Job summary
Are you an experienced paediatric physiotherapist or occupational therapist ready to make a real impact? This is your opportunity to take the lead in the Children's Therapy Service at University Hospitals Dorset.

Why This Role?

• Make a difference - Support children aged 0-19 with motor skills difficulties across Poole, Bournemouth, and East Dorset.
• Lead with purpose - Drive service development and clinical excellence, ensuring the highest standards of care.
• Work across diverse settings - From outpatient clinics across UHD sites, to nursery and school visits.

Your Impact as Team Lead

• Provide strong operational and clinical leadership (over a minimum of 4 days a week).
• Build effective relationships across healthcare, education, statutory, and voluntary agencies.
• Manage and allocate resources to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
• Inspire and develop your team--bringing out the best in each professional.
• Lead by example working on weekend, on call and twilight rotas as per profession.

What We are Looking For

• Proven leadership and management experience within paediatric therapy.
• A track record of service development and implementing change.
• A collaborative, innovative mindset and the drive to champion children's health and outcomes

Interview: 15th September

Main duties of the job
Provide leadership for physiotherapists, occupational therapists, apprentices, assistants and students to provide a highly specialised assessment, treatment and advice service across children's pathways (0-19 years). To demonstrate an appropriate level of evidence-based expertise in the assessment and treatment of a paediatric caseload, for children of all ages with neuro-developmental, neuro-muscular, musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions. Be professionally and legally accountable for the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of paediatric therapy services within the children's therapy team. Drive continuous quality improvement, service evaluation, audit, and research, promoting best practice locally and nationally. Support strategic planning and transformation of therapy services in line with UHD Clinical Services Review and national drivers. Educate, supervise, and develop therapists, support workers and students, fostering a culture of compassionate leadership and lifelong learning.

About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.

This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions at interview.

Please note if a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under relevant Trust or national terms and conditions.

Job responsibilities
To be a specialist OT/PT with detailed knowledge of normal childhood development, childhood conditions, disease processes and prognosis. To be responsible for workforce and equipment processes to deliver the service, adhering to UHD policy. To participate in out of hours, on-call and weekend working as required for your profession to ensure efficient therapy provision in line with the Trusts priorities. To undertake any other clinical duties as may be deemed necessary and be prepared to work at any location across all the Trust sites and other areas where clinics may be held. Ensure compliance with CSP/HCPC standards, NICE guidance, National Service Frameworks, safeguarding, infection prevention and Trust policies.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy
• MSc or Level 7 study or equivalent relevant experience
• Management/Leadership courses/qualifications

Desirable

• Postgraduate paediatric training (e.g. respiratory, MSK, SI intervention)

Experience
Essential

• Extensive post-graduate senior Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy experience
• Experience in delivering in-patient and outpatient therapy.
• Working in NHS setting
• Experience in managing multi-disciplinary services and projects

Desirable

• Managing transformation/leading through change
• Use of NHS workforce and patient management systems e.g. e-roster, allocate, e-camis, easy expenses.

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
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Poole Main Site
University Hospitals Dorset, Longfleet Road
Poole, Dorset
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Paediatric Therapy Service Lead
Karina Parish
karina.parish@uhd.nhs.uk
03000192936

Details
Date posted
24 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£49,387 to £56,515 a year
per annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
153-SP06666
Job locations
Poole Main Site
University Hospitals Dorset, Longfleet Road
Poole, Dorset
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom

Supporting documents
Privacy notice
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)