Highly Specialist Research Physiotherapist

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Highly Specialist Research Physiotherapist

The closing date is 14 October 2025

The Movement Disorders Centre at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery is a hub for clinical and research excellence across a range of movement disorders, including Parkinson's, atypical Parkinsonism, dystonia, rare movement disorders, and other related conditions.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as a research physiotherapist as part of a multi-centred trial to explore the efficacy of using augmented reality as a rehabilitation tool in people with Parkinson's. The hospital is one of four sites for this work and the postholder will be working with leaders in the field of rehabilitation in movement disorders.

Proposed interview dates: 22nd and 24th October 2025

Main duties of the job

This is a fixed term, 0.5 WTE position requiring a physiotherapist with clinical experience in neurological diseases. Desirable attributes include experience of conducting research. Effective communication and a positive approach to the management of disability are essential. Regular supervision and support for continued professional development is offered.

This study will run until the end of March 2027.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.

UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person SpecificationKnowledge and Qualifications

• Degree/or equivalent in Physiotherapy
• Registered Physiotherapist (HPC)
• Post graduate neurosciences and respiratory courses
• Active member of a neurosciences group
• Student supervision or teaching skills course
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP)
• Experience of working in the NHS

Experience

• 5 years post-graduate work experience at appointment.
• 2 years specific neurological experience
• Broad range of experience at junior level including ICU, medical, surgery, neurology, musculoskeletal and elderly care
• Evidence of having worked unsupervised on an emergency and on-call and weekend rota assessing and treating patients with deteriorating respiratory and neurological status on ITU and the wards.
• Evidence of having supervised undergraduate physiotherapy students and/or evidence of having supervised qualified physiotherapists being responsible for undertaking IPR and their professional development.
• Experience of teaching a wide range of groups (including physiotherapy colleagues, students, physiotherapy assistants, other MDT)
• Evidence of participation in audit.
• Evidence of participation in and organisation of in-service training programmes.

Skills and Abilities

• Autonomous practitioner who is able to work unsupervised at a specialist level within neurological disease specifically Parkinson's.
• Ability to work efficiently, effectively and professionally as part of a multi-disciplinary team, understanding the role and nature of team dynamics
• Evidence of initiative Demonstrate good time management skills
• Constructive assertiveness Interest in research and / or a knowledge of research methodologies and research application
• Commitment to teaching at a pre and postgraduate level

Communication

• Effective written communication skills including accurate record keeping and using the source data and eCRF system
• Evidence of effective presentation and training skills

Personal and People Development

• Ability to supervise staff who will be directly accountable to the post-holder
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development Diary including evidence of reflective practice, inservice training, courses attended and clinical experience gained.

Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion E.g., All posts to include Demonstratable understanding of the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and/or Knowledge of the NHS obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duties (line managers to elaborate depending on the level of the post and to assess this essential criteria at interview)

Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

• Ensure the risk of infection to self, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by: Being familiar with, and adhering to Trust policies and guidance on infection prevention and control. Completing all required training and education (both via e-learning and face to face) on infection prevention and control. Including infection prevention and control as an integral part of your continuous personal/professional development and included in your annual appraisal Taking personal responsibility so far as is reasonably practicable, in helping ensure that effective prevention and control of health care associated infections is embedded into everyday practice and applied consistently.

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.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

£56,276 to £63,176 a yearper annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

17 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6870

Job locations

National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery, UCLH

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