Principal Physiotherapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the physiotherapy service as part of the Neurosciences team at St George’s Hospital, Tooting in the role of Principal Physiotherapist. The post is a fixed term opportunity within the RAAR (rapid access acute rehabilitation) and TBI Level 1 services (Traumatic Brain injury rehabilitation services). The post holder will be supported by a Band 8b Lead Therapist in RAAR, Band 8b Lead Therapist in Neurosciences, Chief Therapist for St George’s, and GESH Group AHP Lead.

We are looking for a dynamic and flexible physiotherapist with excellent clinical leadership in the assessment and management of adults following neurological illness or injury. You will lead the Physiotherapy provision for the regional RAAR and TBI services based at St George’s site. You will be expected to work as an autonomous practitioner, be up to date with evidence based practice and be able to offer advanced assessment and rehabilitation of patients with complex needs. You will be responsible for the operational management of a physiotherapy team, ensuring delivery of high-quality patient centered care measured by clinical outcomes, national audit programmes, patient experience and patient safety measures. You will be participating in the seven day Neurosciences weekend roster.

• Patient assessments for rehabilitation.
• Managing flow through Level 1 services (RAAR and TBI).
• Managing & supporting delivery of Physiotherapy provision in RAAR and TBI.
• Providing clinical input to the RAAR and TBI services.
• Leading the MDT with other discipline leads (OT, SLT and Psychology).
• Being an active and collaborative member of the Neuro Physiotherapy 8a cross site leadership team.
• Being an engaged member of both the Therapies and Neurosciences leadership teams.
• Managing service delivery and developments within the services and wider teams.

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Please see attached JD and Person specification.

• Responsible for the operational management of the neurosciences physiotherapy service of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in conjunction with the General Manager for Therapies/Critical Care and Therapy Consultant in Neurorehabilitation, including recruitment, implementation of comprehensive training and continuing professional development plans for all neurophysiotherapy staff within designated area.
• Responsible for the clinical leadership of the neurosciences physiotherapy service at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Uses expert clinical reasoning to provide highly specialist support and advice to the physiotherapy and other clinical staff within and outside the organisation whilst maintaining a clinical caseload of highly complex patients as an autonomous practitioner.

• Degree/ Diploma in Physiotherapy
• State Registration
• Working at Masters level - as demonstrated by ongoing CPD including masters level accreditation, lecturing on masters level courses and research/publications
• Post registration training in evidence-based neuro physiotherapy e.g. motor control, motor learning, orthotics, patient management, handling and facilitation skills
• Commitment to advanced clinical and professional development
• Member of SIG

• Recognised post graduate qualification e.g. MSc

• Extensive post registration experience to include clinical experience with Acute Neurosciences, Stroke, Regional Neurorehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury, Vestibular
• Experience working in an in-patient NHS acute hospital and NHS rehabilitation setting
• Experience working at Highly Specialist Neuro Physiotherapist level in a neuro-rehabilitation/neuro-services environment
• Highly specialist knowledge and experience in a wide range of approaches to the management of neuro-rehabilitation patients demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning
• Evidence of team leadership skills including staff and student management, supervision and teaching
• Experience of working within a multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary team
• Evidence of continued professional development reviewing current practice and research developments and their application to clinical practice
• Previous experience of formal presentations to multi professional groups
• Experience of developing services

• Clinical Experience in Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Previous experience as Band 8a
• Actively involved in teaching to the multidisciplinary team as well as evaluating and auditing the effectiveness of the training
• Experience of research methodology
• Having presented research at conferences

• Competent IT skills
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust’s policies including data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the differing needs of the patient
• Conduct professional affairs in a confident and assertive manner

Seniority level: Director

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Health Care Provider

Industries: Hospitals and Health Care

Expiry status: This description has been refined for clarity.