Specialist Physiotherapist, Paediatrics
Band 6

Salary: Band 6 (£38,682 - £46,580)
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Ulster Hospital, Dundonald
Closes: Tue, 24 November 2026 at 5:30 PM

The post-holder will be required to work as part of the Multi-disciplinary team to provide a comprehensive Paediatric Physiotherapy service, with an emphasis on the management of children and young people with varied and complex needs, in the Ulster Hospital. This will take place in inpatient children's and neonatal wards, outpatient clinics, at home and in schools, special schools and nurseries. The post holder will need to manage their own caseload, utilizing evidence-based assessments, intervention, evaluation and timely discharge and to provide specialist advice within area of expertise to other staff. The post holder will be required to provide clinical supervision and training to less experienced staff and help maintain a stimulating learning environment including involvement in the in-service training programme. The post holder will be required to undertake flexible working including extended working, seven day working or on call duties throughout the Ulster Hospital as determined by operational requirements.

Key Duties / Responsibilities

• Work autonomously to achieve person centred care.
• Assess children and young people to determine independent clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy intervention, maintaining records in accordance with professional standards.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of appropriate training programmes for parents, carers, education staff and other professionals involved in the care of this client group.
• Provide specialist advice, consultation and training to parents, teachers and other professionals.
• Manage a caseload/inpatients using evidence based/child centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions to enable children to access the educational curriculum. Intervention may be through individual, group or class based activities.
• Make timely and effective decisions regarding physiotherapy recommendations to ensure quality care and facilitate discharge, including appropriate onward referrals.
• Participate in development and review of the Physiotherapy service within the multidisciplinary team and wider Physiotherapy Service.
• Undertake supervision, education and assessment of the performance of physiotherapy students to graduate standard when required.

Main Clinical and Professional Responsibilities

• Deliver and promote evidence based practice and agreed care pathways.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders in the acute setting, as well as those in community and schools and significant others to plan appropriate interventions to achieve the agreed goals.
• Contribute to the improvement of effective person centred care.
• Undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, using investigative and analytical skills to make an independent clinical diagnosis.
• Using clinical reasoning utilise a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate an individualised programme of care.
• Integrate therapy programmes into the overall multidisciplinary management of the patient where that is applicable.
• Lead by example in the promotion of high standards of clinical treatment and physiotherapy care, to ensure a quality service.
• Monitor and record patient's/client's progress and maintain contemporaneous records.
• Prepare/present appropriate professional reports in a timely manner.
• Complete departmental data collection and returns in line with departmental procedures.
• Make decisions based on professional knowledge and experience.
• Ensure the provision of an integrated quality service by maintaining effective communication with the multi-disciplinary team and community services as required.
• Maintain good communication with the MDT/teachers/parents ensuring that their individual needs are met, and address any issues which may be identified.
• Participate in audits both uni-professional and multidisciplinary.
• Actively seek and be aware of the views of service users, including professional staff, teachers and parents.
• Maintain professional registration with Health and Care Professions Council.
• Ensure personal accountability in accordance with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Standards of Practice.
• Act in a courteous and respectful manner.
• Demonstrate commitment through regular attendance, efficient completion of duties and participation in department/team work activities.
• Comply with Health and Safety Policy and statutory regulations.
• Contribute to a safe environment within the risk management and clinical governance strategy.
• Comply with physiotherapy and trust strategies, policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct.
• Ensure effective and economic use of resources and the maintenance of all equipment.

Generic Managerial Responsibilities (within both an operational and strategic context)

• Act up in the absence of the line manager as required.
• Participate in activities which contribute to the development of effective teams.
• Ensure staff are aware of and act in accordance with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines, protocols and codes of conduct.
• Ensure staff are aware of and act in accordance with regulations laid down by statutory bodies.
• Promote good staff relationships and morale amongst staff.
• Delegate appropriately to, and provide clinical support and advice to junior staff, support staff and physiotherapy students.
• Participate in compiling leave arrangements to ensure appropriate cover.
• Participate as required in the selection, supervision and retention of staff in accordance with trust policies.
• Review staff performance in line with the Trust Personal Performance & Development Review.
• Identify and address poor performance and practice, and liaise with the line manager.
• Observe for signs of ill health in colleagues and take appropriate action with staff or management.
• Ensure personal and professional development in accordance with CSP requirements.
• Participate in the Personal Performance & Development Review.
• Initiate and/or participate in staff induction and training as required.
• Promote and participate in practice development.
• Facilitate learning and development.
• Ensure pre & post registration students receive relevant clinical experience.
• Participate in audit and research to support continuous improvement activities as required.
• Use evidence based practice and audit to identify opportunities to enhance patient / client care or service.
• Carry out any other duties as required.

Human Resource Management Responsibilities
The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

• Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.
• Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.
• Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.
• Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

General Requirements
The post holder will be required to:

• Ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example: Smoke Free policy; IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct; standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour.
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business, including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the South Eastern Trust policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.
• Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth
The South Eastern HSC Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care. Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum of 2 years post graduate clinical experience, including at least 6 months experience working within specialist paediatric physiotherapy services regularly treating children and young people.
• Evidence of post graduate training relevant to paediatrics to meet service objectives.
• Evidence of the ability to teach / train students, parents, carers or staff e.g. in-service training, clinical instructor for under-graduate students.
• Evidence of participation in audit and or research.
• Experience in staff management e.g. supervision, appraisal, work allocation.
• Degree or Diploma in physiotherapy (or Equivalent).
• Currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment (waived for applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a Trust-approved form of transport).
• Must be able to communicate to a high level both written and verbal; excellent interpersonal skills including observation, listening and empathy; ability to develop and maintain communication about difficult matters.
• Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills; excellent analytical and reflection skills; good time management and ability to prioritise.
• Continuously strive to develop self and others; demonstrate ability to be a good team member; contribute to service and quality improvements; ensure and promote equality and value diversity; ensure data protection is maintained.
• Evidence of personal and professional development and commitment to continuing professional development.
• Well established knowledge of a range of assessment tools relevant to the specialist client group, independent knowledge of clinical interventions, and use of outcome measures to evaluate intervention.
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to the specialist client group, principles of clinical governance and audit, roles of other professionals for multidisciplinary working, and standards of record keeping.

HSC Values
Working Together: We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. Compassion: We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. Excellence: We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. Openness & Honesty: We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed. The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is an equal opportunities employer. Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment.