Job summary
Are you a new band 5 looking to embed theory into practice? A student qualifying this year? Or already practicing as a band 5 and looking for a new challenge?

We are looking to recruit a Physiotherapist to join our vibrant, driven, and hardworking team.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, hardworking Physiotherapist to join our band 5 Physiotherapy rotation in the Therapy Department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire group.

This role will expose you to a variety of specialties allowing you to put your skills and knowledge into practice as well as promoting continuous learning and nurturing your core Physio skills.

Core rotations include:

• Critical Care & Respiratory
• Vascular & Surgery
• Trauma & Orthopaedics
• Stroke
• Urgent Care & Frailty
• Acute medicine
• Elderly Medicine

With additional opportunities to gain exposure in oncology, amputee rehab and musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Professional Development is supported through access to our Allied Health Professional Preceptorship Programme for newly registered staff during which you will receive regular 1:1 support from an experienced therapist and attend regular workshops. In addition to this you will also commence on our rolling Band 5 therapy training programme as well as attending peer group meetings where you will have the opportunity to learn from and share your experiences with your Band 5 Physio and OT peers.

Main duties of the job
To provide a professional Physiotherapy service to patients on own caseload, under the supervision of senior colleagues.

To supervise therapy support staff, technical instructors and student physiotherapists.

To be part of the Physiotherapy on call rota.

To actively contribute to the discharge planning process by selecting and implementing appropriate assessments and interventions to address the needs of patients including those with an acute illness, following injury or surgery and those with chronic disease, terminal illness or undergoing a period of acute re enablement.

Provide effective input into the work of the Trust, to support the achievement of our vision and values.

The post holder will be required to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including but not extensive to: Therapy Department and Enablement Centre clinical and non-clinical staff, Therapy Management Team and the broader trust staff group as required.

The post holder will participate in relevant working groups/projects, services and initiatives to provide information and analytical advice and expertise.

About us
Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.

Job responsibilities
To work autonomously and within departmental teams to provide excellent physiotherapy care to a diverse client group.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.

To provide specialist physiotherapy advice to MDT colleagues in clinical areas.

To carry out assessment and develop treatment plans for all patients within the designated caseload without direct supervision, ensuring appropriate feedback to patient, carers and colleagues regarding findings and patient progression.

Analyse and take into consideration results of medical tests, scans and x-rays to formulate and adapt physiotherapy treatment plans.

To assess capacity, gain valid, informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment independently.

To undertake the assessment of patients within the rotational speciality who may have complex or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical problems and the indicated treatment.

To plan, deliver and evaluate effective and appropriate treatments in partnership with the patient, MDT colleagues and the wider service providers.

To constantly monitor patients responses to treatments and interventions and propose changes which may directly influence other MDT actions.

Ensure correct usage of walking aids, surgical appliances and prostheses by carers, patients and colleagues.

To act as part of the MDT in facilitating appropriate and safe discharges.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the medical, nursing and MDT staff to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service including attendance at ward rounds, MDT and discharge meetings.

To make appropriate and thorough referrals to other physiotherapy services.

To assist colleagues to train, supervise and help manage the workload of band 2 and 3 staff and some students on clinical placements.

To decide priorities for own caseload, balancing other patient-related and professional demands, ensuring that the priorities remain in accordance with the whole team

To become competent to assist in the delivery of an evening and weekend emergency physiotherapy respiratory on call service. To be an active member of the respiratory on call weekly rota (when trained).

To be responsible for issuing and ordering specialist equipment, ensuring correct and safe use.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical work, including the management of designated caseload of patients, ensuring a high standard of clinical care at all times.

To continually develop an up-to-date knowledge base and maintain own continuous professional development folder.

To undertake evaluation of own and the teams work, reflecting on current practices and experiences in order to continue own professional development.

To be an active member of the physiotherapy in-service training programme by preparing for and attending meetings, tutorials, training sessions and external courses.

To maintain up-to-date Trust mandatory training.

Person Specification
Educations, Training and Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
• HPC registered ( or evidence of application for HPC)

Desirable

• Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team, an understanding of their roles and respect for the other professionals within the team.
• Experience working in an NHS setting in the following clinical areas: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Medical, Respiratory, Neurology
• Entry level assessment and treatment knowledge required for Acute Hospital setting.
• Demonstrable proactive approach to own learning and CPD.
• Experience of working in a team of people.

Desirable

• Experience of participation in work based learning
• Awareness of structure, and current important issues effecting the inpatient physiotherapy department at Northampton General Hospital
• Ability to access knowledge to improve patient care
• Experience working in an NHS setting in the following clinical areas: Trauma & Orthopaedics, Medical, Respiratory, Neurology

Skills
Essential

• Able to assess a patient's needs and plan a treatment plan with short and long term goals
• Able to manage caseload autonomously and work as part of team
• Able to modify and progress patient treatment
• Demonstrate good written and verbal communication
• Able to get to the hospital within 45 minutes (for on call purposes)
• Ability to work in situations and conditions that may involve: Physical effort (e.g. therapeutic handling, moving patients) Mental effort (e.g. concentration levels) Emotional effort (e.g. distressing and traumatic circumstances)

Desirable

• Car driver with access to vehicle during working hours, appropriate driving license and car insurance
• Basic IT and presentation skills

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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).