AMU Lead therapist (Occupational therapist or Physiotherapist)

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is looking for a Band 8a Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to lead therapy services within the Acute Medical Unit. This role involves providing clinical leadership, developing rehabilitation pathways, and managing a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should have a degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy and experience in acute medical settings. The position offers a competitive salary ranging from £55,690 to £62,682, with a permanent, full-time contract.

Qualifications

• Broad post-qualification experience with exposure to emergency department and acute medicine.
• Experience in team leadership and mentoring staff.
• Knowledge of current healthcare issues related to acute rehabilitation.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership and therapy input within the AMU.
• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary therapy team.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams for integrated patient care.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Clinical reasoning

Time management

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy

HCPC Registration

Post-graduate courses relevant to the role

Masters degree in a relevant subject

Job description

Overview

Band 8a Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to lead therapy services within the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich. This leadership role involves overseeing therapy assessment, treatment and discharge planning for patients with acute medical conditions, providing clinical leadership and specialist input, developing evidence-based rehabilitation pathways and leading a multidisciplinary therapy team. The role includes monitoring service performance and reporting to senior management, with a focus on reducing length of stay and preventing unnecessary admissions/readmissions. The post supports service development, quality improvement and research, in line with professional standards and NHS policies.

Main duties

• Provide clinical leadership and expert specialist therapy input within the AMU, supporting patients with complex acute medical needs.
• Develop and implement evidence-based treatment pathways tailored to the acute medical patient population.
• Lead, mentor and develop a multidisciplinary therapy team, fostering continuous improvement and professional development.
• Collaborate with medical, nursing, social care and community teams to ensure integrated, patient-centred care.
• Manage caseloads effectively, prioritising interventions that reduce length of stay and prevent unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions.
• Monitor and evaluate service performance through audits, data analysis and patient feedback, reporting outcomes to senior management.
• Contribute to service development initiatives, quality improvement projects and research relevant to acute medical rehabilitation.
• Ensure compliance with professional standards, NHS policies and local protocols.
• Demonstrate proven leadership and management skills at Band 8a or equivalent, with strong clinical reasoning and patient-centred decision making.
• Maintain excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
• HCPC Registration
• Member of relevant professional body
• Post-graduate courses relevant to the role
• Masters degree in a relevant subject or demonstrated equivalent ability

Desirable

• Management training
• Member of relevant clinical interest group
• Experience of research or working in the community

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Broad post-qualification experience with significant exposure to emergency department, frailty, acute medicine and rehabilitation
• Experience in team leadership and effecting change
• Acute medical rehabilitation experience and knowledge of current national/local health care issues
• Experience in teaching/supervising junior and senior staff

Desirable

• Research experience
• Knowledge of NHS structure
• Experience of working in the community

Personal qualities

Essential

• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team
• Enthusiastic, flexible and able to work across a 7-day pattern and unsociable hours as required; confidence in AHP field
• Ability to use own initiative, manage time, prioritise and organise workload
• Calm, reliable and approachable, able to work under pressure and manage change

Other information

Grade: Band 8a • Salary: £55,690 to £62,682 per annum plus HCAS (site dependent) • Contract: Permanent • Working pattern: Full-time