Band 8a Hand Therapy Team Lead

BHR Hospitals; Romford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust seeks a senior Hand Therapist to provide clinical leadership for the Hand Therapy service across three London boroughs. You will lead the MDT, drive evidence‑based care and support professional development while managing day‑to‑day operations.

Join us to develop services, mentor band 5–7 staff and deputise for the Therapy Manager as required, contributing to innovations and service improvements.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration required as Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist.
• Significant hand therapy experience with leadership responsibilities.
• Experience delivering teaching, supervision, and appraisal for staff and students.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert clinical leadership in assessment, treatment and management of Hand Therapy patients.
• Offer specialist guidance to MDT and external professionals on Hand Therapy care.
• Lead Hand Therapy team and coordinate daily service delivery and evaluation.
• Deliver teaching, supervision and appraisal for peers and junior staff.
• Support service development and clinical innovation in Hand Therapy.

Skills

Hand Therapy leadership

Clinical Hand Therapy experience

Leadership experience

Education

Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy

HCPC Registration

Leadership training

Job description

PEOPLE are at the HEART of everything we do

This video gives a flavour of what it is like to work at our Trust and why some of our staff love working here.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust as a senior Hand Therapist, providing clinical and operational leadership for the Hand Therapy service. Serving three diverse London boroughs, we are committed to delivering inclusive, high-quality, patient-centred care and are seeking an experienced clinician to help shape and develop these services.

In this role, you will clinically lead the Hand Therapy team, delivering expert, evidence-based care and supporting professional development, while also holding operational and line management responsibility for the Hand Therapy service. Working closely with a diverse multidisciplinary team, you will embody the Trust’s PRIDE values, fostering an inclusive environment where different perspectives are valued and high standards of care are maintained.

We welcome applications from HCPC-registered Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists with significant experience in hand therapy and leadership.

Join us in making a positive impact on patients across three diverse London boroughs.

This is a patient facing role.
For further information please contact Rebecca Coughlan via email [e-mail]

Main duties of the job

To provide expert clinical leadership in the assessment, treatment, and management of patients within the Hand Therapy outpatient service, maximising patient outcomes within service boundaries.

To offer specialist guidance and advice to members of the MDT and external professionals (e.g., GPs) on matters relating to Hand Therapy care.

To provide leadership for the Hand Therapy team, in consultation with the Line Manager, in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Hand Therapy service provided to neuromusculoskeletal out- patients on a day to day basis

To provide a leading role in teaching, supervising and appraising peers, band 7s, band 6s, band 5s, physiotherapy assistant and Student Physiotherapists.

To deliver highly specialised care for complex Hand Therapy patients, including advanced clinical assessment and interventions where appropriate

To support the Therapy Manager in developing the Hand Therapy service and contributing to clinical innovation and service improvement initiatives

To deputise in the absence of the Therapy Manager as required in outpatient clinics

To deputise in the absence of the Therapy Manager as required in other areas e.g. reception and admin team

To evaluate the day to day running and initiate the development of the Hand Therapy outpatient services through the promotion, adaptation and development of policies, procedures and clinical guidelines using evidence-based practise and current research and recommend and implement changes.

Working for our organisation

We’re an organisation that is getting better and better and our improvements are driven by a determination to deliver care we’re proud of and our patients are happy with.

They are benefitting from a new electronic patient record (we were the last acute trust in London to introduce one) and our maternity services have been rated good by the Care Quality Commission.

We operate from two main sites – KGH in Goodmayes and Queen’s Hospital in Romford. We have two busy emergency departments with more than 346,000 people visiting them last year. We’re campaigning to secure the £35m we need to transform the A&E at Queen’s and get rid of corridor care.

We’re proud of our regional Neurosciences Centre, Radiotherapy Centre and Hyper Acute Stroke Unit. We’re also part of the North East London Cancer Alliance.

We run a Women’s Health Hub in Ilford; an Ageing Well Centre in Hornchurch; and Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) at Barking Community Hospital and at St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub. These CDCs are open 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The majority of our 8,400 staff – who come from 146 different countries - live in the three diverse London boroughs we serve and are from black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. Many can work flexibly and more than 400 of them are on our Ofsted accredited apprenticeship programmes. We’re proud to be a London Living Wage employer.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information on this role, please see the attached detailed Job Description and Person Specification.

The person specification listed below is not the full specification requirements for the role. Please ensure you review the full specification on the job description prior to submitting your application.

Applicants are advised to read all the information on the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.

All new staff appointed at the Trust are subject to a probationary period.

Applications should be made online, however, queries regarding the application process, assistance with completion of the application form or if you require any adjustments (for applicants with a disability) please contact Pubudu Chandrasekera, Recruitment Advisor, on 01708 435000 ext. 5110. Further details regarding the post may be obtained by contacting the manager as per the contact details above.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy
• H.C.P.C. Registration
• Leadership training

Experience/ Knowledge

• To have relevant clinical experience in the field of Hand Therapy and broad post graduate experience
• To have broad clinical experience

Before you apply

Using AI
We recognise that more applicants are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support their job applications and welcome the responsible use of these technologies.
AI can be a useful tool to help organise your thoughts, improve the structure of your application and support your preparation. However, your application should remain an authentic and accurate reflection of your skills, experience, and knowledge.
We encourage you to review the person specification carefully and provide clear examples that demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role. Any information submitted as part of your application must be accurate, truthful, and based on your experience.
Throughout our recruitment process, we value honesty, integrity, and authenticity. We want to understand what you can bring to BHRUT, so please ensure that your application reflects your own capabilities and achievements.
AI should not be used to misrepresent your skills, qualifications, and experience.

Flexible working
We welcome applications from candidates seeking flexible working or job sharing where service needs allow.

Pre-employment checks
Please provide references from your current or most recent employer, including your line manager or supervisor. Successful applicants will also be required to complete pre-employment checks, including identity verification through TrustID and any role-specific clearances.

Certificate of Sponsorship
In line with UKVI guidance, we are unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship for Band 2 and Band 3 roles.

Recruitment process
We may close vacancies before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. All communication regarding your application will be sent by email, so please check your inbox and junk folder regularly.

Inclusion
BHRUT is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Applicants who declare a disability under the Equality Act 2010 or identify as a Care Leaver and choose to be considered under our Disability Confident or Care Leaver schemes will be guaranteed an interview where they meet the essential criteria.

Safeguarding
BHRUT is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. All employees are expected to share this commitment and follow the Trust's safeguarding policies.

Smoke-free Trust
BHRUT is a smoke-free Trust. All employees are expected to comply with our smoke-free policy.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

There’s never been a better time to join the team.

We have a wide range of flexible, temporary and part-time opportunities.