Paediatric Therapy Team Lead

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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

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.

For further details / informal visits contact:
Name:
Karina Parish

Job title:

Paediatric Therapy Service Lead Email address:  Telephone number: