Job summary We are seeking a skilled and passionate Band 6 Hand Therapist to join our dynamic team. In this role, you will provide evidence-based assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for a varied caseload, including patients from both Primary and Secondary care. This role includes a diverse range of conditions, including both a trauma and elective caseload, providing the opportunity to further develop your expertise in hand therapy within a supportive environment. You will work closely with a team of experienced therapists, contributing to the delivery of high-quality care for patients with a wide range of hand conditions, including acute trauma, post-operative recovery from elective hand surgery, conservatively managed hand injuries, and chronic hand disorders. You will play a key role in the education of junior staff, therapy assistants, and students, ensuring a collaborative and learning-focused environment. Our team is dedicated to providing a structured and progressive pathway for your career. With opportunities for CPD and support through our preceptorship program, this post is ideal for someone looking to take the next step in their clinical career. We also offer B5 to B6 progression for those working towards advancing their clinical skills in hand therapy. If you are passionate about hand therapy and looking for a role that offers development, support, and a collaborative working environment, we'd love to hear from you. Main duties of the job As part of our friendly and supportive team, we offer excellent opportunities for professional development. You will be encouraged to take part in in-service training, contribute to clinical education, and develop skills that will help advance your career in hand therapy. You will be supported by senior hand therapists and have access to a comprehensive clinical supervision structure, with links to secondary care services for more complex cases. Main duties To provide assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for patients with upper limb trauma, post-operative hand surgery, and chronic hand conditions, working closely with hand surgeons, trauma and orthopaedics, GPs, and community healthcare professionals. Expertise in splinting through the provision and/or fabrication of a variety of off-the-shelf and static splints. Support and mentor junior staff, therapy assistants and students, while engaging in continuous professional development and teaching opportunities. You will work autonomously while maintaining high professional standards and adhering to the RCOT, CSP, and HCPC codes of conduct. About us At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer: Flexible working options to help you balance work and life NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work. We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds. Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London. The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future. Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy. Date posted 20 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 184-OL-PU-1982 Job locations Musgrove Park Hospital Musgrove Road Taunton Somerset TA1 5DA Job description Job responsibilities Please see attached full job description. Apply up-to-date PT/OT skills in the clinical field at a specialist post graduate level. Identify, prioritise, assess, and treat appropriate patients using PT/OT modalities. Assist senior hand therapy colleagues with teaching and passing on hand therapy skills. Line Manage Band 5 Physiotherapy staff, band 2 and 3 assistants and students. Assist in the delivery of a high-quality hand therapy service across MSK and T&O. Treat patients as a fully autonomous practitioner with full responsibility for, and legal accountability for, individual clinical decisions and actions. Plan and prioritise their own clinical workload, ensuring a prompt and efficient service using clinical judgement and departmental guidelines Ensure all patients understand the treatment process and have given valid and informed consent for treatment. Where patients are not able to provide consent for treatment e.g. when acutely ill, the post holder will work within existing legal frameworks, Trust guidelines, and professional codes of conduct Complete a full and specialised musculoskeletal clinical examination. The clinical examination will integrate information from a range of sources such as the patient, carers, medical/nursing records and the full clinical examination Take into account the psychological and social, as well as medical aspects of the patients' care, in order to provide an holistic, patient centred approach, referring to other specialists as necessary Formulate a clinical diagnosis and appropriate patient centred goals, following a complete thorough analysis and interpretation of the clinical examination Select appropriate and individual treatment pathways, where conflicting needs may be identified (conflicting needs would typically occur where treatments can have both adverse as well as beneficial effects at the same time in a patient) Assess and evaluate the effects of the chosen OT/PT treatment over time, altering the treatment modality as necessary Teach therapeutic exercises, through verbal explanation, visual demonstration, or the physical guiding of the patients' movements, to patients and their carers Advise patients on self-help activities to either treat their condition or assist in coping with their condition Carry out all therapy interventions within the broad scope of locally and nationally recognised therapy approaches Be a full member of the multidisciplinary team. Be fully responsible for planning and prioritising his/her own workload Assist with setting local standards for hand therapy services using the clinical governance process, and ensure the standards are met through a combination of audit, staff development and service development. Assist senior hand therapy colleagues in developments within service especially regarding National guidelines and policies. Support the ongoing development of information for patients. Support the development of education resources appropriate for all staff. Ensure appropriate risk management strategies are in place and adhered to, including The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Health & Safety, and Medical Devices Agency (MDA) under the Health & Social Care Act. Complete clinical and environment 'Risk Assessments' in line with the Trust's policy as developed by the Risk Management Team, and follow through with an agreed action plan, as relevant to areas within the clinical remit of this post. Maintain a record of patient's treatment for inclusion in the department's weekly returns and other statistical data as required. Carry out other professional duties that may be necessary as delegated by the Trust's Physiotherapy Manager, and hand therapy service leads. 7 day physiotherapy service (as appropriate): Take part in the Orthopaedic weekend rota Treat/Manage through physiotherapy, patients on the trauma and orthopaedic wards and elsewhere in the hospital Treat all patients on Trauma and Orthopaedic ward as clinically relevant with physiotherapy In addition to specific orthopaedic treatments, the post holder will treat other aspects of the patient's condition requiring physiotherapy, e.g. chest infections, and also treat with physiotherapy, as required other patients on the wards. Job description Job responsibilities Please see attached full job description. Apply up-to-date PT/OT skills in the clinical field at a specialist post graduate level. Identify, prioritise, assess, and treat appropriate patients using PT/OT modalities. Assist senior hand therapy colleagues with teaching and passing on hand therapy skills. Line Manage Band 5 Physiotherapy staff, band 2 and 3 assistants and students. Assist in the delivery of a high-quality hand therapy service across MSK and T&O. Treat patients as a fully autonomous practitioner with full responsibility for, and legal accountability for, individual clinical decisions and actions. Plan and prioritise their own clinical workload, ensuring a prompt and efficient service using clinical judgement and departmental guidelines Ensure all patients understand the treatment process and have given valid and informed consent for treatment. Where patients are not able to provide consent for treatment e.g. when acutely ill, the post holder will work within existing legal frameworks, Trust guidelines, and professional codes of conduct Complete a full and specialised musculoskeletal clinical examination. The clinical examination will integrate information from a range of sources such as the patient, carers, medical/nursing records and the full clinical examination Take into account the psychological and social, as well as medical aspects of the patients' care, in order to provide an holistic, patient centred approach, referring to other specialists as necessary Formulate a clinical diagnosis and appropriate patient centred goals, following a complete thorough analysis and interpretation of the clinical examination Select appropriate and individual treatment pathways, where conflicting needs may be identified (conflicting needs would typically occur where treatments can have both adverse as well as beneficial effects at the same time in a patient) Assess and evaluate the effects of the chosen OT/PT treatment over time, altering the treatment modality as necessary Teach therapeutic exercises, through verbal explanation, visual demonstration, or the physical guiding of the patients' movements, to patients and their carers Advise patients on self-help activities to either treat their condition or assist in coping with their condition Carry out all therapy interventions within the broad scope of locally and nationally recognised therapy approaches Be a full member of the multidisciplinary team. Be fully responsible for planning and prioritising his/her own workload Assist with setting local standards for hand therapy services using the clinical governance process, and ensure the standards are met through a combination of audit, staff development and service development. Assist senior hand therapy colleagues in developments within service especially regarding National guidelines and policies. Support the ongoing development of information for patients. Support the development of education resources appropriate for all staff. Ensure appropriate risk management strategies are in place and adhered to, including The Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), Health & Safety, and Medical Devices Agency (MDA) under the Health & Social Care Act. Complete clinical and environment 'Risk Assessments' in line with the Trust's policy as developed by the Risk Management Team, and follow through with an agreed action plan, as relevant to areas within the clinical remit of this post. Maintain a record of patient's treatment for inclusion in the department's weekly returns and other statistical data as required. Carry out other professional duties that may be necessary as delegated by the Trust's Physiotherapy Manager, and hand therapy service leads. 7 day physiotherapy service (as appropriate): Take part in the Orthopaedic weekend rota Treat/Manage through physiotherapy, patients on the trauma and orthopaedic wards and elsewhere in the hospital Treat all patients on Trauma and Orthopaedic ward as clinically relevant with physiotherapy In addition to specific orthopaedic treatments, the post holder will treat other aspects of the patient's condition requiring physiotherapy, e.g. chest infections, and also treat with physiotherapy, as required other patients on the wards. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Degree/diploma level education leading to State Registration by the Health Professions Council (UK) as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) or Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Evidence of relevant post graduate education Desirable Completion of rotation in Hand Therapy British Association of Hand Therapy member Knowledge of broad range of patient groups and experience with acute trauma and elective orthopaedics, plastic and rheumatology Experience Essential This post requires a graduate level state registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist with hand therapy experience. Experience of working in an NHS setting. Experience of managing staff and/or students Additional Criteria Essential Good basic knowledge of all areas of hand therapy Specialist knowledge of Orthopaedic and MSK conditions related to hand therapy. Knowledge of linking between primary & secondary care interface to provide integrated care. To be able to make bespoke splints for patients To have a theoretical and working knowledge of wounds and the management of wounds and there impact on splinting and rehabilitation To be able to provide a comprehensive assessment, and treatment plan for the management of acute hand trauma, post-operative elective hand surgery, and chronic hand conditions To work autonomously whilst keeping excellent note keeping standards inline with the RCOT, CSP and local policy Computer literate Person Specification Qualifications Essential Degree/diploma level education leading to State Registration by the Health Professions Council (UK) as a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) or Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) Evidence of relevant post graduate education Desirable Completion of rotation in Hand Therapy British Association of Hand Therapy member Knowledge of broad range of patient groups and experience with acute trauma and elective orthopaedics, plastic and rheumatology Experience Essential This post requires a graduate level state registered physiotherapist or occupational therapist with hand therapy experience. Experience of working in an NHS setting. Experience of managing staff and/or students Additional Criteria Essential Good basic knowledge of all areas of hand therapy Specialist knowledge of Orthopaedic and MSK conditions related to hand therapy. Knowledge of linking between primary & secondary care interface to provide integrated care. To be able to make bespoke splints for patients To have a theoretical and working knowledge of wounds and the management of wounds and there impact on splinting and rehabilitation To be able to provide a comprehensive assessment, and treatment plan for the management of acute hand trauma, post-operative elective hand surgery, and chronic hand conditions To work autonomously whilst keeping excellent note keeping standards inline with the RCOT, CSP and local policy Computer literate 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). 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. 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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Address Musgrove Park Hospital Musgrove Road Taunton Somerset TA1 5DA Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)