Job summary
- Main area
- Paediatric Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 9 months (Maternity cover for a minimum of 9 months. Open to Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists as is lead post for an integrated team. Post holder will be on rotas for weekend working, on call and twiilight services as per profession.)
- Hours
- Part time - 28 hours per week (Looking for 28 hours cover over 4 days.)
- Job ref
- 153-SP04915
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Poole Main Site
- Town
- Poole, Dorset
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 31/08/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Paediatric Therapy Team Lead
NHS AfC: Band 7
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £250m estates programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
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 specialised
assessment, treatment and advice service across children’s pathways (0-19 years).
To demonstrate an appropriate level of evidence-based expertise in the
assessment 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, and
research, 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.
Working for our organisation
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.
Detailed job description and main 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 to ensure 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, infection‑prevention and Trust policies.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Diploma or BSc (Hons) degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy
- MSc or Level 7 study or equivalent relevant experience
- Management/Leadership courses/qualifications
Desirable criteria
- Postgraduate paediatric training (e.g. respiratory, MSK, SI intervention)
Experience
Essential criteria
- 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 criteria
- Managing transformation/leading through change
- Use of NHS workforce and patient management systems e.g. e-roster, allocate, e-camis, easy expenses.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Karina Parish
- Job title
- Paediatric Therapy Service Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 2936
List jobs with University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust in Allied Health Professions or all sectors