Job summary
Urgent Care Team Lead (PT/OT): Secondment / Fixed Term Full Time (37.5 hours)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join Stockport NHS Foundation Trust as Urgent Care Team Lead on a 12-month fixed-term or secondment basis.

Based within the Urgent Care Therapy Service at Stepping Hill Hospital, the post holder will provide operational leadership and clinical expertise across Urgent Care pathways, including the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Unit (AMU) and Frailty Unit. The successful candidate will lead a multidisciplinary therapy team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality patient care whilst supporting service development, workforce management and quality improvement initiatives.

This role combines leadership responsibilities with advanced clinical practice, making it an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinician looking to further develop their operational and leadership skills within a dynamic Urgent Care environment

Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide day-to-day operational leadership and management of the Urgent Care Therapy Team, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and coordinating therapy services across Urgent Care pathways.
• Managing staff performance, supervision, appraisal and professional development.
• Supporting service improvement, clinical governance and quality assurance activities.
• Monitoring service performance, workforce deployment and demand and capacity.
• Working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and partner organisations to support patient flow and safe discharge planning.
• Undertaking highly specialised assessment, treatment and management of patients with complex rehabilitation, frailty and acute care needs.
• Contributing to recruitment, workforce planning, audit, education and research activities.
• Supporting delivery of a seven-day therapy service.

About us
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of hospital and community services to the people of Stockport and surrounding areas. We are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care whilst supporting our staff to develop, innovate and thrive.

Integrated Therapies is a large and diverse directorate comprising Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, Orthotics and Therapy Support Services across inpatient, community and specialist settings. We are committed to collaborative working, continuous improvement and developing our workforce to deliver outstanding patient care.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated leader who shares our values and can help shape and develop Urgent Care services to meet the changing needs of our population.

Job responsibilities
The Team Lead will provide professional, operational and clinical leadership for the Urgent Care Therapy Team.

The job description gives an overview of the main tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specifications focuses on the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. These documents are attached on the page and can be downloaded.The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed

Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential

• Degree or Diploma in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy (or recognised equivalent)
• Current HCPC Registration
• Evidence of leadership or management development relevant to the role

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualification/Masters level study
• Formal Leadership or Management qualification
• RCOT/CSP membership or specialist interest group membership
• Clinical Educator/Practice Educator qualification

Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of complex therapy needs, frailty, acute illness and rehabilitation
• Knowledge of discharge planning and admission avoidance pathways
• Understanding of governance, quality improvement and evidence-based practice
• Understanding of current NHS and Urgent Care priorities
• Knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and patient safety

Desirable

• Understanding of service redesign, demand and capacity management and workforce planning

Experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience within Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy services
• Experience managing patients with complex therapy and rehabilitation needs
• Experience of multidisciplinary team working across health and social care settings
• Experience supervising registered staff, support staff and/or students
• Experience of staff appraisal, supervision and performance management processes
• Experience of clinical audit, service evaluation or quality improvement activity
• Experience supporting student education within the clinical environment

Desirable

• Experience leading service improvement or change projects
• Experience of organising and delivering training programmes or educational sessions
• Previous experience within a Band 7 or equivalent senior clinical role
• Experience leading a uni-professional or multi professional team
• Experience working with patients who have communication barriers, including cognitive impairment or non-English speakers

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• Evidence of managing competing priorities and workload
• Ability to analyse service data and use information to support decision making
• Competent use of electronic systems and Microsoft 365
• Advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
• Ability to work across organisational boundaries
• Advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills
• Highly developed assessment and treatment skills relevant to Occupational Therapy and/or Physiotherapy practice within Urgent Care Services
• Ability to lead, motivate, influence and support a multidisciplinary workforce
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adapt communication style to meet the needs of patients, carers and staff
• Ability to manage conflict and use negotiation skills effectively
• Ability to prepare reports and present information clearly and objectively
• Ability to delegate appropriately and maintain accountability within teams
• Effective presentation and teaching skills

Desirable

• Evidence of supporting staff wellbeing and positive culture

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.