AHP Clinical Specialist Band 8a – Hyperacute Rehabilitation

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust; Southampton; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Southampton is offering a fantastic opportunity for a Clinical Specialist AHP to lead the Hyperacute Rehabilitation MDT. The role involves providing clinical leadership and coordinating patient care for complex rehabilitation needs. Candidates should have a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and extensive experience in neuro rehabilitation. The position offers competitive compensation and supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified and HCPC registered AHP.
• Experience managing and leading a team.
• Extensive post-graduate clinical experience in acute neuro.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the hyperacute rehab service.
• Provide expert clinical advice and guidance on HAR project delivery.
• Educate and develop AHP staff and undergraduates.

Skills

Leadership skills

Excellent communication

Teamwork

Clinical expertise in Neurological rehabilitation

Time management

Education

Master's degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent

Job description

AHP Clinical Specialist Band 8a – Hyperacute Rehabilitation

The closing date is 22 November 2025

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for a B8a Clinical specialist AHP to lead our Hyper Acute Rehab MDT on a 12-month secondment at University Hospital Southampton. This post is open to an experienced Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, or Speech and Language Therapist, who has expert skills and knowledge in Neurological rehabilitation.

We have received funding via NHSE to develop and pilot a high intensity, specialised MDT Hyper Acute Rehab pathway led by a rehab consultant and AHP lead for patients with complex rehab needs following major trauma or illness.

As specialist clinical lead the postholder will provide robust clinical and operational leadership and strategic development, across all 4 AHP professions on the unit, developing and co‑ordinating patient care across the Hyperacute Rehab pathway. This post can either be a part time or full‑time post, and is part of the wider neurosciences service, with close links to the neurosciences and relevant AHP teams.

The team under your leadership will consist of a Dietitian, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, and Speech and Language Therapist, with B3 support workers working alongside the whole team to deliver patient care across 5‑days per week. You may be required to work on Bank Holidays. Each team member will also have support from their relevant profession, with opportunities for further training and development through in‑service training, as well as professional and clinical supervision.

About us

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

At UHS we are committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We are committed to creating an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered.

Job responsibilities

We are looking to recruit a forward‑thinking, motivated and experienced AHP (dietitian/occupational therapist/physiotherapist/speech and language therapist), with proven leadership and clinical skills to lead our proof‑of‑concept Hyper Acute Rehabilitation (HAR) MDT based at Southampton General Hospital.

You will provide expert clinical skills, working closely with the dedicated MDT to deliver high intensity, specialised hyper‑acute rehabilitation (HAR) under the direction of a Rehabilitation Medicine consultant, for a moderate number of appropriate UHS patients. You will collaborate with the project team and Health Innovation Wessex to understand the best method of implementation and evaluation of the new pathway and providing regular updates to key stakeholders.

You will lead the HAR MDT on a day‑to‑day basis, including coordination of staff, and service delivery to ensure the project objectives are being met. If the pilot is successful, you will work closely with the project team to provide the required evidence to address long‑term, sustainable funding for the HAR service.

The post holder will be a qualified AHP, currently registered with the HCPC, with existing management and leadership experience, holding personal responsibility for defined programmes of work at a senior level as well as advanced clinical skills. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and must be able to communicate and negotiate in order to effect change and to evidence an ability to support, motivate and bring staff with you throughout the process.

Flexibility and the ability to prioritise and manage a close‑knit MDT and varied workload are essential. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work effectively within an MDT with a complex caseload. This post requires a dynamic, assertive person, able to demonstrate breadth of knowledge and good rapport building skills who is an excellent collaborator.

This job role involves:

• Leading and coordinating hyperacute rehab service (HAR), ensuring the delivery of high‑quality patient care.
• Providing clinical leadership on the scoping, development, implementation, and commissioning of a HAR service.
• Providing expert clinical advice and guidance on a range of matters relating to HAR project delivery.
• Implementing and developing care pathways for the new HAR service.
• Providing robust clinical leadership to the teams delivering care for patients, through effective communication, influencing, and inspiring others, to deliver high quality care.
• Educating and developing AHP staff and undergraduates in these professions, and training other health professionals in aspects of HAR.

Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure you fulfil the criteria. For this specific specialist role, you also need the following:

• Essential skills: Relevant professional qualification, HCPC registration, extensive post‑graduate clinical experience in acute neuro, advanced clinical skills in acute neuro, experience in management and leading a team or project, postgraduate experience in supervising other staff or students, knowledge and understanding of NHS systems, clear expressed desire to work in hyperacute rehabilitation and within UHS.
• Desirable skills: Evidence of providing teaching to your own profession and students.

Please note: We do not accept CV applications. Interviews will be held on Fri 28th November 2025. This post will be a secondment, and may be available as part‑time hours, please enquire for more details. Following recruitment of this post other similar opportunities may be available, this may include backfill for the successful candidate.

Please contact us via email at [e-mail] or [e-mail] to ask any questions you may have about this role or any other opportunities.

Person Specification

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

• Master's degree in Occupational Therapy or equivalent experience
• Significant relevant clinical experience with the ability to demonstrate significant experience in Occupational Therapy practice
• Current HCPC registration
• Teaching experience
• Experience of supervising and managing others including students and qualified therapy staff
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area
• Experience of working in a multi‑disciplinary team
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience of audit, evaluation, or research
• Experience managing large collaborative projects, including engaging with and influencing external stakeholders
• Experience writing journal articles or leading formal research
• Attendance at post‑graduation courses, or conferences, relevant to clinical area
• Able to demonstrate sound understanding of healthcare priorities and political agendas
• Attendance at Student education course
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting
• Experience developing and leading training programmes

Skills and competencies

• Communication
• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Diplomacy
• Working autonomously
• Interpersonal skills
• Taking the initiative
• Teamwork
• Change management
• Data analysis
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills
• Project management
• Working under pressure

Trust Values

• Working Together
• Always Improving

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.

Pay and benefits

£55,690 to £62,682 a year – Pro rata