Senior Physiotherapist

Main area Senior Physiotherapist Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 10 months (Maternity Leave Cover) Hours

• Full time
• Part time

37.5 hours per week (part-time hours considered)

Job ref 297-7777253

Employer Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type NHS
Site Bensham General Hospital
Town Gateshead
Salary £38,682 - £46,580
N/A Salary period Yearly
Closing 24/03/2026 23:59

In the event of excessive applications being received this vacancy may close earlier than the stated closing date, you are encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible

IMPORTANT NOTE ON COMPLETION OF REFERENCE SECTION OF APPLICATION FORM

All references from current and previous employers will be sought and MUST cover a minimum of 3 years employment. Therefore, when completing the reference section of your application form, please give the address, telephone number and work email address of each of your current/previous line managers that cover 3 years employment. Where possible this should be from two separate employers. Failure to complete this section may result in your application not being processed.

PLEASE NOTE it is a requirement of this Trust that all successful applicants pay for their DBS certificate if a check is required for the post. This will be done through deduction from your monthly pay over a maximum of three months. It is also a requirement that all successful applicants register or are registered with the DBS update service where a DBS is required.

All new entrants to the NHS will be appointed on the minimum of the pay scale in line with Terms & Conditions.

We are pleased to advertise 10-month fixed-term maternity leave cover for a band 6 senior physiotherapist within the Community Paediatric Physiotherapy Team. You will be expected to assess and treat a range of conditions, predominantly of neurological origin. The role involves working alongside physiotherapists, as well as with a multidisciplinary team including other AHPs, medical professionals, Education and Social Care staff in order to optimise the care of children.

The role involves working alongside a number of paediatric specialists and may include

• Undertaking neurological assessments and giving evidence-based advice and treatment interventions to support children with physical disabilities.
• Experience in delivering a range of land and water-based interventions (i.e. rebound therapy, hydrotherapy sessions, treatment blocks, equipment clinics).
• Participating in the CPIPS assessments for children with Cerebral Palsy.
• Contributing to Educational Health Care Plans and the SEND process. Share responsibility for managing band 5, support staff and students.
• Supporting service development through transformation, reflective practice, clinical supervision, audit and MDT working.
• Attending CIN and child protection reviews where appropriate.
• Undertaking orthotic clinics.

As a community based role, the post holder will be required to hold a full UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes.

This post is subject to CRB (Police Bureau) Enhanced Disclosure

• To act as an experienced autonomous practitioner, providing specialised physiotherapy assessment and treatment programmed to patients within the speciality.
• To independently manage a caseload, using evidence based /patient centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
• To deliver care in both acute and community settings.
• To independently manage a caseload within the speciality with a range of complex medical and rehabilitation needs, taking into account bio psychosocial factors.
• To work directly with children individually or in group sessions, to assess, diagnose and devise physical programmes.
• To Liaise with and advise School and Nursery staff and other Agencies/professionals involved with children
• To provide a physiotherapy service which requires specialist skills based on evidence, best practice and patient centered principles, in order to assess, diagnose, plan, negotiate, implement and evaluate individualised care programmes and physiotherapy interventions for children with a wide range of conditions within the hospital and community settings.

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the ‘golden thread’ which runs through everything we do – they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women’s Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our ‘Balance’ programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

• To work primarily with the specialist physiotherapy team and across acute and community physiotherapy services as required. This may involve loan working
• Responsible to the band 7 physiotherapist in the team.
• To work as part of the multi-disciplinary team to deliver a holistic patient-centred approach to care.
• To regularly liaise with MDT members including those from heath, social services and voluntary agencies to ensure an integrated and comprehensive service is provided.
• To ensure that patients are identified for prompt discharge and handover to community services.
• To provide leadership for more junior staff, as agreed with senior staff.
• To support the band 7 physiotherapist in planning, coordinating, and delivering the service provided to patients and to assist in the development, planning and progression of service provision.
• To deputise for the band 7 physiotherapist in their absence as required.
• To supervise other registered and unregistered staff within the team
• To supervise physiotherapy students on clinical placements.
• To participate in CPD and develop skills and knowledge through participation in the in service training scheme.
• Maintaining Records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To be an active participant in the twilight and 7 day working rota (as required).

• Hold a degree or equivalent diploma in Physiotherapy
• Be registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Membership/involvement in relevant special interest group/network

• Have post registration NHS experience across a range of clinical specialities such as neurology, respiratory, critical care, acute medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and MSK outpatients.
• Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice, developing specialist knowledge of conditions and patient types within the speciality.
• Knowledge of current physiotherapy techniques and treatments within the speciality including the use of standardised assessments.
• Knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice
• Experienced clinical educator
• Previous experience of speciality management
• Experience and knowledge of the SEND inspection framework

• Hold a full UK driving licence
• Access to a car for work purposes

Applicants who have not been contacted within 4 weeks of the closing date are to assume that their application has been unsuccessful.

Applications from job seekers who require Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications where the post is eligible. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

Candidates who require sponsorship are strongly advised to visit the UK Border Agency website and familiarise themselves with what is required. There is a facility on this site to access the points based calculator and work through an example which should assist candidates in their understanding of the process.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.