Team Leader

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries.

We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home‑life balance. Working patterns such as part time working, self-rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

Are you passionate about supporting individuals on their rehabilitation and recovery journey? Do you believe in rehabilitation that empowers people to regain independence, confidence, and well‑being? If so, we would love to welcome you to our team. We are expanding our Rehabilitation Community Therapy service and are looking for a dedicated, compassionate and professional Band 7 Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist who wants to make a genuine difference in the lives of people.

What We’re Looking For

• Qualification in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy
• Experience in Leadership
• Experience in community‑based rehabilitation or recovery work
• Strong communication, empathy, and problem‑solving skills
• Ability to motivate and encourage individuals at varying stages of recovery
• A commitment to holistic, strengths‑based rehabilitation

Main duties of the job

• Operational management of a multidisciplinary team (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, technical instructors, falls nurses and core‑coordinators).
• Providing clinical leadership, supervision, and, in some cases, complex caseload management (approx. 20‑80% clinical/management split)
• Provide person‑centred rehabilitation therapy in clients’ homes and community settings
• Support clients to develop daily living skills, mobility, confidence, and independence
• Deliver structured intervention plans and monitor progress
• Work collaboratively with physiotherapists, OTs, nurses and wider MDTs
• Facilitate group‑based rehabilitation, well‑being sessions, or community outreach and in‑reach
• Promote safety, dignity, and empowerment in every aspect of care

What We Offer

• A supportive, forward‑thinking rehabilitation environment
• Ongoing training, supervision, and professional development
• Flexible working patterns to support work–life balance
• Opportunities to shape and grow community rehabilitation services
• The chance to create meaningful, lasting impact in people’s recovery journeys

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Work within and adhere to your professional Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and The Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) standards of practice, The Trust relevant policies and guidelines. The post holder is an autonomous practitioner, responsible for leading service delivery, staff supervision, clinical audit, and implementing policies, requiring strong leadership, communication, and clinical expertise. Responsible for managing a caseload of patients with a variety of complex conditions including chronic, disabling and life limiting illnesses. Carry out specialist assessment and treatment including the prescription of essential equipment as part of the therapeutic intervention. Specifically assessing issues related to the barriers which prevent the individual carrying out activities of daily living e.g. mobility, moving and handling, functional restrictions, activity tolerance, hand‑eye coordination, positioning, cognitive impairment, social and psychological issues, environmental restrictions. The post holder will act as a source of expertise and demonstrate advanced knowledge, skill and experience in their role. Assist the Clinical Specialist in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the therapy service. Educate other health care professionals, multi‑agency professionals and therapy students within the speciality. Work in the community as a lone practitioner in line with the Trust Lone Worker Policy. The post holder may be responsible for deputising for the Clinical Specialist as appropriate.

Person specification

Education and Qualification

• Training and experience in clinical management
• Evidence of ongoing professional development
• State registration with the NMC / HCPC

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience managing people
• Minimum of 2 years experience
• Experience managing change
• Problem solving
• Multidisciplinary/ Multi‑agency working
• Leading a team
• Involvement in handling complaints
• Experience of HR processes e.g. recruitment, absence management and staff management

Skills and Ability

• Excellent communication skills
• Flexibility
• Ability to multi‑task
• Approachable
• Able to manage through influence/ negotiation
• Able to overcome barriers to acceptance through interpersonal and communication skills
• Report writing skills
• Competent with Microsoft Office and data collection systems
• Ability to interpret and present data
• Ability to work unsupervised using own initiative
• Organisational skills- time management, meeting deadlines, planning, monitoring and evaluation
• Ability to manage resources effectively
• Knowledge of Appraisal
• Relevant NHS and local authority policies/ agendas
• Awareness of clinical governance and standards for better health
• Awareness of the wider context of health service delivery
• Understanding of relevant national service frameworks and their implications on provider services
• An understanding of the strategic vision of the Trust
• An understanding of Trust financial processes
• Ability to travel within the Trust geographical area
• Understanding of independent sector organisations

Any invitation to interview will be sent to the email account stated on your application form. If the role you have applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this as part of your pre‑employment checks. Please note, you will be required to repay the cost on appointment. This will be collected via a salary deduction. You can choose whether to pay this over 1‑3 months from your salary or as a one‑off payment on commencement in post. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £25.50, Standard DBS check £25.50 and Enhanced DBS check £53.50. You are encouraged where possible, to register for the DBS update service. This is an annual registration fee of £16. By registering for the update service you will not have the additional cost of repeated disclosures. Should you withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. By submitting an application for this vacancy you are confirming your agreement to the above in the event you are successfully appointed. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here. Please ensure that you read the Person Specification attached below as your application will be judged against this. Please note that every effort will be made to keep the vacancy live until published closing date, though there may be instances where such interest is generated, that for administrative reasons the post may close earlier. Please note that in line with national NHS guidelines this Trust operates a strict non‑smoking policy. Members of staff are not permitted to smoke on Trust premises or grounds at any time nor take breaks during working hours for the purposes of smoking. The Trust does not offer interview expenses to shortlisted candidates unless indicated in the advert.