Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY 
This is a role which has both operational and strategic responsibility.  It is a deputy role to the cross-site, Head of Therapies. There is a requirement to look at service development, opportunities and Quality Improvement (QI) to help improve the profile of Therapy services as well as deliver safe and effective care to our patients. The post holder will champion Therapy services across the organisation (which include Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition & Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy and Prosthetics & Orthotics). The role will support the Head of Therapies in achieving their strategic, financial and operational objectives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 
Operational Management

•    To support the Head of Therapies as required. This could be in their absence or as a delegated function
•    To operationally manage Therapy services for the Luton & Dunstable Hospital site
•    To represent Therapy services at internal or external meetings as required and with a clear understanding of the strategic plan and direction of travel
•    Develop and lead the Services response to future changes within Bedfordshire and the wider BLMK (Bedford, Luton & Milton Keynes) Integrated Care Board footprint and inspire staff to manage any changes that may be required. This may involve integration of services and patient pathways
•    To support the Senior Manager on call rota (SMOC)

Service Development 
This role will provide support to the Head of Therapies and Clinical Service Line in transacting its business. For this post this includes:
•    Physiotherapy (adult and paediatric, acute and community services)
•    Occupational Therapy (inpatient and outpatient services)
•    Speech and Language Therapy 
•    Nutrition and Dietetics (adult and paediatric, acute and community services)
•    Prosthetics & Orthotics
•    To provide a clear sense of direction and leadership by being visible and accessible to staff, patients and the public
•    Develop service specifications, with both internal and external stakeholders and in collaboration with contracting and finance teams and local commissioners. This will include the mapping of both clinical and process pathways and to understand current service delivery
•    Develop strategies to ensure staff integrate with other service areas to support and encourage co-production of service delivery
•    Support contract monitoring with the development of Key Performance Indicators for services
•    To work collaboratively with the Head of Therapies, and the therapies clinical managers to develop a vision for staff that encourages a positive, high performing, productive and supportive culture
•    Ensure all staff have a good understanding of the objectives, priorities and plans for Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and how their role contributes to these.
•    Work with the Head of Therapies, local commissioners and stakeholders to inform commissioning intentions and develop services in line with Integrated Care Board (ICB) priorities
•    Support with the writing of position statements, statements of need and business cases to support with service development
•    Support on the delivery of CQUINs and other Quality Improvements (QI) for the Services as required
•    Ensure all the Services meet their contractual obligations
•    Effectively manage and use IM & T systems to monitor the performance of the services, ensuring that accurate information is provided to the Trust and commissioners of contracted services within the agreed performance management framework. Taking action to continuously update and improve these services as required
•    Work in conjunction with the therapies clinical managers to identify and implement further development of the services and any possible efficiency (CIP) schemes

Clinical
•    To be a registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and provide [profession specific] clinical advice and mentoring to staff as appropriate and as required
•    To map clinical pathways and be aware of best practice guidance to inform pathway development
•    To understand, refer to and reference best practice evidence when developing clinical services to ensure service quality
•    To attend and / or chair finance and governance meetings and to represent Therapy services as required
•    To monitor and report the clinical effectiveness of teams and ensure clinical quality is of the required standard
•    Provide assurance to the Head of Therapies that all services are operating to and meet the relevant clinical standards.
Organisational, Managerial, Financial
•    To be accountable for upholding financial Standing Orders with your devolved budgets 
•    Support, negotiate, plan, and monitor financial performance, and manage change as required.
•    Ensure that any financial, clinical or operational risks are highlighted, reported, mitigated and escalated as appropriate
•    Take an active role by working with the Trust’s IT department in the implementation of the information systems strategy and inter-agency information sharing protocols and procedures
•    Demonstrate a high level of IT literacy skills
•    Ensure the Services are delivered in line with activity plans and financial targets
•    Support the Head of Therapies in identifying business opportunities 
•    Effectively manage the receipt and communication of highly complex, sensitive or contentious information
•    Work collaboratively with the Clinical Service Lines to support the Trust’s objectives and strategic direction
•    Provide staff with a clear direction of travel and to further develop services development which support the Trust objectives. This will involve strategic planning, project management and the application of Change Management principles
•    Develop a clear understanding of health improvement and healthcare needs of Place Based Care models and population health needs. To take an innovative role in delivery of these needs
•    Influence and develop inter-agency partnership working, to ensure the needs of the population are being addressed 
•    Work collaboratively with the Therapy Service Leads to ensure a high level of service user satisfaction
•    Implement systems for promoting the involvement of service users and carers in the development of services
•    Identify personal and professional development opportunities evidenced by through a Personal Development Plan (PDP) / Continuing Professional Development (CPD) portfolio
•    To ensure that all policies, protocols and procedures and guidelines for the services are regularly reviewed and remain up to date
•    To assure the Head of Therapies that audit is undertaken across the Services on a regular basis, that gaps are identified and acted upon. To ensure that the team are aware of audit requirements relating to their areas

Human Resources
•    Manage sickness, leave, supervision and appraisal for teams that are assigned to your management and in accordance to Trust policy
•    Ensure that all relevant HR policies are followed by your teams
•    Lead as appropriate in the event of investigation into alleged breaches of legal, professional or disciplinary conduct and ensure appropriate action is taken
•    Ensure all Therapy Service Leads effectively manage their staff in line with the Trust Human Resources policies and procedures. This will include the management of clinical risk 
•    Ensure the buildings and equipment used by the services are maintained to a high standard in accordance with Health and Safety requirements and in collaboration with Estates and Facilities as well as Health & safety

Education and Training
•    Provide supervision and appraisal to staff as required to support service delivery
•    Support the update of Training Needs Analysis in order to ensure service skills and competencies are maintained and developed 
•    Where appropriate, deliver training to staff through workshops, training events and conferences.
Foster a culture of lifelong learning, to include provision for post-registration education, continuing professional education/development and vocational training of staff within the Services to ensure they develop their full clinical and leadership potential.

Variation
This job description will be subject to review from time to time. Any amendments will be made in consultation with the post holder and in-line with the Trust’s Change Management Policy.