Divisional Therapy Lead for the Therapy Directorate in Plymouth

Our vision is to become a High Quality, High Performing patient-centred organisation which provides timely and compassionate care to patients and a place where the best people come to learn, work and research. To achieve this, we are implementing a clear operating model that is clinically led, operationally delivered, digitally enabled and has devolved accountability with appropriate support infrastructure. This will allow us to better use and build our capacity and capability within the Trust, System and Region, with clear lines of accountability, authority, responsibility, and governance.

The Directorates' triumvirate leadership structure will consist of an accountable Directorate Clinical Director and Director of Clinical Professions. It mirrors the structure at Divisional level in this regard. This role will be responsible for the provision of safe, excellent care via a group of Clinical Professional Leads / Clinical Matrons in operational clinical services to enable the smooth running of the Directorate under which it sits.

Main duties of the job include:

• Divisional leads will represent Therapies across a specific UHP Division, in partnership with the Therapy Heads of Service, providing independent assurance on the effectiveness of patient outcomes and governance as part of the Trust's Quality Management System and Accountability Framework.
• Gain overall assurance of professional governance, supervision, and clinical impact.
• Ensure compliance and regulatory readiness from a therapy perspective, reporting to the Trust Board's Quality and Workforce Committees.
• In conjunction with the Therapies Directorate Manager and Clinical Lead, and professional Therapy Heads of Service, the post holder is responsible for the implementation of national and corresponding local clinical strategies and is clinically accountable for delivery of the Directorate clinical and professional service.
• Delivering a highly complex agenda as defined by the Trust strategy, the NHS Institute's 'High Impact Actions' and other national/local guidance and policies, adopting a highly visible and accessible approach for patients and staff, leading by example in empowering and developing staff to undertake a greater range of clinical activities in order to modernise and improve patient care.
• Benchmark AHP impact against national workforce and outcome indicators.
• Developing a Trust-wide Therapy / AHP Strategy aligned with national frameworks (e.g. NHS England's AHP Strategy).

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

Details:

• Date posted: 03 February 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 8b
• Salary: £64,455 to £74,896 a year Per Annum
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 216-AH-DA7706017
• Job locations: UHP NHS Trust - Derriford Hospital, Derriford Road, Plymouth PL6 8DH

Job responsibilities include:

• Divisional coordination of relevant major services at Trust and system level.
• Accountable for delegated functions held at directorate and service level.
• Strategic planning development aligned with trust strategies, policies, procedures and values.
• Performance oversight, management and escalation.
• Independent validation of outcomes and effectiveness and identification of areas for further investment.
• Financial stewardship.
• Operational and strategic risk management and mitigation.
• Patients experience strategic planning.
• Co-production and implementation of a divisional annual plan.
• Delivery of contract services with commissioners.
• Lead on accreted union relationships.
• Management of professional standards that may result in HCPC referrals.
• Effective management of resources.
• Deliver service improvement programmes to improve quality of services to patients.
• To carry clinical caseload in designated speciality Senior or Specialist level (0.2wte of post).
• Working in a senior capacity within an appropriate clinical area. Ensuring continued personal clinical involvement and protected clinical time.

Person Specification:

• Demonstrable senior clinical and professional leadership experience at a Senior Therapies (Dietetics / OT / Physio/ SLT) level.
• Demonstrable varied and evidenced post graduate experience with board clinical experience working at a senior/specialist level within an acute clinical setting with up to date and relevant demonstrable clinical experience.
• Professional credibility/proven skill as Dietitian / OT / Physio / SLT at a senior level.
• In depth proven understanding of NHS developments, clinical governance and therapy issues.
• Proven Management and Leadership skills, including effective people management.
• Demonstrable management experience within a therapy Department and high level of skill and experience of leading a therapy team.
• Proven evidence of ability to organise effective education programmes and high skill level in clinical supervision.

Essential Qualifications:

• HCPC Registered Therapies/ AHP Healthcare Professional.
• Educated to Degree level: Dietitian / OT / Physio / SLT with further specialist professional qualifications at Master's level or equivalent.
• Management /Leadership training.
• Formal/informal management training, e.g. disciplinary/grievance, recruitment and retention, effective appraisal, managing absence, finance and budget management.
• Management /Leadership qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Recognised Risk Assessors course.
• Mentorship course or equivalent.

Essential Aptitude and Abilities:

• Effective influencing and negotiating skills: in general, and with senior health care professionals.
• Good communication skills, written and verbal, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels.
• Able to work clinically with patients, undertaking the full range of clinical skills expected of a Registered Professional.
• Ability / demonstrable experience of directing and instructing others.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.