Job summary
The Assistant Director of Therapies (Head Therapist) is a senior lead in the Royal & Broadgreen (RLB) Therapies Care Group, part of the Division of Medicine. The RLB Therapies leadership team works in collaboration with Aintree University Hospitals Therapies Care Group to deliver inpatient, outpatient and community services.
Accountable to the Head of Operations for RLB Therapies, you will work alongside other Head and Lead Therapists across three main sites - Broadgreen Hospital, the Royal Liverpool Hospital & Aintree University Hospital - providing professional, managerial and clinical leadership across the Therapies workforce.
Main duties of the job
You will shape the strategic direction, quality, performance, and productivity of therapy services while ensuring care is safe, effective, compassionate, and aligned to Trust objectives.
This role requires a leader who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and who demonstrates autonomy, confidence, and accountability while consistently modelling the Trust's values.
This role provides direct line management to operational teams and has budgetary responsibility. It requires a leader who can maintain operational delivery while also driving long-term strategic vision, developing the workforce, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
This post is based primarily at Broadgreen Hospital, with a varied portfolio and responsibilities extending across Broadgreen, the Royal Liverpool and Aintree hospital sites. The therapy teams include registered and unregistered workforce including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Podiatry, Orthotics and Speech and Language Therapy.
Interviews will be held on 17.03.26.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospital is the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility. Broadgreen Hospital is home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation. Liverpool Women's Hospital specialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. The Royal Liverpool University Hospital is the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit their careers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic & Professional Leadership
Provide visible, credible leadership across the Therapies workforce, acting as a role model for Trust values and behaviours
Lead, develop and performance-manage Lead Therapists, building high-performing, resilient teams
Shape and deliver the strategic direction for Therapies within the Care Group, contributing to Care Group and Divisional transformation plans
Act as the senior professional voice for Therapies, providing expert advice at Care Group and Trust level
Develop leadership capability, succession planning and future talent across therapy professions
Quality, Governance & Patient Experience
Ensure high-quality, safe and effective care, with a relentless focus on patient experience and outcomes
Lead governance, risk management, incident investigation and complaints handling for Therapies
Ensure compliance with HCPC standards, professional scope of practice, IPC requirements and Trust policies
Drive delivery of performance targets, KPIs, CQC standards and contractual obligations in relation to professional standards
Champion learning from incidents, complaints and benchmarking to continuously improve services
Service Improvement & Innovation
Lead service redesign and innovation, supporting new models of care and integrated patient pathways
Embed the UHGL Strategy into clinical and professional practice
Use data, intelligence and patient feedback to inform decision-making and service improvement
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, curiosity and innovation
Workforce & Financial Management
Hold full budgetary accountability for Therapies within the Care Group, including pay, agency and capital budgets
Lead workforce planning, establishment reviews, safe staffing and career pathway development
Deliver cost improvement programmes and value-for-money initiatives while maintaining quality
Lead business cases for service development and capital investment
Education, Research & Development
Promote education, learning and research across the Therapies workforce
Support student placements and high-quality learning environments
Contribute to research capacity-building and implementation of Trust research strategy
You will be:
An experienced senior Therapy leader with a strong track record of leading large professional teams
Confident operating at executive and Care Group level, influencing strategy and resolving complex issues
A compassionate, credible and visible leader who inspires trust and accountability
Highly skilled in governance, performance management, workforce planning and financial control
Passionate about improving patient outcomes, staff experience and service quality
You will be professionally registered (HCPC) and committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct.
You will proactively identify opportunities to facilitate and negotiate any change and support new care delivery processes within the Care Group.
As a skilled people manager you will be able to lead as required on disciplinary, grievance and HR issues and understand and influence the daily operational management challenges of the care group.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Strategic & Professional Leadership
Provide visible, credible leadership across the Therapies workforce, acting as a role model for Trust values and behaviours
Lead, develop and performance-manage Lead Therapists, building high-performing, resilient teams
Shape and deliver the strategic direction for Therapies within the Care Group, contributing to Care Group and Divisional transformation plans
Act as the senior professional voice for Therapies, providing expert advice at Care Group and Trust level
Develop leadership capability, succession planning and future talent across therapy professions
Quality, Governance & Patient Experience
Ensure high-quality, safe and effective care, with a relentless focus on patient experience and outcomes
Lead governance, risk management, incident investigation and complaints handling for Therapies
Ensure compliance with HCPC standards, professional scope of practice, IPC requirements and Trust policies
Drive delivery of performance targets, KPIs, CQC standards and contractual obligations in relation to professional standards
Champion learning from incidents, complaints and benchmarking to continuously improve services
Service Improvement & Innovation
Lead service redesign and innovation, supporting new models of care and integrated patient pathways
Embed the UHGL Strategy into clinical and professional practice
Use data, intelligence and patient feedback to inform decision-making and service improvement
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, curiosity and innovation
Workforce & Financial Management
Hold full budgetary accountability for Therapies within the Care Group, including pay, agency and capital budgets
Lead workforce planning, establishment reviews, safe staffing and career pathway development
Deliver cost improvement programmes and value-for-money initiatives while maintaining quality
Lead business cases for service development and capital investment
Education, Research & Development
Promote education, learning and research across the Therapies workforce
Support student placements and high-quality learning environments
Contribute to research capacity-building and implementation of Trust research strategy
You will be:
An experienced senior Therapy leader with a strong track record of leading large professional teams
Confident operating at executive and Care Group level, influencing strategy and resolving complex issues
A compassionate, credible and visible leader who inspires trust and accountability
Highly skilled in governance, performance management, workforce planning and financial control
Passionate about improving patient outcomes, staff experience and service quality
You will be professionally registered (HCPC) and committed to upholding the highest standards of professional conduct.
You will proactively identify opportunities to facilitate and negotiate any change and support new care delivery processes within the Care Group.
As a skilled people manager you will be able to lead as required on disciplinary, grievance and HR issues and understand and influence the daily operational management challenges of the care group.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered nurse, with current NMC registration or AHP with HCPC registration
- Degree level qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
- Evidence of education to master's level or equivalent experience
- Significant evidence of post registration continued professional development
- Post-graduate/registration Management or Training qualification /equivalent
- Evidence of Leadership development
Experience
Essential
- Significant management and leadership experience to including experience of working at a senior level
- Demonstrable experience of leading clinical innovation or leading change within clinical practice
- Demonstrable experience in, workforce planning, managing resources budgetary and financial management
- Demonstrable experience in development of Nursing as a professional in their practice
- Evidence of relevant involvement in meeting the Trust Quality and Patient Safety objectives
- Evidence of making operational judgements involving highly complex facts/ situations
- Demonstrate the ability to maintain high standards of care and team management over a sustained period
- Evidence of networking, working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary issues in Nursing/AHP and its implications for the workforce and future health care delivery
- Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS policy and regulatory frameworks with Health & Social Care system. Demonstrating an ability to interpret
- Have a good awareness and of equality and diversity issues affecting a wide range of individuals and groups
- Knowledge and understanding of computerised financial, management, budgetary management, and workforce information systems
- Knowledge of clinical audit
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of strong leadership skills- Coaching & values led leadership style, encouraging engagement and empowerment amongst staff and stakeholders, and in developing high performing teams
- Excellent interpersonal skills. - able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information and demonstrate negotiation, coaching and facilitation skills
- Solve problems, using a solution focused approach demonstrating competent persuasive and influencing skills
- Implement policy and implementation plans to deliver the clinical strategy and plans ensuring successful implementation
- Project management skills Experience of using Healthcare improvement models in practice including QI methodology
- Research information and use audit skills to applying findings to influence practice and develop business cases/plans
- Analyse detailed data and information, including preparing responses to issues, weighing risks, and forming judgements often within tight timescales.
- Ability to make decisions in a pressured environment
- Cope with competing priorities and a demanding workload
- IT literate and able to use standard office software and bespoke systems.
Desirable
- Professional profile/national presentations
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- First level registered nurse, with current NMC registration or AHP with HCPC registration
- Degree level qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
- Evidence of education to master's level or equivalent experience
- Significant evidence of post registration continued professional development
- Post-graduate/registration Management or Training qualification /equivalent
- Evidence of Leadership development
Experience
Essential
- Significant management and leadership experience to including experience of working at a senior level
- Demonstrable experience of leading clinical innovation or leading change within clinical practice
- Demonstrable experience in, workforce planning, managing resources budgetary and financial management
- Demonstrable experience in development of Nursing as a professional in their practice
- Evidence of relevant involvement in meeting the Trust Quality and Patient Safety objectives
- Evidence of making operational judgements involving highly complex facts/ situations
- Demonstrate the ability to maintain high standards of care and team management over a sustained period
- Evidence of networking, working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
- Comprehensive knowledge of contemporary issues in Nursing/AHP and its implications for the workforce and future health care delivery
- Knowledge and understanding of governance arrangements and standards in the NHS and the wider health and social care economy
- Knowledge and understanding of the NHS policy and regulatory frameworks with Health & Social Care system. Demonstrating an ability to interpret
- Have a good awareness and of equality and diversity issues affecting a wide range of individuals and groups
- Knowledge and understanding of computerised financial, management, budgetary management, and workforce information systems
- Knowledge of clinical audit
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of strong leadership skills- Coaching & values led leadership style, encouraging engagement and empowerment amongst staff and stakeholders, and in developing high performing teams
- Excellent interpersonal skills. - able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information and demonstrate negotiation, coaching and facilitation skills
- Solve problems, using a solution focused approach demonstrating competent persuasive and influencing skills
- Implement policy and implementation plans to deliver the clinical strategy and plans ensuring successful implementation
- Project management skills Experience of using Healthcare improvement models in practice including QI methodology
- Research information and use audit skills to applying findings to influence practice and develop business cases/plans
- Analyse detailed data and information, including preparing responses to issues, weighing risks, and forming judgements often within tight timescales.
- Ability to make decisions in a pressured environment
- Cope with competing priorities and a demanding workload
- IT literate and able to use standard office software and bespoke systems.
Desirable
- Professional profile/national presentations
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).
