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 shaping a well-established, forward-thinking Children's Therapy Service at University Hospitals Dorset.
We are seeking a passionate professional with 6+ years' post-graduate paediatric experience to inspire, guide, and grow our multidisciplinary team for a maternity cover post.
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 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.
Main duties of the job
Provide leadership for physiotherapists, occupational therapists,apprentices, assistants and students to provide a highly specialisedassessment, treatment and advice service across children's pathways (0-19 years).To demonstrate an appropriate level of evidence-based expertise in theassessment 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, andresearch, 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.
Details Date posted
15 August 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
9 months
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
153-SP04915
Job locations
Poole Main Site
University Hospitals Dorset, Longfleet Road
Poole, Dorset
BH15 2JB
Job description 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 toensure 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, infectionprevention and Trust policies.
Job description 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 toensure 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, infectionprevention 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
* Minimum 6 years 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.
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
* Minimum 6 years 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).
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
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Poole Main Site
University Hospitals Dorset, Longfleet Road
Poole, Dorset
BH15 2JB
Employer's website
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details Employer name
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Poole Main Site
University Hospitals Dorset, Longfleet Road
Poole, Dorset
BH15 2JB
Employer's website
https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)
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