Job summary
Are you a passionate and forward-thinking physiotherapist looking to make a real difference in children's lives while advancing your own professional development?

Join our supportive and innovative Integrated Paediatric Therapy Team, where you'll benefit from structured supervision, ongoing training opportunities, and exposure to a diverse and rewarding caseload.

This is an excellent opportunity to use specialist skills within a collaborative environment that truly values learning, career progression, and high-quality, child-centred care.

We are seeking a proactive and motivated Physiotherapist with relevant postgraduate experience at a senior level to join our friendly and dynamic Paediatric Physiotherapy Team.

Interview: 17th September

Main duties of the job
This part-time fixed term Band 7 post offers an excellent opportunity to further utilise clinical skills within a specialised, integrated therapy service, delivering both inpatient and outpatient care.

The post-holder will work with children and young people aged 0-19 years who present with a wide range of conditions, including medical, musculoskeletal, neurodevelopmental, orthopaedic, and other complex needs. You will provide high-quality assessment and intervention across Poole, Bournemouth, and East Dorset.

The role is based primarily within the Children's Therapy Team. In addition, the successful candidate will participate in a rota providing weekend, on-call, and twilight cover to the paediatric wards.

Services are delivered in a variety of settings, including paediatric wards, nurseries, schools, and outpatient clinics across University Hospitals Dorset Trust sites, offering a diverse and rewarding caseload.

You will work closely with a multidisciplinary paediatric team and collaborate with colleagues across health, education, and social care. We are committed to delivering high-quality, child-centred care in partnership with children, young people, and their families.

A full driving licence and access to a car are essential, as the role involves community-based visits and travel across multiple sites.

About us
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process

Details
Date posted: 24 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year pro rata, per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 9 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 153-SP06664
Job locations: Poole
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Longfleet Road
Poole
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

• To be part of a team of therapists providing a highly specialised Physiotherapy (PT) assessment, treatment and advice service to children, 0-19 years and their parents/carers referred to the service, covering Bournemouth, Poole, and East Dorset.
• To support the Team & Service Lead in the daily management and strategic planning of the teams service delivery within paediatric therapy services and the multidisciplinary team.
• To be responsible for the clinical supervision and development of other members of the Paediatric Therapy Team and to be a clinical educator for undergraduate students.
• To demonstrate an appropriate level of evidence-based expertise in the assessment and treatment of a paediatric caseload, for children of all ages with neuro-developmental, neuro-muscular, musculoskeletal, and respiratory conditions, including Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
• To provide advice and liaise with other professionals (e.g. consultants, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, orthotists) and disciplines (e.g. the community nursing team, Learning Disability Team, Occupational Therapists working in Social Care and Health, Education Staff etc.), as well as networking with therapists in other departments and NHS Trusts.
• To participate in continued professional development to support the operational management and development of the Paediatric Therapy service.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Diploma or Degree in physiotherapy
• HCPC Registered

Desirable

• Post graduate training in paediatrics

Experience
Essential

• Post graduate experience at a senior level in physiotherapy
• NHS experience
• Assessment and treatment of infants and children 0-19 years with complex neurodevelopmental disabilities
• Acting as a clinical service lead for an area of work, project, or audit

Desirable

• Experience of working in other areas of physiotherapy with transferable skills to paediatrics e.g. MSK, respiratory, neurology

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
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).

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

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Poole
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust, Longfleet Road
Poole
BH15 2JB
United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Children's Therapy Team Lead
Elsa Smith
elsa.smith5@nhs.net
03000192936

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).