Visa Note
While this role offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible candidates, please verify your specific visa eligibility requirements with the employer. The sponsorship is offered subject to meeting UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) eligibility criteria.
Job Details
Company: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Location: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY
Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year Pro Rata Per Annum
Schedule: Part-time, Flexible working
Employment Type: Permanent
Language: English
Application Deadline: 27 November 2025
About the Role
Are you interested in an opportunity to work within our Hand therapy department? Dorset County Hospital Hand Therapy Service wish to offer the right person an exciting opportunity to join the dynamic hand therapy team. As a successful NHS in-house service, we provide high quality services in West Dorset.
The post advertised will be based at Dorset County Hospital, with a focus on covering adult and paediatric orthopaedic elective and trauma clinics, as well as rheumatology patients. Our dedicated MDT means we work closely with orthopaedic consultants in hand surgery, nursing staff, plaster technicians and orthotists.
We are truly an integrated team who are Hand Therapists first and foremost and therefore welcome applications from both Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists. We have a wide scope of practice within our specialty providing patient centred care. Prior experience working within the hand therapy department and making thermoplastic splints is essential.
The successful candidate will be part of the Hand therapy team and receive structured supervision and training to carry out their role effectively.
Main Duties of the Job
The hand therapist is a Specialised clinician, responsible for independently managing a full clinical caseload. They are responsible for supervising junior members of staff within the specialist team.
In conjunction with the Team Lead, the post holder participates in a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research across the speciality.
The clinician works as an integral part of the hand therapy team and the wider multi-professional hand team.
The postholder may be required to work at any of the sites within the trust. Should the service require it this post may become rotational and be filled by specialist staff rotating within the service.
To fully participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future.
The postholder may be required to work at weekends on a roster basis.
About Us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.
Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
UKVI Sponsorship: This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.
Essential Qualifications and Experience
Diploma or Degree in Occupational Therapy or physiotherapy.
Registered with professional body council.
Evidence of other relevant and recent CPD/ training pertinent to specialty. I.E BAHT level I.
Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for hand therapy.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Knowledge of evidenced based practice pertaining to the specialist area of hand therapy.
Knowledge of national guidelines and standards relevant to the specialist area of hand therapy.
Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession.
Minimum of 2 years wide ranging rotational experience at band 5 level including experience in the specialist area.
Experience of participating in audit and evidence based projects.
Evidence of actively participating in in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating effectiveness of training.
Essential Skills and Competencies
Ability to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
Ability to keep accurate and legible clinical notes.
Ability to demonstrate clear depth of clinical reasoning and knowledge of assessment and interventions with those with neurological conditions, commensurate with Band 6 level.
Ability to work autonomously, prioritising case load effectively.
To show an understanding of clinical governance and its implication for the Hand Therapy service.
Experience in completing local projects.
Evidence of supporting team members.
Ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Desirable Skills and Competencies
Experience of working with patients following hand surgery, hand injury and/or rheumatology.
Demonstrate the ability to assess and diagnose hand conditions. Ability to fabricate thermoplastic splints and good knowledge of off-shelf splints.
Excellent time management skills with ability to organise, prioritise and delegate.
Ability to self direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs, demonstrated in a CPD portfolio.
IT skills, including using hospital data bases, word processing, excel, email and power point.
Certificate of Sponsorship Information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals.
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.
How to Apply
Apply via NHS Jobs website.
For international applicants, we recommend the following steps:
- Verify your eligibility for UKVI sponsorship with the employer
- Gather required documents including proof of qualifications and professional registration
- Prepare a criminal record certificate from any countries where you have lived for 12+ months in the past 10 years
- Contact Nicola Green if you have questions about the application process
- Submit your application through the NHS Jobs website before the closing date
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact:
Service Lead for Orthotics, Hand Therapy
Nicola Green
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01305254408
Employer Details
Employer name: Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Dorset County Hospital, Williams Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2JY
Employer’s website: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/working-for-us/
Privacy notice: https://www.dchft.nhs.uk/about-us/information-governance/
Reference Information
Reference number: 405-25-AHP520THER
Date posted: 06 November 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
