Senior Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist in Hand Therapy

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist to join our Hand Therapy team.

This post will require some cross site working between the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells Hospitals as well as additional travel to satellite clinics as required.

As a member of the hand therapy team you will join an enthusiastic and dedicated team, which includes Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, offering an excellent opportunity to develop your skills within a supportive and friendly learning environment.

Main duties of the job

Continuing Professional Development is actively supported through an established appraisal system, in-service training, and post graduate library facilities.

The successful applicant will have a degree or equivalent in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy and be HCPC registered.

For an informal discussion about the role or to arrange a visit please contact Ciara Bailey, Clinical Lead Hand Therapy 01622 224300 (Mon and Wed) or 01892 632902 (Tues and Thurs)

Working for our organisation

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 NHS Staff Survey.

We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.

Looking for flexible working?

We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.

Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:

• At least 27 days of annual leave plus public/bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time staff).
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with a 20.6% employer contribution and life assurance benefits
• Blue Light card eligibility
• And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please also check your application for errors/omissions prior to submission.

Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)

All successful applicants will be required to complete our corporate trust induction once a start date had been agreed.

The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma / degree in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy.
• Registration with HCPC
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses relevant to the clinical field

• Member of British Association of Hand Therapists
• Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or Royal colleage of Occupational Therapists
• BAHT Level I qualification

Experience

• Minimum two years’ post qualification experience working as a qualified therapist
• Experience working in Hand Therapy
• Experience of working as part of a therapy team and/or multidisciplinary team
• Contribution to clinical education of less experienced staff, students or assistants

• Involvement in audit, research and understanding quality issues

Knowledge

• Very good knowledge of the anatomy and biomechanics of the hand/upper limb
• Knowledge of common orthopaedic and rheumatology injuries/conditions affecting the hand and wrist including how they are managed

Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills
• Skills in fabrication, alteration and review of upper limb splints
• Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate
• Able to utilise a range of assessment tools in a hand therapy setting including goniometry, dynamometry, sensory and motor assessment, functional assessment and patient rated outcome measures
• Safe and effective application of a range of practical treatment skills relevant to hand therapy (e.g. scar management, exercise prescription, ultrasound prescription and application, advice on small aids and adaptations, joint protection advice, functional retraining).
• Ability to Problem Solve
• Competent IT skills

• Presentation skills.
• Organisation skills e.g. able to contribute to the running of external courses

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, we may need to close the application process earlier than planned. To avoid missing out, we encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please contact the Recruiting Manager for an informal discussion should you have any queries relating to the role for which you are applying.

We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints, and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.

You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Good luck! We look forward to welcoming you to our exceptional team!