Band 8a Therapy Services Assistant General Manager: Sponsorship Available

Job summary

This is an exciting time to join the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing care for more than 1.6 million people each year across our four main hospital sites: the Royal Free Hospital, Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and North Middlesex Hospital.

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and forward-thinking therapist to join the Therapy Services Senior Leadership Team. The successful candidate will play a key role in leading service improvement initiatives, driving innovation, and supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care. They will work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure services are effective, efficient, and aligned with best practice, while maintaining strong professional and clinical governance standards.

Main duties of the job

Therapy Services at the Royal Free London has a strong culture of continuous improvement, using quality improvement methodology to enhance patient care and service delivery. We actively support research-informed practice and are at the forefront of workforce innovation. Working alongside an experienced team of clinical leaders and senior managers, the post holder will lead strategic and operational developments that improve patient outcomes, strengthen staff engagement, and promote wellbeing across Therapy Services. The role offers a unique opportunity to influence practice across a large and diverse organisation while gaining valuable experience in operational management, leadership, service transformation and workforce development.

We welcome applications from experienced clinicians with management experience registered in one of the Allied Health Professions represented within Therapy Services, including:

DieteticsOccupational TherapyPhysiotherapyPodiatrySpeech and Language Therapy

This is an excellent opportunity to develop your leadership, strategic planning and project management skills while working closely with therapy teams across the Trust.

Person Specification

Royal Free shared commitments

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust shared commitments.

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

• oRelevant AHP degree/ diploma (PT; OT; DT; SaLT; Pod)
• oEvidence or portfolio of continued development; professional and/or leadership

Desirable

• oHealth and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration for profession
• oDemonstrates ability to study at Masters level

Experience

Essential

• oComputer skills with an advanced knowledge of Microsoft PowerPoint, word and excel
• oAwareness of current health issues with a breadth of understanding to predict how these will impact on patient services
• oProject management skills
• oAble to embrace and lead change
• oEvidence of effective communication and working with clinicians, multidisciplinary teams and other agencies
• oAble to document information accurately
• oCommitted to personal and team development

Desirable

• oKnowledge of QI methodology
• Experience of project management and ability to work to deadlines

Skills and aptitudes

Essential

• Awareness of current health issues with a breadth of understanding to predict how these will impact on patient services
• Understanding of national NHS policy and targets
• Evidence of effective communication and working with clinicians, multidisciplinary teams and other agencies
• Competent in the use of Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint , Excel, and Outlook
• Ability to analyse highly complex and sensitive information, from a broad range of sources and producing options appraisal for consideration
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to lead, manage and work as a team member
• Able to embrace and lead change
• Able to maintain judgement and make decisions under pressure

Personal qualities and attributes

Essential

• Well organised and practical with a logical, analytical approach to work.
• Highly effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Punctual and reliable
• Positive and motivated

Closing Date: 22 November 2026