Senior Specialist Hand Therapist

Transformation Unit; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Specialist Hand Therapist to join our dedicated hand therapy team. Based mainly at The James Cook University Hospital, you will also run clinics at Redcar and Northallerton, co-managing a Band 6 Hand Therapists team and collaborating with Hand Consultants and other MDT members.

The role focuses on advanced hand therapy within an MSK context, along with leadership duties and commitment to CPD through training, audits and research

Qualifications

• BSc in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy.
• HCPC registration.
• BAHT level 3 accreditation and/or MSc in appropriate subject.
• Evidence of CPD portfolio including attendance of recent post-graduate course relevant to hand therapy.

Responsibilities

• Co-manage a team of Band 6 Hand Therapists and a Therapy Assistant.
• Work closely with Hand Consultants (Plastics and Orthopaedics) and MDT.
• Clinical role with leadership and management responsibilities.
• Pursue post-graduate study and development through CPD and Leadership Programmes.

Skills

Hand therapy expert

Anatomy knowledge

Clinical reasoning

Splinting skills

Wound care

Pediatric hand therapy

Education

BSc in Physiotherapy

HCPC registered

BAHT/MSc in related subject

CPD portfolio

Job description

Employer South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site The James Cook University Hospital Town Middlesbrough Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 14/10/2026 23:59

Senior Specialist Hand Therapist

Band 7

Job overview

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and enthusiastic Hand Therapist to join our specialist hand therapy team at South Tees NHS Trust.

We are looking for a dynamic and motivated Hand Therapist, with either a Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy background, to join our Hand Therapy Team.

The post holder will be expected to have substantial experience in Hand Therapy and the wider musculoskeletal field, as well as evidence of relevant postgraduate study, ideally at Masters level.

This post offers development in clinical and leadership skills and our staff are encouraged and supported in their CPD through workshops, relevant courses and clinical supervision. There is also an expectation to actively participate in audit and research.

Main duties of the job

Your role will be as a Senior Specialist Hand Therapist, working in our Hand Therapy Unit based mainly at The James Cook University Hospital, but also holding clinics at Redcar and Northallerton. You will co-manage a team of Band 6 Hand Therapists and a Therapy Assistant. You will also work closely with the Advanced Practitioner Hand Therapist, the Hand Consultants (both Plastics and Orthopaedics) and other members of the MDT.

The role will be largely clinical with some leadership and management responsibilities. As such, the post holder will be expected to have substantial experience clinically in hand and musculoskeletal therapy and have experience of management or leadership.

You will be expected to have completed, be working towards, or willing to complete relevant post graduate study in clinical and/or leadership, and there will be opportunity to further develop your clinical skills by working alongside Advanced Practice Physiotherapists, and leadership skills through the Trust’s Leadership Programmes.

Working for our organisation

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers leadership and improvement training to all new staff. This training programme has been designed to support our leaders in developing their understanding of leadership and management skills. You will be expected to attend the following training sessions

Training Sessions

• Your Leadership Impact
• Leading your Team to Success
• Leading Into the Future
• Service Improvement for Beginners

The leadership and improvement programme aims to:

• Explore leadership within the NHS
• Promote Trust values and behaviours
• Develop your leadership effectiveness and skills
• Equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to lead and complete service improvements within the scope of your role.

After you complete these six and a half days of training you will be able to explore further leadership and improvement training opportunities. We also offer a range of additional in-house and externally provided courses and bitesize programmes through our Leadership and Improvement Team.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc in Physiotherapy / /Occupational therapy
• Registered with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Completed or working towards BAHT level 3 accreditation and / or MSc in appropriate subject
• Evidence of CPD portfolio including attendance of recent post-graduate course relevant to hand therapy.

Experience

• Completed core rotations and specialist rotations including hand therapy.
• Substantial experience at band 6 or above within the NHS
• Substantial hand therapy experience at band 6 or above
• Experience of team leadership, service development and managing change
• Experience of supervision and development of junior staff and students
• Experience of working with children and patients with mental health problems
• Member of professional body
• Member of special interest body

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Expert clinician with specialist skills in the therapeutic management of hand conditions.
• Basic splinting skills.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology related to musculoskeletal therapy and conditions, in particular around the hand.
• Advanced clinical reasoning in musculoskeletal physiotherapy / occupational therapy.
• Wound care management skills.
• Advanced hand therapy assessment and treatment skills for children
• Advanced splinting skills

Skills

• Expert clinician with specialist skills in the therapeutic management of hand conditions.
• Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology related to musculoskeletal therapy and conditions, in particular around the hand.
• Advanced clinical reasoning in musculoskeletal physiotherapy / occupational therapy.
• Basic splinting skills.
• Wound care management skills.
• Advanced hand therapy assessment and treatment skills for children
• Advanced splinting skills

Important - Once sufficient applications have been received this vacancy may close early.

Disclosure and Barring Checks (DBS)
It is the policy of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who arenew to the Trust who require DBS clearance for the post they have been offered, are required to pay the cost of their DBS. The method of payment for this is via salary deduction from your first month's pay.

Qualifications
Please note the essential qualifications required for the post are outlined within the Person Specification. You are required to provide original evidence of the necessary qualifications for the post at interview should you be shortlisted.You will also be required to provide original copies as part of the pre-employment check screening.

New Starters – Probationary Period

For any new employees commencing employment with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, you will be subject to satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. Please note that internal applications and individuals that are appointed to fixed term appointments of less than 6 months duration are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or a bank member of staff).
Employment References

As part of our pre-employment screening process, all applicants are required to provide references covering their last three years employment history including any gaps. Applicants are requested toensure e-mail addressesfor all referees are included on their application form. Personal references are not acceptable.

Working Hours

If the hours advertised for the post are up to full time (37.5 hours per week), applications are still welcomed from individuals who may be seeking to work less than full-time hours and all requests will be considered in line with the post being appointed to for the successful applicant.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Everything we do is shaped by our values: Respect, Support, and Collaborate.

At University Hospitals Tees we want our workspaces to be places where everyone feels welcome, valued and safe. We treat people with respect, and we celebrate the differences that make each of us unique.

We welcome applications from everyone, no matter your age, background, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family circumstances or beliefs.

We are here to supportyou throughout your application and at every stage of your career with us. We believe we work best when we collaborate, learn from each other and build teams that reflect the communities we serve.

Supporting disabled people and people with long‑term conditions

We are a Disability Confident committed employer aspiring to become a lead employer in 2026.

This means we give fair and full consideration to applicants and will offer reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. If you need help with your application, or need the information in a different format, please contact our recruitment team and we will support you.

If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, email our team at [e-mail] or call us on 01642 854610

Right to Work in the UK

The Trust welcomes applications from all candidates who meet the criteria for the role. Please note that from January 2021, to work in the UK all candidates who are not UK or Republic of Ireland (RoI) nationals require sponsorship unless you have permission to work via another route. Non UK / RoI candidates wishing to apply can self-assess the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship hereWork in the UK - GOV.UK ( www.gov.uk ).

Please provide full and accurate details of your current immigration status on the application form. Your current immigration status will not be considered as part of the shortlisting or interview process.

Please note that not everyone needs a ‘Skilled Worker’ visa. If you are applying for a vacancy in health or social care, you may be eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa instead.

Further Important Information

Please check your email on a regular basis for updates on your application. If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to email via this method

Existing employees of South Tees NHS Foundation Trust currently on the Redeployment Register, who meet the essential criteria for this post, will be shortlisted and interviewed prior to all other applicants.

Please ensure you read the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document attached to this advert before completing and submitting your application.

Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to all applicants and those who are not contacted within six weeks of the closing date should assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Please note that this vacancy will close when we receive sufficient completed applications.

Name Nicole Lyons Job title Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist in Hands Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01642 850850 Additional information

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Mrs. Nicole Lyons on 01642 850850 ext 55595