Are you an experienced paediatric physiotherapist or occupational therapist ready to make a real impact? This is your opportunity to take the lead in the Children’s Therapy Service at University Hospitals Dorset.
Why This Role?
Make a difference – Support children aged 0–19 with motor skills difficulties across Poole, Bournemouth, and East Dorset.
Lead with purpose – Drive service development and clinical excellence, ensuring the highest standards of care.
Work across diverse settings – From outpatient clinics across UHD sites, to nursery and school visits.
Your Impact as Team Lead
Provide strong operational and clinical leadership (over a minimum of 4 days a week).
Build effective relationships across healthcare, education, statutory, and voluntary agencies.
Manage and allocate resources to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
Inspire and develop your team—bringing out the best in each professional.
Lead by example working on weekend, on call and twilight rotas as per profession.
What We are Looking For
Proven leadership and management experience within paediatric therapy.
A track record of service development and implementing change.
A collaborative, innovative mindset and the drive to champion children’s health and outcomes
Interview: 15th September
Provide leadership for physiotherapists, occupational therapists,
apprentices, assistants and students to provide a highly specialised
assessment, treatment and advice service across children’s pathways (0-19 years).
To demonstrate an appropriate level of evidence-based expertise in the
assessment and treatment of a paediatric caseload, for children of all ages with neuro-developmental, neuro-muscular, musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions.
Be professionally and legally accountable for the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of paediatric therapy services within the children’s therapy team.
Drive continuous quality improvement, service evaluation, audit, and
research, promoting best practice locally and nationally.
Support strategic planning and transformation of therapy services in line with UHD Clinical Services Review and national drivers.
Educate, supervise, and develop therapists, support workers and students, fostering a culture of compassionate leadership and lifelong learning.
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions at interview.
Please note if a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under relevant Trust or national terms and conditions.
To be a specialist OT/PT with detailed knowledge of normal childhood development, childhood conditions, disease processes and prognosis.
To be responsible for workforce and equipment processes to deliver the service, adhering to UHD policy.
To participate in out of hours, on-call and weekend working as required for your profession to ensure efficient therapy provision in line with the Trusts priorities.
To undertake any other clinical duties as may be deemed necessary and be prepared to work at any location across all the Trust sites and other areas where clinics may be held.
Ensure compliance with CSP/HCPC standards, NICE guidance, National Service Frameworks, safeguarding, infection‑prevention and Trust policies.
