Hand Therapist - Clinical Team Lead

NHS; Dorchester; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a dynamic hand therapy team at a leading NHS trust in a stunning South West location. This role offers a chance to provide high-quality patient-centered care while enjoying a flexible work-life balance. You'll be part of a supportive team committed to advancing hand therapy services through continuous professional development and research. This position is perfect for skilled professionals looking to make a significant impact in a collaborative environment. Embrace the opportunity to grow your career while ensuring the best outcomes for patients in a welcoming and inclusive setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in hand therapy at band 6 or 7 level.
• Registered with HCPC and relevant qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Manage a full clinical caseload independently.
• Supervise designated staff within the team.
• Participate in education and clinical evaluation.

Skills

Hand Therapy

Patient Care

Communication Skills

Clinical Reasoning

Time Management

Education

BSc in Physiotherapy

Registered with HCPC

Tools

Thermoplastic Splints

Hospital Databases

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job summary

Would you like to work within a welcoming team in a fantastic location in the South West? Would you like a flexible approach to your clinics for a healthier work/ life balance?

Dorset County Hospital Hand Therapy Service wishes to offer the right person an exciting opportunity to join the dynamic hand therapy team. As a successful NHS in-house service, we provide high quality services in West Dorset.

The post being advertised will be based at Dorset County Hospital, with a focus on covering adult and paediatric orthopaedic elective and trauma clinics, as well as rheumatology patients.

We are truly an integrated team who are Hand Therapists first and foremost. We have a wide scope of practice within our specialty providing patient centred care. Through CPD, research, and audit, the department is committed to advancing the service to meet the future needs of its surrounding community.

The applicant will hold a BSc in Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy or equivalent UK recognised qualification. They should have a broad range of experience in hand therapy ideally at a band 7 level (but Band 6 or 6-7 would be considered). The successful applicant must also display a confident approach to all clinical situations, be well organised, an excellent communicator at all levels.

Hours: 30 hours per week ideally over 4 days

For more information please contact: [e-mail], 01305254408

Main duties of the job

o The specialist hand therapist is an experienced clinician who carries and independently manages a full specialist clinical caseload. They are responsible for supervising designated members of staff within the specialist team.

o As the Team Lead, the post holder participates in a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research across the speciality.

o The postholder may be required to work at any of the sites within the trust. Should the service require it this post may become rotational and be filled by specialist staff rotating within the service.

o To fully participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future.

o The postholder may be required to work at weekends on a roster basis should the service need.

o Once deemed competent the post holder will be required to participate in weekend working.

About us

At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff

Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best.

We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Pro Rata Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

405-25-AHP199HAN

Job locations

Dorset County Hospital, Therapy Department.

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY

Job description Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at [e-mail] if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Job description Job responsibilities

Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.

Please contact us at [e-mail] if you are unable to view or download the attachment.

For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.

Person Specification Education, Qualifications and Training Essential

• Diploma or Degree in an Allied Health Profession
• Registered with HCPC

Desirable

• Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses ie: BAHT level I or 2
• Professional body member
• Member of Special Interest Group
• Undertaken clinical educators training

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Experience in the specialist area i.e. minimum experience at band 6 level in hand therapy department for 2-3 years

Desirable

• B7 hand therapy experience
• Experience of participating in audit and evidence-based projects
• Evidence of actively participating in in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating effectiveness of training
• Knowledge of evidenced based practice pertaining to the specialist area of hand therapy
• Knowledge of national guidelines and standards relevant to the specialist area of hand therapy
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for hand therapy
• Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments
• Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
• Experience in managing limited resources and high workloads
• Experience of supervision and appraisal of junior staff and students with ability to give constructive feedback

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Experience of working with patients following hand surgery, hand injury and/or rheumatology
• The ability to discuss clinical reasoning in the management of complex hand/wrist cases
• Ability to fabricate thermoplastic splints and good knowledge of off-shelf splints

Desirable

• Demonstrate the ability to assess and diagnose hand/wrist conditions
• Formulate and carry out effective treatment plans and progress appropriately in a timely manner for hand/wrist conditions
• The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs
• Able to communicate complex information to patients, carers other health professionals and team
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Excellent time management skills with ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
• Ability to self direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs, demonstrated in a CPD portfolio
• Able to provide a high standard of clear concise, written and verbal reports in English
• Good teaching and presentation skills
• IT skills, including using hospital data bases, word processing, excel, email and power point
• Ability to manage own stress and work in a stressful and unpredictable environment. To show empathy and fairness to give support to others
• Self motivated with a clear vision of the role
• Demonstrate professional independence
• Work across sites in a flexible manner and adapt to changing environments
• Physically fit and able to comply with Trusts moving and handling guidelines, therapeutic handling
• Professional manner and appearance
• Available for on-call, weekend duties and altered working patterns where clinically appropriate

Person Specification Education, Qualifications and Training Essential

• Diploma or Degree in an Allied Health Profession
• Registered with HCPC

Desirable

• Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses ie: BAHT level I or 2
• Professional body member
• Member of Special Interest Group
• Undertaken clinical educators training

Knowledge and Experience Essential

• Experience in the specialist area i.e. minimum experience at band 6 level in hand therapy department for 2-3 years

Desirable

• B7 hand therapy experience
• Experience of participating in audit and evidence-based projects
• Evidence of actively participating in in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating effectiveness of training
• Knowledge of evidenced based practice pertaining to the specialist area of hand therapy
• Knowledge of national guidelines and standards relevant to the specialist area of hand therapy
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for hand therapy
• Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments
• Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
• Experience in managing limited resources and high workloads
• Experience of supervision and appraisal of junior staff and students with ability to give constructive feedback

Skills and Abilities Essential

• Experience of working with patients following hand surgery, hand injury and/or rheumatology
• The ability to discuss clinical reasoning in the management of complex hand/wrist cases
• Ability to fabricate thermoplastic splints and good knowledge of off-shelf splints

Desirable

• Demonstrate the ability to assess and diagnose hand/wrist conditions
• Formulate and carry out effective treatment plans and progress appropriately in a timely manner for hand/wrist conditions
• The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs
• Able to communicate complex information to patients, carers other health professionals and team
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Excellent time management skills with ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
• Ability to self direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs, demonstrated in a CPD portfolio
• Able to provide a high standard of clear concise, written and verbal reports in English
• Good teaching and presentation skills
• IT skills, including using hospital data bases, word processing, excel, email and power point
• Ability to manage own stress and work in a stressful and unpredictable environment. To show empathy and fairness to give support to others
• Self motivated with a clear vision of the role
• Demonstrate professional independence
• Work across sites in a flexible manner and adapt to changing environments
• Physically fit and able to comply with Trusts moving and handling guidelines, therapeutic handling
• Professional manner and appearance
• Available for on-call, weekend duties and altered working patterns where clinically appropriate

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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital, Therapy Department.

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY

Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Dorset County Hospital, Therapy Department.

Williams Avenue

Dorchester

DT1 2JY

Employer's website

https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)