Complex Discharge Senior Therapist

NHS; Northampton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in Northampton is seeking an experienced Senior Therapist for a 5-month fixed term role. The successful candidate will provide expertise to a roaming therapy team, manage a diverse caseload, and contribute to patient discharges within the hospital setting. A commitment to professional development and high-quality patient care is essential for this position.

Qualifications

• Experience in treating a wide range of conditions and leading patient discharge.
• Completion of at least 4 of the core band 5 rotations.
• Current band 5 experience within an acute hospital setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide expertise and assessment to the discharge hub.
• Manage a caseload independently and contribute to patient flow.
• Work alongside other therapists to create joint treatment plans.

Skills

Patient assessment and treatment planning

Leadership and mentorship

Complex needs management

Education

BSc Honours in Physiotherapy or equivalent

Health and Care Professions Council Registration

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced physiotherapist or occupational therapist looking for an exciting opportunity to join a new Therapies Complex Discharge team? We're looking for a senior Therapist who is has a keen interest in discharge to further develop their skills. This is a 5 month fixed term post providing support over the winter months; internal secondments will be considered.

The role will include being part of the roaming therapy team providing expertise and assessment to the discharge hub, escalation areas and medically fit ward/patients with complex therapy needs impacting discharge. The successful candidate should have experience in treating a wide range of conditions and have experience in leading patient discharge.

As a department we are passionate about supporting continuing professional development to ensure we provide the highest standards of care to our patients.

Main duties of the job

To be part of a roaming Therapy team providing expertise and assessment to the daily discharge hub meeting, escalation areas and medically fit ward/patients with complex therapy needs impacting discharge.

Be the therapy representative at discharge hub meetings - providing consistent, expert therapy advice to inform accurate and appropriate hub decisions first time.

To provide advice and support to ward therapist on complex cases delaying discharges (identified via, discharge hub, bronze, stranded or therapy staff themselves).

To provide therapy cover to escalation areas - ensuring these are prioritised equally to the base wards.

To provide additional senior therapy decision maker on the medically fit wards to enable positive risk conversations and improve flow.

To perform more advanced and detailed assessments of patients presenting with a wide range of complex conditions and comorbidities; providing a plan and goals to develop, and to deliver an individualised treatment programme to our patients in ward areas.

About us

Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.

Our Excellence Values

• Compassion
• Accountability
• Respect
• Integrity
• Courage

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.

The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.

Details

Date posted: 06 October 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year Per annum / pro rata

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 5 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 265-7493293-CSS

Job locations: Northampton General Hospital, Cliftonville, Northampton, NN1 5BD

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work closely with ward based therapists to provide joint therapies assessments and treatment plans enabling efficient use of Therapies Team resources.

To manage a caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service, working without direct supervision, managing attendance of board rounds and ward meetings to contribute significantly to patient flow when ward based.

To pro-actively contribute to the timely and efficient discharge planning process for patients by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions, promoting a joint therapies approach with Physiotherapy colleagues.

Supporting Clinical and Patient Excellence

• To work autonomously within departmental clinical teams to provide excellent Occupational therapy/Physiotherapy assessment and treatment to a diverse client group
• Manage a caseload independently on designated ward/s, supporting junior staff with their caseload management
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation/multiple pathologies/cognitive impairment/mental health problems; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques

Corporate Responsibilities

• Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide safe patient care and participate in maintenance and training

People / Management Excellence

• To deputise for band 7s as necessary to ensure smooth running of service.
• To work alongside band 7s to co-ordinate annual leave cover

Professional Responsibilities, Quality Assurance and Monitoring

• To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives, RCOT/CSP guidelines, HCPC standards and code of conduct and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and policies

Person Specification

Skills

• Able to assess a patient's needs and plan a treatment plan with short and long term goals.
• Able to support and teach Technical instructors and band 5 staff.

Knowledge & Experience

• Completion of at least 4 of the core band 5 rotations e.g. orthopaedics, surgical, medical, care of the elderly, respiratory and stroke unit.
• Current band 5 experience within an acute hospital setting.

Education, Training & Qualifications

• BSc Honours or equivalent in Physiotherapy.
• Health and Care Professions Council Registration.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.