Therapy Service Lead in Luton

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our dynamic and innovative Therapy leadership team as Therapy Service Lead for neurology in and outpatients and complex medicine. Alongside this, it will be expected that the candidate will be able to support escalations of patients for discharge and flow through the hospital, as well as working closely with the other therapy leads to manage improvement of services and data collection.

The role fits in our supportive, flexible team who manage Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech & Language Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics in the acute Trust. We work together to champion therapy professional groups, promoting their unique contributions and work collaboratively on service improvement. The Therapy Service Lead upholds Trust values and role models high standards of behaviour and compassionate leadership in supporting staff within their service lines to reach their full potential.

The role involves operationally leading the therapy teams ensuring the provision of high quality care to meet agreed quality standards. Leadership support is provided to the band 5 physiotherapist and occupational therapist. This role offers a supported, nurturing environment to gain valuable multi-professional leadership skills. Opportunities for training and development are available, supervision and peer learning are integral to the team structure.

Main duties of the job:

• The Therapy Clinical Service Manager is responsible and accountable for managing all aspects of Therapy delivery within the relevant clinical service lines (CSLs) to agreed quality standards and within the resource and income base of the CSL.
• To be an Allied Health Professional (AHP) leader and role model at all times championing the Trust's values and upholding the highest standards of behaviour and compassion for colleagues.
• To be responsible for the smooth and safe day to day running of Therapy Services whilst ensuring that service delivery standards are achieved.
• Work collaboratively with the other Therapy leadership team as well as General Managers, Clinical Leads, Heads of Nursing, and other colleagues to ensure that service delivery and improvement plans are developed, implemented and reviewed.
• Ensure that financial controls are established and maintained.
• Act as a champion for patient safety, operational effectiveness and quality.

About us:

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values:

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities:

• Provide visible operational leadership guidance, support and direction to relevant staff within the CSLs.
• Promote continual improvement in quality, performance, and delivery of Trust objectives.
• Lead the establishment of accountability structures within the relevant CSLs ensuring that responsibility is delegated appropriately so that decisions can be taken as close to service provision as possible.
• Lead, manage and motivate the AHP workforce within the relevant CSLs to facilitate and drive improvement of services.
• In conjunction with the Deputy Head of Therapies and Head of Therapies develop the business and planning process throughout the relevant clinical specialities to deliver services to the required standards and within the available resource base.
• Develop processes in collaboration with the other therapy service leads and operational managers to jointly manage the groups core business, delivery and development.
• Work collaboratively with business partners to ensure effective financial, quality and workforce planning that meets the needs of both current and future AHP services.
• Ensure that all staff receive appropriate education and training opportunities which supports the workforce strategy and therefore the strategic aims of the trust.
• Work as a core member of the senior nursing, midwifery and AHP team.
• Deputising for the Deputy Head of Therapies / Head of Therapies when appropriate and play a key role in the Therapies Group leadership team.

Person Specification:

• Management or leadership qualification.
• CPD relevant to leadership role.
• HCPC registrant.
• Have worked in a management / leadership role.
• Been involved in business case development.
• Have led on quality improvement.
• AHP clinical background.
• AHP initiatives and national agenda for AHP.
• Risk management and governance topics.
• Change management.
• Knowledge of NHS IT systems & practical application for clinicians.
• Analytical and problem solving skills.
• Able to work independently & make autonomous decisions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
• Able to write formal reports and business cases.

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.