Head of Acute Physiotherapy and Professional Lead in City of Westminster

Head of Acute Physiotherapy and Service Group Professional Lead and shape how high quality acute physiotherapy is delivered across our hospitals with strong links to community services. This is a senior clinical leadership role with real scope to influence strategy, improve patient flow and outcomes, and lead modern, evidence based services across sites and boundaries. You will work alongside senior clinical and operational leaders to drive service transformation, use data and performance intelligence to target improvements, and strengthen clinical governance so that quality and safety are consistently high. You will also be a visible professional lead for physiotherapy—supporting advanced practice, developing our workforce, and creating a compassionate, high performing culture where people can do their best work. If you are motivated by leading change, building effective teams and delivering measurable impact for patients and services, this is an opportunity to make a difference at scale.

Planning and Organisation

The post holder will prioritise and manage their workload effectively to ensure delivery against Trust objectives, delegating tasks appropriately to practitioners and managers. They will work collaboratively with operational and managerial colleagues to ensure high quality, efficient services, using sound judgement to balance urgent, emergency and routine demands and to maintain access to timely, appropriate care. They will lead the planning, development and continuous improvement of the service, ensuring high standards of patient care are maintained and enhanced. This includes anticipating and responding to changing service pressures, proposing and implementing organisational change, and developing strategic and operational plans that align with Trust priorities. The post holder will develop and contribute to business planning, including workforce requirements, service modernisation, equipment needs and pathway improvement. They will be responsible for long term service planning, identifying gaps in provision, analysing population health and performance data, and using this intelligence to shape future service models across professional and organisational boundaries.

Analytics

Ensure accurate performance reporting, data quality and benchmarking across acute physiotherapy. Analyse activity trends, waiting times, flow data and KPIs to drive improvement. Use audit, evaluation and service intelligence to prioritise improvement actions.

Responsibility for Patient / Client Care, Treatment & Therapy

The post holder will work autonomously as an advanced/expert clinical practitioner, maintaining a clinical caseload of approximately 10% of contracted hours. They will apply highly specialist clinical knowledge to optimise patient pathways, care standards and outcomes, and will develop, implement and evaluate protocols and procedures to ensure safe, high quality service delivery in response to patient and organisational needs. The post holder will provide independent professional reports in line with confidentiality requirements and HCPC professional standards, and will deliver evidence based, person centred care across a broad range of clinical presentations. They will demonstrate the advanced clinical, interpersonal and professional skills required to meet the diverse needs of children, older adults, vulnerable groups and individuals with mental health needs, actively promoting health and wellbeing.

Policy, Service, Research & Development Responsibility

The post holder will work closely with the Care Team, Medical Director, Chief Operating Officer and Service Group Leadership Team to ensure systems are in place for the efficient, safe and consistent delivery of high quality services. They will lead the development and continuous improvement of the service in line with Trust strategy, legislation, national frameworks and clinical standards, working collaboratively with other Trust services, external agencies and referrers. They will ensure service users' needs are appropriately assessed and that care is delivered to the required quality within statutory responsibilities, policy and available resources. This includes setting, monitoring and reviewing quality standards; supporting effective local decision making; and contributing to business and service development plans. The post holder will oversee complaints, incidents and serious untoward events for their service area, ensuring robust investigation, timely reporting, supportive staff processes, learning dissemination and a strong culture of safety, openness and risk management. The role includes leading multidisciplinary, integrated approaches to care; developing services in response to population needs; and driving patient, carer and service user involvement. Working with clinical governance and quality improvement teams, the post holder will support patient experience initiatives, audits, surveys and research, translating findings into clear action plans and measurable improvement. They will contribute to the development, implementation and review of clinical policies, procedures, pathways and guidelines, ensuring these remain current, evidence based and aligned with best practice. The post holder is responsible for promoting adherence to Trust policies, leading audits, benchmarking and evidence based practice, and ensuring colleagues maintain high professional standards through training, supervision, competency assessment and ongoing development. As an experienced clinical leader, the post holder will maintain their own professional competence and credibility, remain informed of emerging evidence, and maintain a presence in clinical areas to provide expert advice, teaching and support. They will champion a culture of learning, innovation and continuous improvement, empower teams to address clinical and staffing issues, and support colleagues' wellbeing through effective debriefing and pastoral guidance where appropriate. They will also contribute to service wide projects, service redesign and new developments, ensuring the introduction of safe, effective pathways and techniques. All work must be undertaken in accordance with Trust policy, protocols, safeguarding requirements and relevant legislation.

Responsibility for Finance, Equipment & Other Resources

The post holder is responsible for the effective management of the service budget, working closely with the Triumvirate team and finance colleagues to ensure that financial risks are identified, quantified and appropriately managed. They are accountable to the Director of Finance, Chief Operating Officer and Service Director for achieving an agreed year end financial position and for ensuring services remain within allocated resources. As the designated budget holder, the post holder will monitor expenditure, maintain financial balance and act as an authorised signatory for their service area. They will oversee the assessment, procurement and management of equipment, ensuring value for money, quality, safety and reliability, and will ensure the safe and appropriate use of complex and high cost equipment across all service areas.

Responsibility for Supervision, Leadership & Management

The post holder will lead by example, promoting a compassionate, fair and high performing culture where excellence in patient care can thrive. They will provide visible leadership across their service area, managing multiple clinical teams and ensuring that colleagues feel supported, valued and able to deliver safe, effective care.

Professional Lead Role

They will act as the primary point of contact and expert advisor on complex clinical issues, professional standards and best practice, maintaining close professional accountability to the Director of Allied Health Professions and participating actively in professional forums including monthly meetings with the Director of AHPs, the SFT AHP Leads Forum and the Somerset AHP Council. As Professional Lead, the post holder will provide expert clinical advice and senior professional leadership for the physiotherapy workforce across the Service Group, driving quality improvement, workforce development and strategic service transformation. They will play a central role in shaping the future of physiotherapy services beyond their own operational area, proactively contributing to Trust wide and system wide improvement programmes, pathway redesign and the development of sustainable, modern models of care. The post holder will lead the development and oversight of professional governance, including robust clinical supervision models, competency frameworks and the assurance of professional competence and fitness to practise. As a highly visible and accessible role model, they will promote excellence, support clinical decision making and cultivate high standards of professional behaviour. They will provide expert leadership for quality improvement, service redesign and innovation across all physiotherapy services within the Service Group. This includes advising on strategic priorities, identifying opportunities for service change, addressing variation in practice, and aligning developments with Trust and system strategy. The role also supports risk management for the profession, offering expert input into complaints, incidents and serious incidents, and ensuring learning is embedded across teams. In partnership with operational and clinical leaders, the post holder will lead workforce planning and development for physiotherapy across the Service Group, covering recruitment, retention, advanced practice, CPD, education and future workforce modelling. They will ensure the professional voice is represented in Service Group, Trust wide and system level strategic planning, supporting the development of a flexible, resilient and capable physiotherapy workforce that can meet future service needs.

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

They will participate in Bank Holiday service provision and contribute to the General Manager on call rota at the appropriate operational site (MPH/YDH/Community). Master's degree or equivalent level of experience. Evidence of significant post graduate development. Practice Educator accreditation.

Knowledge

Advanced knowledge of acute physiotherapy practice, clinical governance and patient safety. Strong understanding of national AHP, acute care, the 10 Year Health Plan and workforce policy. Knowledge of risk management and statutory frameworks.

Experience

Extensive senior clinical and leadership experience in physiotherapy within the last 3 years. Clinical experience across community and acute services Leading service change, workforce development and QI initiatives. Experience in managing staff, budgets and complex systems. Experience of research, audit and evidence based practice development.

Skills & Abilities

Excellent communication and influencing skills. Highly developed clinical reasoning and decision making. Skilled at system leadership to bring about integrated working between teams to streamline and improve patient experience. Ability to analyse complex information and prioritise appropriately. Ability to lead teams through change with compassion and clarity. IT literate and able to interpret data sets.

Communication Skills

Able to demonstrate a good standard of English language Excellent communication skills including talking and listening as well as being aware of non-verbal communication i.e. Motivational interviewing, Shared decision Making.

Planning & Organising Skills

Ability to develop, implement and evaluate Trust wide strategies, policies and guidance to deliver effective services that meet Trust objectives. Ability to develop, implement and evaluate strategies, policies and guidance across the Trust to deliver effective services that meet Trust objectives.

Other

Willingness to use technology to improve standards of care and support to our patients Access to regular transport due to requirement to travel regularly to all Trust sites and out of the county on Trust business.

Supporting Behaviours

Kindness, Respect, Teamwork.

Benefits

Flexible working options to help you balance work and life NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential Additionally, you will gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.