Specialist Hand Therapist

Uhmb; Kendal; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay in Kendal is seeking Specialist Hand Therapists to join our outpatient therapy service. Qualified Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists with outpatient and/or splinting experience and HCPC registration are welcome.

You will work with Advanced Hand Therapists and the broader therapy team, prescribing exercises, fabricating splints, and carrying out hand dressings as part of patient-centred care across multiple sites, with opportunities for development

Qualifications

• Qualified Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists with outpatient and/or splinting experience.
• Valid HCPC registration is required.
• Willingness to travel to outreach clinics and work with Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive hand therapy assessment of complex physical problems.
• Formulate individual treatment plans based on evidence-based practice.
• Demonstrate advanced hand therapy techniques and assist with dressings and splint fabrication.
• Educate patients using verbal and non-verbal communication and participate in audits/research.

Skills

Outpatient experience

Splinting experience

HCPC registration

Hand therapy skills

Education

HCPC registered physiotherapist

HCPC registered occupational therapist

Tools

Splint fabrication tools

Job description

Main area Hand Therapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Permanent: Full time and Part time post Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full time post 37.5hrs and part time post 22.5hrs Service covers Monday to Friday) Job ref 331-8254484-UHMB

Site Westmorland General Hospital Town Kendal Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 05/10/2026 23:59

''Creating a great place to be cared for and a great place to work''

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay has a firm commitment to strengthening the diversity of our workforce, and therefore welcome and encourage applications from likeminded people who can support our ambition to become effortlessly inclusive. We are particularly keen to hear from protected groups – including BAME, LGBT+ and people with a disability.

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for Specialist Hand Therapists to join our outpatient therapy service. We welcome applications from qualified Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists with outpatient experience and/or splinting experience and valid HCPC registration. You will work with our Advanced Hand Therapists alongside our outpatient therapy team working closely with Trauma and Orthopaedics.

You will have the opportunity to learn from a team of experienced Advanced and Specialist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists and through in-service training and external courses. We will support the successful candidate with relevant development needs for the post. Following induction and training the successful applicant will be expected to prescribe exercise programmes, fabricate custom made splints and undertake hand dressings.

Our primary focus is to deliver quality, patient-centred care which is evidenced based and sustainable for the future in an ever changing NHS landscape. To achieve this, we aim to give you the opportunity to develop your skills in a supportive, dynamic and varied environment and to be involved in service development.

We are in the process of expanding and developing our hand therapy team with a spoke model based at Westmorland General Hospital, the role will require travel to support outreach clinics at Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital.

Main duties of the job

To undertake comprehensive hand therapy assessment of physical problems of a complex nature which may also include psychological and social problems, using specialist clinical reasoning and assessment skills to provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment with the consent of patients and guidance of senior staff if required.

To formulate an individual and agreed treatment plan based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and carry out appropriate treatment in a manner that respects people’s privacy, dignity and individuality. Reassessing patients’ progress and altering treatment plans as required .

To demonstrate highly developed physical skills inclusive of dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory (sensory) skills to carry out appropriate assessment and interventions including manual hand therapy techniques and therapeutic handling , mobilisation techniques, complex dressings, thermoplastic custom-made splint fabrication requiring precise use of tools to mould the splint.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to educate and communicate effectively with patients, carers information regarding their diagnosis, treatment plans and discharge plans. This includes using motivational/persuasive skills and giving specialist advice.

To participate in planned research and audit as required.

Working for our organisation

We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, daycase and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.