Therapy Lead

NHS; Chester-le-Street; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Therapy Lead to operationally manage community therapy services, focusing on improving patient care and safety while working closely with various teams and stakeholders. Key responsibilities include leadership, ensuring compliance with governance, and driving service development through effective management and communication.

Qualifications

• Highly developed knowledge of health service management and community services.
• Experience in managing diverse teams and budgetary oversight.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage operational delivery and ensure service compliance.
• Lead community rehabilitation and specialist therapy functions.
• Engage with stakeholders to maintain service quality.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Management skills

Negotiation

Clinical Governance

Education

Clinical qualification (e.g., First level nurse or AHP)

Diploma level specialist training

Management qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Therapy Lead

The closing date is 10 July 2025

County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is one ofthe largest integrated care providers in England, serving a population ofaround 600,000 people. We are a high performing organisation with a trackrecord of success.

Community Services are looking to recruit a Therapy Lead.This is an exciting role supporting Community Services and ultimately workingto improve patient care and safety.

The role will be operationally responsible for arange of community therapy services provided by combined Physiotherapy andoccupational theray teams. The post holder will support with ClinicalGovernance, learning and service improvement and patient safety. This willinclude involvement with incidents, patient safety investigations, complaints,inquests, clinical policies and education. The role will support with andrecognise learning and improvements required within the service which will feed into the wider caregroup and contribute to themes and learning which cross over a multitude ofteams. They will work closely with all services in the care group and corporatecolleagues to achieve this. The post requires in depth knowledge of the allapects of Community therapy services.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of thisjob is to manage community and specialist theapy services: To be operationallyresponsible for a number of teams across Co Durham and Darlington.

* Operationally manage and/ or provide leadership to a rangeof clinical services within a strong governance framework;

* Demonstrate robust understanding of managing anddelivering community services

* Responsible for service delivery within agreed financialand performance targets;

* Develop links with other health, social care andcommercial organisations to ensure that Community Services crisis is delivered

* Responsible for the development, implementation andmonitoring of continuous improvement activity within relevant service areas;

* Promote and develop a culture of a learning organisationand continuous development;

* Ensure that quality standards are met to maintain aconsistently high standard of patient/client care;

* Be a role model, demonstrating strong leadershipbehaviours and competencies to drive operational quality improvement;

Specifically, they will provide support andadvice to others around Clinical Governance and provide assurance aroundgovernance

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Job responsibilities

Responsibility for the operational delivery of community rehabilitationservices and Specialist therapy functions

Responsible for liaison with Social Care and otheragencies in relation to Community Health services

Implementation of appropriate and relevant actionsidentified through the interpretation of national policy and guidelines toensure continuous improvement and quality service delivery;

Key point of contact for the relationship management withall relevant parties;

Involved in effective dialogue with Commissioners helpingto ensure services remain fit for purpose and continue to provide value formoney;

Provide clinical leadership, line management, and acoordinating role for the provision of expert advice across a diverse range ofservices;

Responsible for the budget management of the service,including associated financial management, monitoring, control and reportingrequirements in line with organisation policies and procedures;

To embrace and promote a culture of learning andcontinuous improvement across all service areas;

To lead and promote County Durham and Darlingtons NHSFoundation Trust vision, strategic direction, values and behaviours;

Responsible for the effective and efficient operationalmanagement of the respective services using robust governance arrangements;

To develop and implement strategies to ensure thesuccessful delivery of high quality, value for money services;

Responsible for ensuring compliance with and achievementof key performance indicators and service specifications / requirements;

To provide strong and decisive leadership that fosters anempowered culture for front line staff within the service;

Responsible for ensuring implementation and monitoring ofrobust integrated governance arrangements and data protection within theservice;

To ensure systems, processes and training is in place andapplied to for all staff with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults;

Responsible for investigating complaints, serious untowardincidents and breaches of discipline, and where necessary recommending asuitable course of action;

Responsible for the effective and efficient management ofall resources within the service offer;

Responsible for ensuring the highest standards of recordkeeping are maintained throughout the services;

Responsible for ensuring compliance with all relevantlegislation and statutory requirements including but not limited to Health andSafety, Fire Regulations, Disability Discrimination, etc;

Responsible for implementing the strategic ambitions ofCDDFT into operational plans and strategies in line with the integratedbusiness plan;

Responsible for ensuring all staff from within the serviceparticipate and develop in the implementation of clinical governancearrangements;

Responsible for facilitating the development of researchcapability and capacity within the clinical workforce;

Responsible for implementation of the County Durham andDarlington NHS Foundation Trust appraisal processes including supervision andPersonal Development Plan;

Deputise for the General Manager whererequired;

Person Specification

Statutory Registration

• NMC or HCPC

Qualifications

• Highly developed specialist knowledge of health service management, underpinned by theory and experience.
• Clinical qualification eg First level nurse or AHP
• Diploma level specialist training, management qualification or equivalent.

Special Requirements

• Ability to travel independently across the County to fulfill the requirements of the post

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge across a range of clinical services which must include experience within community services
• IT literate and competent in using Microsoft Office
• Demonstrate evidence of successfully leading change
• Ability to manage staff from different statutory agencies
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to effectively use negotiation and persuasive skills to influence change
• Demonstrate leadership skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to critically challenge own and others performance
• In depth knowledge of Clinical Commissioning Groups, Local Authority and a working knowledge of District Council Business
• An understanding of the various IT packages and systems in use across the agencies

Experience

• Experience of managing a diverse range of staff
• Experience of audit processes and implementing change as a result
• Significant demonstrable experience of managing services within a statutory organisation
• Experience in budgetary management
• Experience in managing in a complex environment
• Experience of conflict management and resolution
• Experience of dealing with complex Human Resource Issues
• Experience in effective integrated team working within the NHS
• Experience of audit for monitoring and evaluating services

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£53,755 to £60,504 a yearper annum, pro rata