Job summary
- Main area
- Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Weekend working rota is expected in this role. A flexible approach to working is required.)
- Job ref
- 193-7176502NCG
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £46,148 - £52,809 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 29/06/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Team Lead Therapist for Early Supported Discharge
NHS AfC: Band 7
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’. This is a great opportunity to join our clinical or non-clinical teams to create a positive and motivating environment within our trust. Come and join our team in this exciting time of change as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Job overview
Team Lead Therapist for Early Supported Discharge
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an ambitious and innovative Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to lead and drive our Early Supported Discharge (ESD) service for the future.
The ESD service is a dynamic service tasked with the important role of facilitating timely discharges from hospital. We achieve this by focusing on meaningful occupations that the patient is motivated to engage in and we take both an adaptive and reablement approach to our work.
The ESD team support the principles of a 'home first' approach using creative strategies, specialist assessments and bespoke interventions to help patients return home more quickly. We complete in-reach rehab on the wards, drive patients home and assess in their own environment. These assessments inform a vast array of interventions which result in excellent outcomes for the patient.
This approach allows our Therapists to maintain and develop a high level and range of skills, including bespoke and person centred equipment assessments, requiring problem solving skills.
The team work closely with their local community partners to provide seamless health care between hospital and home.
***Please note: car driving is a day to day part of this role (including driving patients). Please therefore only apply if you have a UK driver’s license and indicate this in your supporting statement.***
Main duties of the job
- To be a member of the Therapy department leadership team, contributing to delivery of safe and effective services.
- Leading on service development, quality improvement planning, and policy development in the ESD service and department-wide.
- To deputise for the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy as required.
- To ensure the high quality, effective delivery of the Early Supported Discharge service.
- To be an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist with advanced clinical skills in the management of patients who are under the care of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust Hospital (RBFT).
- To be responsible for the operational management and clinical leadership of the Early Supported Discharge team, in conjunction with the Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy.
- To use highly specialist knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy team and other healthcare staff.
- To manage own caseload of patients with highly complex conditions as an autonomous practitioner.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for a comprehensive overview of the role and duties.
Working for our organisation
The Early Supported Discharge Team is a dynamic service tasked with the important role of facilitating timely discharges from hospital. They support the principles of a 'home first' approach; using creative strategies, specialist assessments and bespoke interventions to help patients return home more quickly. They work closely with their local community partners to provide seamless health care between hospital and home. We are looking for someone who has the passion and experience to deliver high quality occupational therapy/physiotherapy assessment and interventions, and has the drive to shape this service for the future.
In many areas, the Trust is nationally recognised as delivering outstanding care and the Therapies service is fully focused on delivering on the trusts ambition to continue to enhance this excellent work. This is embodied in the Therapies service vision - to deliver a high quality, patient centred, modern service which promotes innovative thinking and prioritises the development of staff.
Come and join our team as we pride ourselves, our staff and our services on excellence.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For further details on the job role, please refer to the job description and person specification attached.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven experience leading a designated area of clinical practice
- Experience working in the NHS healthcare system
- Substantial clinical experience working in acute care practice (2 years or more)
Desirable criteria
- Experience in managing complex team issues
- Experience in performance management
- Leadership experience managing a team of clinical staff
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Evidence of highly specialist knowledge of OT or Physio within acute adult services
- Knowledge of current issues and policy relating to field of practice
Desirable criteria
- Completion of post graduate education or specialist courses relating to OT or Physio practice and acute care
- Evidence of leadership or management training
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist with HCPC
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of ongoing learning through CPD record
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Josie Caffrey
- Job title
- Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 5215
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