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Job summary

Main area
Physiotherapy
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
Permanent: Weeekends/ bank Holidays as part of 7 day rota and Oncall
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
216-LT-DA8080866
Employer
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Derriford Hospital
Town
Plymouth
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust logo

Senior Physiotherapist - Health Care of Elderly/Medicine

NHS AfC: Band 6

Job overview

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is looking for an experienced Physiotherapist to join Health Care of Elderly team and medical. This post would suit Band 5’s looking to specialise or current Band 6’s who would like to broaden their experience.

The successful post holder will work alongside the existing Health Care of Elderly team leads to operationally manage health care of elderly and medical in-patient wards. In all these areas you will be supported by experienced clinicians who are specialists in their field.

The successful candidate will be joining a well- established team in delivering a seven-day physiotherapy service to patients as part of the wider multidisciplinary unit. Applicants would need to have a broad range of experience, including post-graduate experience in the treatment of patients within the medical speciality.

To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working autonomously.  Senior support and supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences.  Access to advice and support from specialist physiotherapists is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

  • To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to the health care of elderly and medical patients. This involves working across the trust in a range of settings and providing a seven day service.
  • To assist the Team Leaders in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to patients within the team, on a day-to-day basis.
  • To assess and treat own caseload of patients, who may have complex presentations, and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.
  • At times community / home visits may be required to be undertaken.
  • To deputise for the Team Leaders when necessary.

 

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you into contact with the recruitment team.   

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.   

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

 It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

  • To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
  • To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards and local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines (this might include meetings, report and letter writing).
  • To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their condition.
  • Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. specialist neurological or respiratory techniques, manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, and other alternative options.
  • To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 physiotherapist for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
  • Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans.
  • Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
  • Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate, gain co-operation, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.  This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.  For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or realistic expectations of Physiotherapy intervention.
  • Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
  • To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and to report incidents and near misses.

For further information please see attached job description

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria
  • Post graduate demonstrable experience in core rotations: Neurology, Acute Respiratory, Orthopaedics/MSK
  • Demonstrable experience of working in acute hospital
  • Demonstrable experience of teaching
  • An awareness of current NHS and Health issues influencing this post
  • Proven evidence of contribution to clinical education / supervision of less experienced staff, students or assistants
  • Demonstrable experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
  • Proven evidence of relevant CPD
Desirable criteria
  • Previous demonstrable experience of working in Health Care of Elderly
  • Clinical Educator course
  • Audit demonstrable experience
  • Demonstrable experience of working in a major trauma unit
  • Demonstrable experience of working in a similar role
  • Demonstrable experience of complex MDT working and discharge planning

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree (BSc Hons Physiotherapy) or equivalent
  • HCPC registration
  • Attendance at additional relevant professional courses
Desirable criteria
  • MSc relevant to the area
  • Attendance of additional professional courses

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Professional manner
  • Legible and concise handwriting
Desirable criteria
  • Proven evidence of personal leadership

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Disability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Achin Sobti
Job title
Head of Physiotherapy
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01752 432241
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