Job summary
Head of Therapies - St Bartholomew's Hospital
The head of Therapies role provides senior clinical and operational leadership for adult Therapy services based at St Bartholomew's Hospital, which is a tertiary centre of excellence in cancer and cardiac care within the Group of Hospitals Barts Health NHS Trust operates within.
The post holder is accountable for the day to day operational and clinical delivery of the dynamic Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetic services at St Barts, reporting directly to the Divisional Manager of the division and indirectly to the Divisional Director and the Group Director of AHPs.
The post holder is responsible for the development, optimisation and innovation of the Therapy services and pathways to effectively influence and support the successful delivery of the Hospital's objectives and priorities of the wider Bart's Health clinical and people strategies.
**Interviews will take place on the Tuesday, 9th December 2025**
Main duties of the job
The post holder will;o Be accountable for Adult Therapy services at St Bartholomew's Hospitalo Be the lead for advising the Divisional Board and Hospital Executive Board on all issues relating to Therapy serviceso Be responsible for and act as a role model for Therapy staff on the Siteo Be responsible for operational and strategic management of the Therapy services on in the Hospital, including performance targets and ensuring that all Therapy services are provided within the agreed level of activity, standards and performance, safety, quality and budgeto Establish and maintain an integrated governance structure (clinical, operational and financial) for Therapy serviceso Ensure high quality, cohesive, efficient and cost effective, evidence based practice within the Therapy serviceo Working with senior management of the Hospital, define and implement new ways of working to maximise the benefits of operating within a Group and Hospital integration modelo Lead others to ensure an effective, innovative and efficient delivery of Therapy services to clinical users and patientso Actively lead the effective Therapies contribution to the improvement of patient flow, safety, quality and experience of care at the hospital identifying the unique opportunities for Therapists to optimise theseo Lead Therapy services in the delivery of specific agreed hospital objectives and priorities
About us
Barts Health is one of the largest NHS trusts in the country, and one of Britain's leading healthcare providers.
The Barts Health group of NHS hospitals is entering an exciting new era on our improvement journey to becoming an outstanding organisation with a world-class clinical reputation. Having lifted ourselves out of special measures, we now have the impetus and breathing space to chart a fresh course in which we are continually striving to improve all our services for patients.
Our vision is to be a high-performing group of NHS hospitals, renowned for excellence and innovation, and providing safe and compassionate care to our patients in east London and beyond. That means being a provider of excellent patient safety, known for delivering consistently high standards of harm-free care and always caring for patients in the right place at the right time. It also means being an outstanding place to work, in which our WeCare values and behaviours are visible to all and guide us in how we work together.
We strive to live by our WeCare values and are committed to promoting inclusion, where every staff member has a sense of belonging. We value our differences and fully advocate, cultivate and support an inclusive working environment.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are underrepresented within Barts Health at this band.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents, please view the attachment/s below.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters degree in healthcare or management OR demonstrable ability to work at Masters level
- BSc or Diploma in any of the following: dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of maintaining continuous professional development
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Leadership development programme
- Quality Improvement training
- Completed post graduate research project
- Training in different research methodologies
- Data analytics training
Experience
Essential
- Significant operational management and senior leadership in Therapies
- Extensive clinical experience in an acute area with either occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy or dietetics
- Experience of setting and delivering service strategy to optimise Therapies services
- Experience of managing strategic and operational performance in achieving key performance targets
- Proven track record of meeting national targets including RTT
- Proven record of financial management at senior level, delivering on complex and large budgets including reducing costs, monitoring and determining corrective action
- Experience of active contribution to the annual business planning cycle process
- Successful delivery of cost improvement programmes
- Experience of the application of Quality Improvement methodology to Therapies services
- Experience of representing Therapies within senior leadership settings, e.g., Hospital Executive Boards or similar
- Experience of managing other professional groups
- Proven success at managing complex organisational change while maintaining service quality across acute and community service with demonstrable impact on improving healthcare
- Significant experience of staff management, including the setting of objectives, team and individual appraisal, recruitment, sickness and disciplinary issues
Desirable
- Experience of SLAs and contract management
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS long term strategies and contextual issues and the opportunities for redesigning services and optimising the workforce within this consistently evolving landscape
- Knowledge and experience of collaborating with external organisations, both NHS and non-NHS providers whilst being politically aware of the broader healthcare environment
- Understanding of crossprofessional Therapy issues and up to date research and developments within the wider NHS context
- Knowledgeable in Quality Improvement methodology and its application
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead and motivate others
- Ability to act as an advisor and expert to senior leadership members and staff
- Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills gained through experience and learning
- Excellent decision-making skills and ability to think in an agile and flexible manner
- Ability to lead transformation and improvement services and clinical pathways
- Ability to reflect, be self-aware of own impact and adjust if necessary
- Active listening and coaching/ mentorship Skills
- Good problem-solving skills, solution-based ideas and advice provision at high level
- Ability to manage time effectively and coach others to do so
- Ability to effectively prioritise numerous competing priorities
- Formal presentation skills and being able to present complex information to a variety of audiences
- Clinical risk management techniques and skills
- Financial and budgetary management skills
- Good analytical skills and organisational ability
- Skilled in Quality Improvement methodology
Other
Essential
- Consistently role models the Trust values
- Leads by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and integrity
- High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude
- Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
- Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner
- High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations
- Models, and is able to encourage others in being innovative in finding ways of improving the quality of services
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Masters degree in healthcare or management OR demonstrable ability to work at Masters level
- BSc or Diploma in any of the following: dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of maintaining continuous professional development
Desirable
- Management qualification
- Leadership development programme
- Quality Improvement training
- Completed post graduate research project
- Training in different research methodologies
- Data analytics training
Experience
Essential
- Significant operational management and senior leadership in Therapies
- Extensive clinical experience in an acute area with either occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy or dietetics
- Experience of setting and delivering service strategy to optimise Therapies services
- Experience of managing strategic and operational performance in achieving key performance targets
- Proven track record of meeting national targets including RTT
- Proven record of financial management at senior level, delivering on complex and large budgets including reducing costs, monitoring and determining corrective action
- Experience of active contribution to the annual business planning cycle process
- Successful delivery of cost improvement programmes
- Experience of the application of Quality Improvement methodology to Therapies services
- Experience of representing Therapies within senior leadership settings, e.g., Hospital Executive Boards or similar
- Experience of managing other professional groups
- Proven success at managing complex organisational change while maintaining service quality across acute and community service with demonstrable impact on improving healthcare
- Significant experience of staff management, including the setting of objectives, team and individual appraisal, recruitment, sickness and disciplinary issues
Desirable
- Experience of SLAs and contract management
Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS long term strategies and contextual issues and the opportunities for redesigning services and optimising the workforce within this consistently evolving landscape
- Knowledge and experience of collaborating with external organisations, both NHS and non-NHS providers whilst being politically aware of the broader healthcare environment
- Understanding of crossprofessional Therapy issues and up to date research and developments within the wider NHS context
- Knowledgeable in Quality Improvement methodology and its application
Skills
Essential
- Ability to lead and motivate others
- Ability to act as an advisor and expert to senior leadership members and staff
- Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills gained through experience and learning
- Excellent decision-making skills and ability to think in an agile and flexible manner
- Ability to lead transformation and improvement services and clinical pathways
- Ability to reflect, be self-aware of own impact and adjust if necessary
- Active listening and coaching/ mentorship Skills
- Good problem-solving skills, solution-based ideas and advice provision at high level
- Ability to manage time effectively and coach others to do so
- Ability to effectively prioritise numerous competing priorities
- Formal presentation skills and being able to present complex information to a variety of audiences
- Clinical risk management techniques and skills
- Financial and budgetary management skills
- Good analytical skills and organisational ability
- Skilled in Quality Improvement methodology
Other
Essential
- Consistently role models the Trust values
- Leads by example, promoting the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and integrity
- High level of work organisation, self-motivation, drive for performance and improvement, and flexibility in approach and attitude
- Committed to the continuous development of staff and self
- Decisive, using sound judgement in decision making in a timely and confident manner
- High self-awareness, understanding own emotions, strengths and limitations
- Models, and is able to encourage others in being innovative in finding ways of improving the quality of services
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
