West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 8a - Therapy Team Lead, Therapies

The closing date is 06 January 2026

Job summary

We are looking for an experienced Band 7 or an existing Band 8a to move into an operational lead role within our friendly and dynamic Therapy Department at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (West Herts).

As a Therapy Team Lead, you will be responsible for the operational management of our clinical therapy teams, with leadership of both the medical and stroke therapy teams. You will play a key role in supporting service delivery, staff development, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care.

You will be joining a collaborative team of six Therapy Team Leads, collectively managing the four therapy professions: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, and Speech and Language Therapy.

To ensure all professions are represented within our leadership structure, this post is open to candidates with a qualification in Occupational Therapy.

Interviews will take place on 23 January.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a passionate, compassionate, and motivated individual with strong experience in leading clinical teams. You will be confident in problem-solving, able to think on your feet, and demonstrate excellent communication skills.

Alongside your leadership ability, you will be a supportive team player and a core member of the Therapy Leadership Team.

Experience in service improvement and implementing change is essential for this role.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contactwestherts.recruitment@nhs.net If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Details

Date posted

23 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-C-10841

Job locations

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the role are to:

  • Deliver a safe and effective service.
  • Lead on recruitment and retention initiatives in your team and department.
  • Financial monitoring.
  • Lead HR processes within your team.
  • Develop your services, working with teams both within the Trust and external partners to maximise the patient experience.
  • Support the health, well-being and professional development of your staff.
  • Lead the quality and governance agenda within your teams.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the role are to:

  • Deliver a safe and effective service.
  • Lead on recruitment and retention initiatives in your team and department.
  • Financial monitoring.
  • Lead HR processes within your team.
  • Develop your services, working with teams both within the Trust and external partners to maximise the patient experience.
  • Support the health, well-being and professional development of your staff.
  • Lead the quality and governance agenda within your teams.

Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant clinical qualification to first degree level or equivalent as an Occupational Therapist.
  • HCPC UK registered.
  • Evidence of continuing professional and managerial development.

Desirable

  • Recognised NHS management qualification or training.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Sound financial awareness and evidence of delivery against cost improvement programmes.
  • Supporting and implementing change.
  • Knowledge and experience of governance systems and processes.
  • Knowledge of HR processes.
  • Familiar with concepts of clinical supervision, staff development and quality improvement.

Desirable

  • Presentation skills.

Experience

Essential

  • Substantive clinical experience.
  • Experience of working / leadership role.
  • Evidence of operational management and leadership.
  • Experience of building effective teams and networks.
  • Working in a team and understanding team dynamics.
  • Experience of service development, quality improvement and audits.

Desirable

  • Multidisciplinary team management.

Skills and ability

Essential

  • Able to analyse and interpret data
  • Effective problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Good time management.
  • Ability to inspire and motivate.
  • Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
  • Communicate effectively at all levels across organisations
Person Specification

Education and qualifications

Essential

  • Relevant clinical qualification to first degree level or equivalent as an Occupational Therapist.
  • HCPC UK registered.
  • Evidence of continuing professional and managerial development.

Desirable

  • Recognised NHS management qualification or training.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Sound financial awareness and evidence of delivery against cost improvement programmes.
  • Supporting and implementing change.
  • Knowledge and experience of governance systems and processes.
  • Knowledge of HR processes.
  • Familiar with concepts of clinical supervision, staff development and quality improvement.

Desirable

  • Presentation skills.

Experience

Essential

  • Substantive clinical experience.
  • Experience of working / leadership role.
  • Evidence of operational management and leadership.
  • Experience of building effective teams and networks.
  • Working in a team and understanding team dynamics.
  • Experience of service development, quality improvement and audits.

Desirable

  • Multidisciplinary team management.

Skills and ability

Essential

  • Able to analyse and interpret data
  • Effective problem-solving skills.
  • Excellent organisational skills.
  • Good time management.
  • Ability to inspire and motivate.
  • Excellent communication skills both oral and written, including the ability to liaise and negotiate
  • Communicate effectively at all levels across organisations

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Employer's website

http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Acute Therapy Services Manager

Suzanne Ingham

suzanne.ingham1@nhs.net

01923436318

Details

Date posted

23 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,888 to £64,880 a year inc HCA

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

360-C-10841

Job locations

Watford General Hospital

Watford

WD18 0HB


Supporting documents

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