Head of Occupational Therapy

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust in Staffordshire is seeking a Head of Occupational Therapy to provide professional leadership and oversight of Occupational Therapy services across inpatient and outpatient settings. The role focuses on governance, service development, and staff development within a large acute hospital environment.

You will lead clinical governance, supervise clinical staff, and drive strategic direction for the Therapies teams, aligning with the Trust’s values

Qualifications

• 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.
• Quality Improvement qualification or extensive experience delivering quality improvement programmes.
• Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience leading large multidisciplinary services.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Provide support and clinical supervision to occupational therapists, physiotherapists and therapy technicians, apprentice occupational therapists and students; develop others through training and competency assessment.
• Undertake the role according to the professional code of conduct, national and local guidelines and ensure HCPC codes are followed.
• Lead development, implementation and audit of occupational therapy protocols and pathways; act as a clinical lead providing specialist advice locally, regionally and nationally.
• Produce and implement policies, evidence-based protocols and guidelines; participate in service development including pathways of care and clinical policies to optimise service provision.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Staff wellbeing

Workforce development

Budget management

Education

Degree in Occupational Therapy

Masters level study or senior leadership

Management/leadership qualification

Job description

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust

Head of Occupational Therapy

The closing date is 12 November 2026

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 Occupational Therapists. This role ispivotal 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.

Responsible for providing support and clinical supervision to occupational therapists, physiotherapists and therapy technicians, apprentice occupational therapists and students working within Therapies. Assist the development of others within the department to encourage competent and confident provision of inpatient and outpatient occupational therapy services through in-house training and competency assessment.

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.

All of our employees make a valuable contribution regardless of role here at UHNM and we are proud of our wide range of development packages aimed at ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their true potential.

UHNM create and encourage a culture of inclusion, providing equal opportunities for career development that are fair and transparent. We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture in which all staff feel valued and respected. In return we ask all of our employees to make a commitment to the values, co-created by or staff, patients and carers, and that unite us as a Trust.At University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust we know that investing in, supporting and developing our staff has a direct impact on the quality of care that we deliver. Our employees are as important as our patients and the population that we serve.

Job responsibilities

Undertake the role according to the professional code of conduct, national and local guidelines and ensure all occupational therapy staff employees at UHNM follow HCPC codes for occupational therapists.

Identify areas of risk and work to reduce risk, escalating as appropriate.Leading a comprehensive and high-quality occupational therapy 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 therapists 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• 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
• Quality Improvement qualification or extensive experience delivering quality improvement programmes
• Management/leadership qualification or equivalent experience leading large multidisciplinary services

Knowledge

• 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
• Experience managing budgets, establishments and capital/equipment planning

Personal Qualities

• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance operational pressures and long-term service development
• Strong commitment to professional leadership, staff wellbeing and workforce development

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.

University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust

Address

Royal Stoke

Therapies Dept, Trent Building, Newcastle Road

Therapies Dept, Trent Building, Newcastle Road