Job description
Course Leader – Specialist Paediatric Osteopathic Practice (SPOP)Casual (Variable Hours) Salary: £26.07 per hour (Band E+ Senior Lecturer) Location: London Campus (Hybrid)
Health Sciences University (HSU: formerly AECC University College) is a specialist health sciences institution dedicated to excellent education, clinical care and applied research.
Following the recent approval of our new university title HSU in July 2024 and the merger of the University College of Osteopathy into the HSU family from 1st August 2024, the institution is in a phase of growth and transformation across our campuses in Bournemouth and central London.
We are highly values-driven, inspired by our mission to ‘create a healthier society through education, research and clinical care’ with highly dedicated and capable staff and students working together within a caring and inclusive community. We are part-way through the delivery of our Strategic Plan 2021-2026, entitled, which we will refresh in the coming weeks to reflect recent institutional changes.
HSU delivers a diverse and growing portfolio of pre- and post-registration academic provision and research in allied health and related disciplines, and substantial CQC-registered clinical and imaging services delivering high quality care for our staff, students and local communities. These facilities create a unique offering in higher education for our students to gain valuable practice learning experience onsite, to support local and regional NHS partners, and provide a data-rich research environment for our students, staff and partners.
Partnership working sits at the heart of what we do as an agile and collaborative higher education provider and clinical provider, responding to the workforce, educational and clinical needs of our external stakeholders, and supporting our communities as an established anchor institution. As we continue to develop in Dorset and London, it is imperative that we develop a more strategically informed approach to partnership working as a multi-professional centre of excellence for healthcare education, clinical care and research locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.
We provide a vibrant and positive inter-professional learning and practice environment, within a caring and inclusive community.
About the role
This role is based within the London campus community clinic team and is aligned with the Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Paediatric Osteopathic Practice (SPOP). The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality, accessible learning experiences that align with the validated course programme and meet the needs of Health Sciences University (HSU) students. The role actively supports and promotes excellence in osteopathic education, particularly within paediatric practice.
As Course Leader for the SPOP programme, the post holder will assume a senior academic role, with responsibility for overseeing the academic standards, staffing, pedagogy, procedures, and resourcing of the course with support from the Head of School. A key responsibility will be ensuring that the programme maintains academic and clinical integrity and is delivered to the highest standards, in accordance with the validated course documentation.
The Course Leader will work in close collaboration with the SPOP clinical team to monitor and enhance the quality of both academic and clinical teaching. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of pedagogic strategies in use, identifying opportunities for improvement, and ensuring that teaching and learning remain innovative, evidence-informed, and responsive to student and patient needs.
This role is designed to be worked flexibly, with the expectation that it can be accommodated alongside existing professional commitments. Weekly hours are negotiable with the Head of School and are typically expected to fall within the range of 3–7 hours during the delivery of the course. Duties can be performed flexibly across the week, including remotely, with some in-person attendance at teaching weekends (typically on Saturdays) to support students and staff as required.
Please note that this role involves direct work with children. As such, applicants must demonstrate a high level of emotional maturity, clinical confidence, and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with children and their parents or guardians. Extensive experience in paediatric osteopathic care is essential, including the ability to adapt communication styles to suit the developmental stage and individual needs of each child.
About the person
Essential
1. Academic knowledge/ experience, including mix of teaching and learning styles/ techniques
2. The ability to be adaptable and flexible in a busy clinic environment
3. At least 2 years’ clinical osteopathic experience treating children
4. Ability to devise and deliver course materials that meet a range of needs, and that result in a consistently high standard of course delivery
5. Full membership of the GOsC
6. Proven ability/experience of working independently
7. Occasional weekend availability
8. Evidence of on-going CPD that informs clinical and teaching practice
9. Relevant osteopathic qualification
10. Relevant post graduate qualification in Paediatric Osteopathy
11. Excellent oral/written communication skills
12. Proficient in the use of information and communications technology
13. Proven ability/experience of working in a team
14. Excellent timekeeping and attendance record
Desirable
15. Substantial post-qualification osteopathic experience
16. Experience with teaching or clinical supervision in a Paediatric Clinical Training program
17. Experience of giving tutorials
Applicants must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum & Nationality Act 2006.