Job summary
We are an 18-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit based at Romsey Community Hospital, providing Level 3 rehabilitation for patients stepping down from acute hospitals, primarily University Hospital Southampton. Patients present with a wide range of conditions including falls, traumatic and non-traumatic fractures, frailty, general deterioration, and post-medical or surgical interventions.

The successful candidate will assess, treat and manage a rehabilitation caseload within hospital and community settings, delivering patient-centred programmes aimed at restoring independence and enabling safe discharge. Working closely with Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation Assistants, community teams and other professionals, you will contribute to a holistic multidisciplinary approach

Key responsibilities include undertaking complex assessments, planning and delivering rehabilitation interventions, managing a defined caseload, and supporting patients with complex or chronic presentations. You will supervise junior staff, Rehabilitation Assistants and students, contribute to service development, maintain professional competence through CPD, and support team initiatives.

Only open to applicants from Hampshire & Isle of Wight NHS system, which is limited to: Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Healthcare FT, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, University Hospital Southampton FT, South Central Ambulance Service, Isle of Wight NHS FT or Hampshire Hospitals FT.

Main duties of the job
The Senior Physiotherapist is responsible for managing and prioritising a designated caseload of patients with complex rehabilitation needs in inpatient setting. The role involves conducting comprehensive physiotherapy assessments, including functional, musculoskeletal, respiratory, mobility, gait and balance assessments, and developing person-centred rehabilitation programmes to maximise independence and support safe discharge. Key responsibilities include obtaining consent, undertaking clinical and environmental risk assessments, carrying out home visits as a lone practitioner, monitoring patient progress and adapting treatment plans accordingly. The postholder provides education, advice and emotional support to patients and carers, communicates sensitive information regarding rehabilitation and prognosis, and contributes to discharge planning and transfers of care. The role requires active participation and leadership in patient related meetings. Responsibilities also include maintaining clinical records, reports and discharge summaries, supporting governance activities ie learning from incidents.

From a leadership perspective, the postholder supervises Band 5 Physiotherapists, Rehabilitation Assistants and students, contributes to appraisals, staff development and mandatory training compliance, supports people management, triage and patient flow, and acts as a role model by promoting high-quality, evidence-based care, professional accountability and continuous service improvement.

About us
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence

Job responsibilities
Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

We are an equal opportunities employer. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.