We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated so whilst you care for our patients and clients, we’ll take care of you. We offer many different ways of helping staff including career development opportunities, flexible working, good annual leave and pension schemes, health and wellbeing packages and financial support systems. Joining the Trust also allows you access to a number of saving options via our salary sacrifice schemes and a wide range of discount opportunities with retailers and service providers. Job overview Are you an experienced Occupational Therapist (OT) or Physiotherapist looking to advance your career, and develop your operational management and leadership skills? We are looking for a Lead Therapist to join our Spinal Injuries Team of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, therapy support workers and activities coordinator. Based in the Osborn building at the Northern General Hospital, the team provide a service to acute, rehabilitation, readmission and outpatients with a Spinal Cord Injury. The Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre is a 60 bedded, supra regional centre for patients who have sustained spinal cord damage as a result of trauma or pathology. Patients are accepted from a wide catchment area that covers much of the east of England. The Centre has 6 beds dedicated to ventilator dependent patients. The Spinal Injuries Therapy Department includes a physiotherapy gym, hydrotherapy pool, sports hall, a main OT treatment area, heavy workshop/project room; therapy kitchen, assessment bedroom, assessment bathroom, computer room and assessment flat. There is a well-established multi-disciplinary team where all members work collaboratively in the assessment and management of the patient. As well as offering a specialist service to our catchment area the Centre also has links with the other Spinal Injuries Centres across the country and liaises regularly regarding the provision of quality services to this patient group. Main duties of the job Day-to-day you will provide operational management and leadership for the teams inpatient and outpatient services. A key part of your role is to support staff health and wellbeing, education, and professional development. We are looking for someone with excellent communication, people and organisational skills who is able to deliver and sustain a positive, supportive team culture. As well as a passion for supporting and developing people and services, the post requires a high level of specialist or senior-level post-registration experience working as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist within an acute hospital setting. Also required is the ability to analyse complex problems, formulate solutions and implement sustainable change as well as the confidence in working with a wide range of senior professionals. While this post is predominantly a leadership one, part of the role will be on occasion to carry a small clinical caseload. Whilst clinical experience within Spinal Injuries is beneficial, we can offer training within this field to the successful candidate. For this post there will be no requirement to participate in weekend or on-call services at this time. You will work closely and collaboratively with the Clinical Service Manager, Clinical Specialists and fellow Lead Therapists to ensure an equitable service is delivered by a robust and resilient team. Working for our organisation The role offers the opportunity for either a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to grow their personal and professional development within the field of operational management and leadership. • Development of supervision and mentorship skills • Opportunities to deliver and receive teaching & training • Participation in and/or leading quality improvement initiatives • Involvement in clinical governance/assurance/management forums within the team, service and division • Development of operational, service delivery and line management knowledge and skills, including HR processes You will be working for an organisation which values and respects all of its staff and the community it serves. The Trust is a leader in the NHS and research sectors and provides excellent benefits for its staff. This includes commitments to professional development but also many policies to support employees in balancing their personal and professional lives. When completing your application please ensure that you clearly demonstrate how you meet the person specification and the role criteria. Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria • BSc in Physiotherapy/ Occupational Therapy • Current HPC Registration • Postgraduate Masters level module in relevant subject to this post or equivalent knowledge and skills accumulated through formal training and experiential learning. Desirable criteria • Masters degree in management or leadership Experience Essential criteria • Extensive experience as a qualified therapist including post-registration NHS experience as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist • Significant experience as a senior therapist especially for the day to day management of a clinical area. • In-depth inter-professional knowledge of therapy in an acute hospital. • Line management of Therapy staff including appraisal and supervision. • Significant experience in emergency respiratory on call (PT only) Desirable criteria • Member of Special Interest Group • Governance • Teaching Further training Essential criteria • Evidence of continuous personal & professional development • Current clinical knowledge and skill in specialty • Current knowledge of evidence-base for specialty • Good basic knowledge of therapy practice for medicine, orthopaedics, neurology Desirable criteria • Management and leadership development training • NVQ Assessor • Clinical Governance • Risk Assessment • Research, Clinical Audit or Practice • Leadership Special skills/apptitudes Essential criteria • Excellent group working skills and the ability to work collaboratively. • Excellent interpersonal, communication, group working and leadership skills • Excellent organisational skills, ability to act on own initiative, to prioritise work and manage multiple tasks for self and others. • Ability to analyse complex problems, formulate solutions and implement sustainable change. • Confident in working with a wide range of senior professionals. • Able to maintain confidentiality • IT Literate • Understanding of stress and ability to help others to cope under pressure