Band 8a Clinical Specialist Therapist for ED and Frailty in Harlow

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high‑quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined‑up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector. This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives. We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

We are seeking an experienced, forward‑thinking Clinical Specialist (physiotherapist or occupational therapist) to lead and advance our ED and Frailty pathway. You will provide expert assessment and intervention at the front door, reduce unnecessary admissions, expedite safe discharge, and support person‑centred care for adults living with frailty and complex needs. This is a visible leadership role in a fast‑paced environment. You'll combine clinical practice with service development, workforce upskilling and cross‑speciality collaboration. You will have significant post‑registration experience with substantial recent practice at senior level in acute/urgent care and frailty/older people’s rehabilitation, alongside strong leadership, supervision and change management experience. This is a fixed‑term post to cover a secondment. The role is 37.5 hours per week to cover extended hours and the weekend service.

Main duties of the job:

• To provide clinical leadership for the multidisciplinary therapy team working in ED, AAU, SDEC, short stay wards and the OPAL unit (frailty).
• To act as an expert therapist and leader within the wider therapies team, within the Princess Alexandra Hospital in the field of frailty and in the delivery of pathways in, through and out of the hospital.
• To lead on service transformation within the ED/AAU/OPAL area with emphasis on developing services fit for the future in frailty and a reduction of hospital admission.
• To act as the lead clinical representative on agreed clinical and service development groups and boards.
• To provide highly specialist care of complex patients including extended scope interventions and management as appropriate.
• To provide expert training, advice and clinical education to service providers, service users and service commissioners.
• To have a clinical leadership role within therapies and professional leadership role for physiotherapy/occupational therapy (depending on profession of the individual in the role).
• To be accountable for professional Allied Health Professional (AHP) clinical standards within the service, ensuring clinical staff have the skills, knowledge, and competence to uphold the quality of clinical services and the continual development of professional practice in line with the HCPC codes and current best practice.
• To work collaboratively with the Emergency Department, Frailty Unit, Short Stay Wards and Same Day Emergency Care Unit, managers and clinicians across the hospital as well as Therapy Leads to ensure delivery of the clinical KPIs for the service and to identify, plan and implement service development opportunities in order to improve activity and financial viability of the service in line with agreed targets.

Please refer to the attached job description and personal specification for the role. We welcome applicants to call or visit the department. Please get in touch on 01279 827199.