Team Lead Therapist for Early Supported Discharge

NHS; Reading; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity exists for an ambitious Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to lead the Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service. This role involves managing discharges from the hospital in collaboration with a dynamic team, focusing on patient-centric interventions and driving service development to enhance patient outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a designated area of clinical practice.
• Proven experience in the NHS healthcare system.
• Advanced clinical skills in acute care (minimum 2 years).

Responsibilities

• Leading the delivery of the Early Supported Discharge service.
• Operational management and clinical leadership of the ESD team.
• Using specialist knowledge to provide support to the OT and PT teams.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with HCPC

Completion of post graduate education or specialist courses relating to OT or Physio practice

Job description

Job summary

Team Lead Therapist for Early Supported Discharge

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and innovative Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to lead and drive our Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service for the future.

The ESD service is a dynamic service tasked with the important role of facilitating timely discharges from hospital. We achieve this by focusing on meaningful occupations that the patient is motivated to engage in and we take both an adaptive and reablement approach to our work.

The ESD team support the principles of a 'home first' approach using creative strategies, specialist assessments and bespoke interventions to help patients return home more quickly. We complete in-reach rehab on the wards, drive patients home and assess in their own environment. These assessments inform a vast array of interventions which result in excellent outcomes for the patient.

This approach allows our Therapists to maintain and develop a high level and range of skills, including bespoke and person centred equipment assessments, requiring problem solving skills.

The team work closely with their local community partners to provide seamless health care between hospital and home.

***Please note: car driving is a day to day part of this role (including driving patients). Please therefore only apply if you have a UK driver's license and indicate this in your supporting statement.***

Main duties of the job

• To be a member of the Therapy department leadership team, contributing to delivery of safe and effective services.
• Leading on service development, quality improvement planning, and policy development in the ESD service and department-wide.
• To deputise for the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy as required.
• To ensure the high quality, effective delivery of the Early Supported Discharge service.
• To be an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist with advanced clinical skills in the management of patients who are under the care of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Hospital (RBFT).
• To be responsible for the operational management and clinical leadership of the Early Supported Discharge team, in conjunction with the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy.
• To use highly specialist knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy team and other healthcare staff.
• To manage own caseload of patients with highly complex conditions as an autonomous practitioner.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for a comprehensive overview of the role and duties.

About us

The Early Supported Discharge Team is a dynamic service tasked with the important role of facilitating timely discharges from hospital. They support the principles of a 'home first' approach; using creative strategies, specialist assessments and bespoke interventions to help patients return home more quickly. They work closely with their local community partners to provide seamless health care between hospital and home. We are looking for someone who has the passion and experience to deliver high quality occupational therapy/physiotherapy assessment and interventions, and has the drive to shape this service for the future.

In many areas, the Trust is nationally recognised as delivering outstanding care and the Therapies service is fully focused on delivering on the trusts ambition to continue to enhance this excellent work. This is embodied in the Therapies service vision -to deliver a high quality, patient centred, modern service which promotes innovative thinking and prioritises the development of staff.

Come and join our team as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.

Details Date posted

16 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

193-7176502NCG

Job locations

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Job description Job responsibilities

For further details on the job role, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Job description Job responsibilities

For further details on the job role, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Proven experience leading a designated area of clinical practice
• Experience working in the NHS healthcare system
• Substantial clinical experience working in acute care practice (2 years or more)

Desirable

• Experience in managing complex team issues
• Experience in performance management
• Leadership experience managing a team of clinical staff

Knowledge Essential

• Evidence of highly specialist knowledge of OT or Physio within acute adult services
• Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice

Desirable

• Completion of post graduate education or specialist courses relating to OT or Physio practice and acute care
• Evidence of leadership or management training

Knowledge Essential

• Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with HCPC

Desirable

• Evidence of ongoing learning through CPD record

Person Specification Experience Essential

• Proven experience leading a designated area of clinical practice
• Experience working in the NHS healthcare system
• Substantial clinical experience working in acute care practice (2 years or more)

Desirable

• Experience in managing complex team issues
• Experience in performance management
• Leadership experience managing a team of clinical staff

Knowledge Essential

• Evidence of highly specialist knowledge of OT or Physio within acute adult services
• Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice

Desirable

• Completion of post graduate education or specialist courses relating to OT or Physio practice and acute care
• Evidence of leadership or management training

Knowledge Essential

• Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with HCPC

Desirable

• Evidence of ongoing learning through CPD record

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Berkshire Hospital

Craven Road

Reading

RG1 5AN

Employer's website

https://www.royalberkshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)