senior clinical decision maker, take the lead for managerial and operational responsibility for the Therapy team in Medicine.  To ensure an effective and evidence based service through assessing, planning and implementing treatment programmes.

To lead evaluation and service development in the clinical area in line with national and local drivers.

To operationally manage Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy staff working within the Therapy Medicine team including supervision, annual appraisal, training and general support.

To deal with issues relating to performance management (in consultation with Human resources and the Lead Therapist) to effectively manage staff within the clinical team.

The post holder will ensure effective stock control and use of resources to support budget management.  This includes reviewing staff resources and skill mix to meet service need.  The post holder assumes responsibility for the day to day management of the clinical area.

To maintain a clinical commitment that accounts for a minimum of 50% of contracted hours and to be present clinically in the department, during clinical hours.

To be responsible for operational management of the Therapy Medicine team by monitoring, coordinating own and other caseloads, including reallocation of work during absence and appropriately delegation to junior therapists and support workers.

To communicate with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to aid effective patient care, which will include taking an active role in team meetings, joint treatment sessions, case conferences and specialist interest group meetings. Either working alone or as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to make recommendations for appropriate and timely discharge.