Advanced Occupational Therapist
St. Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust invites applications for Clinical Lead Hand Therapist, an experienced hand therapy clinician (OT or physiotherapist) to lead the specialist Hand Therapy Team on a fixed-term basis.
You will provide expert assessment, treatment and advice for upper limb conditions, work with Plastic Surgery, support development of colleagues, and promote service improvement, CPD and innovation.
Qualifications
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience
Responsibilities
- Provide expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice for hand conditions.
- Work with Plastic Surgery team and support consultant-led clinics.
- Develop colleagues and contribute to service improvement.
- Promote research and innovation within the team.
- Adopt holistic approach to patient care and maintain high rehabilitation standards.
Skills
Education
Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Clinical Lead Hand Therapist to join our specialist Hand Therapy Team on a fixed-term contract until October 2027.
Our established team comprises 1 WTE Band 7 Occupational Therapist, 3 WTE Band 6 Occupational Therapists, 1 WTE rotational Band 5 Physiotherapist, and 1 WTE Band 4 Therapy Assistant. We are looking for a skilled clinician who is passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centred care and contributing to the continued development of our specialist service.
The JD & PS are currently under AfC review and re subject to change.
Interviews will take place w/c 14th September, 2026
In this role, you will provide expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and advice for patients with a wide range of upper limb conditions, including traumatic and soft tissue injuries, degenerative conditions, nerve injuries, and complex scar management. You will work closely with our Plastic Surgery team, supporting consultant-led clinics and providing specialist hand therapy across both inpatient and outpatient settings.
The successful applicant will have substantial experience in Hand Therapy and evidence of postgraduate training within this specialist field. You will demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge of hand and upper limb conditions, including advanced splinting techniques, and use evidence-based practice to deliver excellent patient outcomes. You will also play a key role in supporting the development of colleagues, contributing to service improvement, and promoting research and innovation within the team.
We are seeking an enthusiastic, proactive, and compassionate therapist with excellent clinical reasoning, communication, organisational, and time management skills. You will adopt a holistic approach to patient care and be committed to delivering high standards of rehabilitation while keeping patients at the centre of everything you do.
Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.
A flexible approach is essential to meet the changing needs of the service. We value individuals who are committed to working collaboratively and who consistently strive to deliver an outstanding experience for patients and their families.
This post offers an excellent opportunity to further develop your specialist expertise through protected Continuing Professional Development (CPD), supported by a comprehensive clinical supervision programme. We are committed to investing in our staff and fostering a culture of learning, development, and continuous improvement.
Flexibility and adaptability are essential. The successful applicant may be required to work across different sites and, where necessary, support the delivery of community-based services.
- A friendly, welcoming, and supportive team environment.
- A structured and comprehensive clinical supervision programme.
- Protected Continuing Professional Development (CPD) time.
- Flexible working opportunities and family-friendly policies.
- Opportunities to contribute to service development, quality improvement, and research.
All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including occupational health clearance and an enhanced DBS check (formerly CRB). Please note that, if appointed, you will be required to pay the cost of the enhanced DBS disclosure in line with the Trust's current policy.
- Degree in Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
- Clinical Educators Certificate or equivalent/experience
- MSc in relevant health studies or equivalent qualification/experience
- Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practise in relevant health setting
- Awareness of own strengths and limitations
- Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
- Experience of leadership of a team including change management
- Evidence of effective working within an MDT
- Experience of Service development
- Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
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