Highly Specialist Hand Occupational/ Physio Therapist

NHS; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's hospital in Liverpool is seeking a Highly Specialist Hand Occupational/Physio Therapist. The successful candidate will work within the Acute Integrated Therapy Team, managing a complex caseload of hand trauma and congenital conditions. This role demands significant experience in hand therapy and the ability to formulate advanced clinical intervention plans autonomously. The position offers a salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per year, pro rata, in a vibrant healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Evidence of CPD, post registration educational and training.
• Experience in hand therapy managing complex conditions.
• Ability to hold independent and highly specialist caseload.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of hand trauma/plastics/congenital conditions.
• Deliver and co-ordinate high-quality therapy to children.
• Formulate intervention plans based on advanced clinical reasoning.

Skills

Significant experience in hand therapy

High level knowledge of assessments and treatment modalities

Experience of Supervising Junior Staff and Students

Knowledge of specialist paediatric approaches

Analytical skills

Education

Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy

HPC registration

Level 7 study or equivalent

Job description

Highly Specialist Hand Occupational/ Physio Therapist

The closing date is 06 January 2026

We are delighted to offer this opportunity for an experienced Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to work within the Acute Integrated Therapy Team. The successful candidate will work within our Hand Therapy service, managing a caseload of hand trauma/plastics/congenital conditions.

To be a team member of Alder Hey's Paediatric Therapy team and as such, carry a complex caseload across Plastics and support Burns patients requiring hand therapy, working in partnership with parents, carers education and other service providers to ensure a child centred approach to therapy.

To have responsibility for the delivery and co‑ordination of high‑quality Therapy to children with a range of conditions and presentations including (but not limited to), tendon repairs, nerve injuries, fractures, burns, congenital abnormalities, brachial plexus injuries, and trauma conditions.

Utilise a high level of knowledge developed through experience of scar management mobilisation, positioning, and splinting, treating a wide range of hand conditions and traumas.

To organise this caseload effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities, time, and staffing levels.

To act as a lead therapist to assess, diagnose/interpret and manage own specialist caseload of complex patients as an autonomous practitioner in accordance with the RCOT code of conduct and HCPC standards.

To work without direct supervision, formulating intervention plans based on advanced clinical reasoning skills.

Main duties of the job

Please see job description for further details.

To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of caseload. To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management) to maximise function and independence. To have responsibility for the delivery and co‑ordination of high‑quality Occupational Therapy to children with a range of conditions and presentations within the clinical speciality.

To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations, where expert opinion may differ, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising highly specialist treatment skills and a wide range of treatment options.

To contribute to accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans, guided by clearly defined principles or occupational policies.

To hold an independent, complex, and highly specialist caseload, being able to highly demonstrate specialist assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and management plans with goals based on advanced clinical reasoning skills. To provide specialist assessment and intervention across the identified speciality, delivering holistic assessment of the child's needs and providing treatment programmes to meet the child's rehabilitation needs.

About us

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a major teaching hospital with 270 beds. It is a supra-regional centre for cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and Paediatric major trauma. Alder Hey is one of Europe's busiest children's hospitals and we care for over 270,000 young people and their families every year.

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is located in the vibrant city of Liverpool in the North West of England.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and personal specification for further details.

Analytical skills

To use theoretical knowledge and practical experience to interpret and analyse clinical diagnoses and presentations in a wide variety of complex conditions, where there may be conflicting evidence or where some information is unavailable.

To work without direct supervision, formulating intervention plans based on advanced clinical reasoning skills. To interpret and analyse relevant clinical and non‑clinical facts to inform accurate diagnosis and prognosis and to develop appropriate treatment plans for individual patients.

To act as a lead therapist to assess, diagnose/interpret and manage own specialist caseload of complex patients as an autonomous practitioner in accordance with the RCOT code of conduct and HCPC standards.

Utilise a high level of knowledge developed through experience, treating a wide range of conditions. Analyse and understand the impact on the child and family of various treatment plans/diagnosis from other disciplines. To interpret national and professional policies and implement within clinical area.

To use specialised knowledge to interpret and analyse clinical and non‑clinical diagnoses in a wide range of highly complex conditions, where there may conflicting evidence or where some information is unavailable.

Person Specification

• Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy
• HPC registration
• Significant experience in hand therapy
• Evidence of CPD, post registration educational and training
• Level 7 study or equivalent
• High level knowledge of a variety of assessments and treatment modalities
• Experience of Supervising Junior Staff and Students
• Knowledge of specialist paediatric approaches and high standard of performance in a range of general paediatric skills
• experience of audit
• evidence of relevant CPD

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.

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata per annum