Band 5 Physiotherapist | University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

An opportunity has arisen for a Junior Physiotherapist to join our Older Persons Therapy team. The successful post holder will be encouraged and supported to develop extended skills and enhanced practice in frailty with our highly regarded, innovative and motivated Older Persons Services (OPS) Team. This will be a great opportunity for a physio passionate about working with older people, or as a stepping stone into working as a physiotherapist at UHD.

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• Older Persons Assessment Unit - admission avoidance
  
• Older Persons wards
  
• Older Persons outliers
  

This provides therapists with an opportunity to develop a full and rich understanding of our patient’s journey, from emergency admission to their transition home.

Working holistically across professional boundaries, service development and opportunities to work alongside a range of experienced professionals both within the hospital and community.

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• Experience of working as a physiotherapist (including student experience)
  
• Willing to participate in 7‑day working on a rota basis
  
• Ability to drive and hold a clean driver’s license
  
• Willing to work on an on‑call respiratory rota as participation is expected in this role
  

Base location: Royal Bournemouth Hospital

Interview date: 13th November 2025

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• Ensure that patients receive appropriate treatment to a high standard in accordance with HCPC Standards of Registration and the Professional Standards and Code of Ethics of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
  
• Provide physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse clinical presentations
  
• Use clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to identify problems on which to base an appropriate patient‑centred treatment programme
  
• Prepare and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on sound knowledge of evidence‑based practice
  
• Consolidate core skills within the area of acute older people’s services, developing own skills and knowledge through active learning
  
• Participate in weekend working and extended hours as required, ensuring efficient therapy service provision in line with Trust priorities
  
• Participate in the Respiratory Physiotherapy on‑call rota providing emergency respiratory physiotherapy service as required
  
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team in all clinical settings including wards, Emergency department, Acute Admissions Unit, and the community
  
• Complete physiotherapy assessment and intervention to enable patients with frailty to recover and transition home safely
  
• Maintain a clinical caseload, completing multidisciplinary, holistic initial assessments for older people within all clinical areas as required
  
• Provide education and training support to the therapy assistants and students working in the service
  
• Manage a defined caseload, using evidence‑based/client‑centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions in a hospital setting
  
• Undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner under the direction of more senior qualified staff
  
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary team regarding assessment outcomes and ongoing treatment required to avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital, to promote early supported discharge and to aid complex discharge planning
  
• Provide guidance to all team members regarding physiotherapy assessment and intervention
  

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

When the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Therapies have a planned move to align with planned emergency sites in Winter 2025.

For full details, please see the job description.

This advert closes on Tuesday 4 Nov 2025.