About this role
Job summary
An exciting leadership opportunity has opened for a dynamic, forward-thinking Senior Lead Occupational Therapist to head our newly formed General Medicine Team at Royal Derby Hospital.
Designed specifically to navigate winter pressures and optimize patient pathways, this 6-month role gives you the platform to make a highly visible, system-wide impact on hospital flow and length of stay and is the perfect opportunity to develop your portfolio as a Band 7 Lead.
Leading an integrated, multi-disciplinary team of OTs, Physios, and Assistant Practitioners, you will have the autonomy to innovate, steer local audits, and drive service developments. Working closely with the Leads for both Elderly & Specialist Medicine, you will be instrumental in fostering a culture of shared learning and clinical excellence across our inpatient wards.
If you are a motivated clinician with sharp organizational instincts and a passion for fast-paced, complex medicine, we want to hear from you.
What we offer you
- Targeted Leadership Development: Regular clinical supervision, mentorship, and appraisal from the Operational Team Leader in Therapy to help you achieve your career goals.
- Strategic Influence: A direct hand in initiating and driving service changes that directly improve patient care and discharge pathways.
- A Supportive MDT Network: Strong collaborative links with specialist teams across the trust and funding for relevant training to match your development needs.
Main duties of the job
Your Role & Impact
- Lead & Inspire: Manage the day-to-day running of the General Medicine Therapy service, providing specialist clinical guidance to your team and the wider MDT.
- Balance Clinical Excellence with Strategy: Maintain a hands-on, varied clinical caseload while overseeing overall team workflows to facilitate optimal, safe discharges.
- Grow Future Talent: Supervise, educate, and elevate the performance of your team through structured appraisals and clinical supervision.
Closing Date: 23rd November 2026
Interview Date: 7th December 2026
This position is offered as a secondment. Accordingly, you are required to consult with your manager and obtain approval prior to submitting your application.
About us
As a trusted organisation at the heart of our communities, we recognise the important role we can play in supporting the public, patients, our own people and local partners in achieving the best of health for the local population and the communities in which they live by providing Exceptional Care Together
Our fundamental Values of Compassion, Openness and Excellence underpin how we intend to work as a Trust and the associated behaviours are becoming embedded in all aspects of how we work.
In return we will offer
- Development opportunities, both professional and leadership development
- On-going support from recruitment to when you join our team and beyond.
- Staff benefits including employee assistance programme, discounted gym membership, onsite fitness classes, car schemes
Key Facts
- We see on average 4810 OP appointments a day.
- We are the 4th busiest Trauma & Orthopaedic outpatients department in England - an average of 2077 per week.
- An average of 1115 patients are seen in A&Es across our network every day - 3rd largest in the country.
- Our hospitals admit an average of 195 emergency patients daily.
- Last year we undertook almost 33,700 planned surgical operations in our 57 operating theatres.
- We are one of only 7 Trusts nationally with more than 50 operating theatres.
- We carry out more than 140 elective procedures each working day.
- UHDB is a research active University Hospital with a large and varied portfolio of clinical trials and research opportunities for all staff.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached Job description and Person Specification. To apply please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account.
UHDB is committed to fair and transparent recruitment. We welcome authentic applications that reflect your own skills, experience and motivations for the role. While we understand that candidates may use AI tools for grammar, formatting or accessibility purposes, applications that appear to be substantially AIgenerated may be subject to additional review. If this applies to your submission, we will let you know and may ask for clarification. Please ensure your application accurately represents your experience and is written in your own words.
Following the recent update on UK immigration policy for those on a Health and Care Visa or Skilled Worker Visa, please click on the link to check your eligibility before applying for this post as we may be unable to provide sponsorshipSkilled worker: Health and Care Visa | NHS Employers
Important visa information: Due to UK Home Office immigration rule changes effective from 22 July 2025, applicants sponsored under Occupation Code 6131 (Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants) may not be eligible to bring dependants under the Skilled Worker route if their Certificate of Sponsorship is issued on or after this date. Applicants are responsible for understanding how these rules apply to their individual circumstances. The Trust cannot provide immigration advice. Further information is available on the Skilled Worker visa: Your partner and children - GOV.UK
Your application (for shortlisting purposes) is assessed based on the Person Specification in the job advert (below).
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of discharge pathways and the discharge process
- Experience of working with Acute Medical patients
- Experience of working in an MDT
- Experience of Supervision and Appraisal
Desirable
- Experience working within Specialities ( eg Renal, Respiratory, Cardiology)
- Leadership qualification
Communication
Essential
- Able to facilitate effective communication within a team
- Able to support staff and give constructive feedback
Qualifications and Knowledge
Essential
- Occupational Therapy Degree or eqivalent
- HCPC Registration
- Relevant Post Grad training and courses
- Clinical Educator
Desirable
- Involvement in Clinical Interest Group
Skills
Essential
- Able to plan and prioritise own and others workload in response to complex situations
- Able to delegate appropriately
- Able to work flexibly in response to service need
- Evidence of Service Improvement
- Able to develop and promote effective working relationships with colleagues
Desirable
- Evidence of initiating and implementing change
- Awareness of D2A and SBA
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.
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
University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Royal Derby Hospital
Uttoxeter Road
Derby
DE22 3NE
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)