Head Of Occupational Therapy

University Hospitals Of North Midlands Nhs Trust; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust in Stoke-on-Trent is seeking a Head of Occupational Therapy to lead the department within the Allied Health Professionals restructure and deliver clinical leadership and strong operational performance.

You will drive the OT vision, contribute to strategic direction for the AHP workforce, and oversee services for inpatients and outpatients. Requires HCPC registration, degree in OT and substantial senior leadership experience.

Qualifications

• Degree in Occupational Therapy with HCPC registration.
• Masters level study or equivalent senior leadership experience.
• Significant post-registration leadership within acute hospital services.
• Extensive experience leading Occupational Therapy services in acute teaching hospitals or major trauma centres.
• Strategic leadership across workforce planning, operational management, recruitment and performance management.
• Strategic thinker with ability to balance operational pressures and service development.
• Strong commitment to professional leadership, staff wellbeing and workforce development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Department on professional governance and be a source of expertise for occupational therapy.
• Identify areas of risk and work to reduce risk, escalating where appropriate.
• Lead a high-quality occupational therapy service for inpatients and outpatients.
• Develop, implement and audit occupational therapy protocols and pathways.
• Act as clinical lead, providing specialist advice locally, regionally and nationally.
• Produce and implement policies and guidelines to optimise service provision.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Workforce planning

Operational management

Professional leadership

Staff wellbeing

Senior leadership

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

HCPC registration

Masters level study or equivalent leadership experience

Job description

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen as the Head of Occupational Therapy at UHNM. The Allied Health Professionals have undergone a full restructure supporting a leadership framework which you will be part of the implementation. You will be responsible for the clinical leadership and overall operational performance for the service providing professional leadership to all dieticians. This role is pivotal in delivering the Occupational Therapy vision here at UHNM as well as partaking in the wider strategic direction for our Allied Health Professional workforce.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will lead the Department on professional and clinical governance issues and be a source of professional expertise in the field of occupational therapy for the Trust.

Key responsibilities

• Undertake the role according to the professional code of conduct, national and local guidelines and ensure all dietetic staff employees at UHNM follow HCPC codes for dietitians.
• Identify areas of risk and work to reduce risk, escalating as appropriate.
• Leading a comprehensive and high-quality dietetic service for both inpatients and outpatients, working to agreed standards, policies and procedures.
• To lead the development, implementation and audit of occupational therapy protocols and pathways.
• Act as a clinical lead, providing highly specialist advice for occupational therapist locally, regionally and nationally.
• Produce and implement policies, evidence-based protocols and guidelines on behalf of UHNM. To provide specialist advice and participate in service development including pathways of care and clinical policies to optimise service provision.

Essential qualifications and knowledge

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and HCPC registration
• Evidence of Masters level study or equivalent senior leadership experience
• Significant post-registration experience including senior leadership within acute hospital services
• Extensive experience leading Occupational Therapy services within an acute teaching hospital and/or Major Trauma Centre
• Strategic leadership experience including workforce planning, operational management, recruitment, performance management and professional leadership
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance operational pressures and long-term service development
• Strong commitment to professional leadership, staff wellbeing and workforce development

Desirable qualifications and knowledge

• Quality Improvement qualification or extensive experience delivering quality improvement programmes
• Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience leading large multidisciplinary services
• Experience managing budgets, establishments and capital/equipment planning

About us

University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust is one of the largest and most modern in the country. Based across two sites, Royal Stoke in Stoke-on-Trent and County Hospital in Stafford, we are proud to serve around three million people and we're highly regarded for our facilities, teaching and research. We are the specialist centre for major trauma for the North Midlands and North Wales.

Pay scheme: Agenda for change Band: Band 8b Salary: £66,582 to £77,368 a year per annum Contract: Permanent Working pattern: Full-time Closing date: 12 November 2026

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. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.