Specialist Practitioner (PT/OT Lead)

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS trust in Exeter is seeking a Specialist Practitioner (PT/OT Lead) to join the Eastern Integrated Community Stroke Service. This key role involves managing complex cases and providing clinical leadership in a supportive environment. The ideal candidate will be a registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist with experience in Neurorehabilitation. The position offers a full-time schedule, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development within a dynamic team committed to delivering high-quality patient care.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

NHS Pension scheme

Access to occupational health services

Staff discounts on shopping and leisure

Cycle to work scheme

Flexible working schemes

Qualifications

• Must be a registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
• Experience in Neurorehabilitation is essential.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities in clinical settings.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload of stroke patients.
• Provide clinical leadership within the team.
• Develop and deliver intensive rehabilitation programs.

Skills

Neurorehabilitation

Leadership

Team collaboration

Patient care

Goal oriented rehabilitation

Telerehabilitation

Education

Registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist

Job description

Specialist Practitioner (PT/OT Lead)

The closing date is 04 February 2026

The Neurorehab Service are looking to recruit an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to work as part of our Eastern Integrated Community Stroke Service. The opportunity is a highly specialist therapist role to work full time and gain substantive employment within the service. The team supports patients after a stroke to receive high quality, specialist and patient focused rehabilitation outside the hospital environment.

Main duties of the job

For more detail about the main duties of this role, please see the job description section below. As a key member of the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, you will be joining an exceptional team working together to help our patients stay healthy when they need it most.

About us

Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services cover more than 615,000 people and span more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, with some specialist services covering the whole peninsula, extending our reach to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).

Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities. It’s never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you’ll help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.

Job responsibilities

For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.

More detail about the role

Are you ready to progress your career in Neurorehab? Or are you a Neuro specialist occupational therapist or physiotherapist looking for a leadership opportunity and better work-life balance in an innovative trust and research active team? If so, this might be the post for you.

Join a team of dynamic, progressive and dedicated therapists. Be invested in, supported, and given the opportunities to continue to learn and develop as a specialist therapist and leader so that you can succeed in your role and progress your career.

About the role:

This vacancy is based within the Eastern Integrated Community Stroke Service. The team supports patients after a stroke, enabling their care to be transferred from an inpatient environment to a community setting. They enable people to continue to receive high quality, specialist and patient focused rehabilitation outside of hospital. The service is committed to delivering and developing intensive, goal orientated rehabilitation aligned with national stroke guidelines. This includes using and developing telerehabilitation and group therapy approaches to enhance access, intensity and continuity of therapy.

We are seeking a highly motivated Band 7 Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to play a key role in shaping and delivering an intensive and responsive community stroke service. The post holder will manage a complex caseload whilst also providing clinical leadership within the team.

The Eastern Integrated Community Stroke Service is a forward-thinking team that seeks opportunities to influence service development and identify new ways of working. The team work collaboratively within an integrated MDT, including nursing, medical, speech and language and social care colleagues. They are committed to supporting self-management, secondary prevention and long-term condition management in partnership with patients, carers and the wider MDT.

The Neurorehab service has a track record in staff development, with opportunities for career progression. We have senior staff trained to MSc level and have embedded advanced clinical practice and consultant AHP roles within the service. You can expect to be supported and invested in to succeed and progress in your career.

We are a friendly, supportive and dedicated team. By joining the service, you will join likeminded professionals who aim to rehabilitate patients, support those living with long-term conditions and promote health, well-being and independence.

Innovation is central to therapies at the Royal Devon, demonstrated by new initiatives and the development of non-traditional roles, including a Research and Innovation Lead. We are not afraid to adopt new techniques, such as ultrasound-guided injection therapy in Orthopaedic and Neurology pathways.

Working Pattern: 37.5 hours per week. Monday to Friday 8-4pm with occasional weekend work

Interview Date: To be confirmed

For further information please contact: Anna Jillings, Clinical Nurse Manager on 01392 408 910, [e-mail]

EEO and inclusion: As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Preference: Preference will be given to staff with Priority and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.

Closing and vacancy status: The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.

The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.

We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team. This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications, or days off to study. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we’ll help you get there.

Looking after you is important to us: We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and family-friendly policies.

If you’re starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays. You’ll benefit from access to our own occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.

Salary and benefits: Salary is not the only financial benefit. You’ll have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure, and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits, including:

• National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts
• Salary sacrifice options including an onsite OFSTED-rated outstanding nursery at Exeter
• Car lease schemes
• The NHS Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme

These are just a few of the benefits available; we’d love to hear from you.

Person Specification

General Requirements

• See job description text above
• See job description text above

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 CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust