Senior Specialist Physiotherapist - Paediatric MSK

Job summary: Due to maternity leave, there is an opportunity to join the paediatric musculoskeletal physiotherapy team. The post holder will lead the team, support band 6 and band 3 colleagues, and have a sound understanding of normal child development and common musculoskeletal conditions affecting children and young people.

About us: Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five major hospitals and community services, with a history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation. Evelina London Children's Hospital is part of this trust and located near central London amenities. Community services are based at Mary Sheridan Centre (Lambeth) and Sunshine House (Southwark). This role is located at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London.

This post-holder will provide independent assessment and treatment for children with musculoskeletal presentations from GP and tertiary referrals. They will support rotational team members and work with physiotherapy assistants. They will lead hydrotherapy sessions and group sessions and supervise undergraduate physiotherapy students. The role requires prioritisation of referrals and caseload management in a busy clinic, and effective collaboration with colleagues in general paediatrics, orthopaedics, spinal surgery, paediatric rheumatology and chronic pain, with support from clinical specialist physiotherapists. The post involves working closely with inpatient therapists and consultant surgeons within the MDT and opportunities to teach within the physiotherapy team and wider MDT.

Other duties include leading the team, promoting multi-disciplinary working, and contributing to service development and quality improvements where appropriate.

Experience – Essential

• Significant experience in a range of paediatric physiotherapy (MSK, neuro, ortho, respiratory, developmental, and community care).
• Experience in paediatric musculoskeletal physiotherapy at band 6 level, including infant and toddler assessment.
• Broad range of physiotherapy experience at band 6 level, including adult musculoskeletal rotation/s.
• Significant experience as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience in multidisciplinary goal planning, development of care pathways and use of outcome measures.
• Experience in managing other physiotherapists; student supervision/clinical education; and service development/change management.

Desirable

• Previous experience at band 7 with paediatric musculoskeletal.
• Experience of hydrotherapy, lecturing/teaching, and research methodology.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities – Essential

• Knowledge of a wide range of approaches to paediatric management demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning.
• Knowledge of managing complex patients in paediatric outpatients and neurodevelopmental assessment with advanced clinical reasoning.
• Competent IT skills (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Teaching in a clinical setting; staying updated with professional practice and research; understanding legal responsibilities.
• Effective written and verbal communication; ability to organise, prioritise and delegate.
• Understanding of clinical governance and quality issues, audits, and data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety requirements.
• Willingness to lead staff training; ability to work with multi/interdisciplinary teams and set team goals.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current national policies/standards/initiatives; knowledge of orthoses in children; advanced IT skills (e.g., databases, statistical programmes).

Education & Qualifications – Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy; HCPC Registration.

Desirable

• MSc in a relevant subject or equivalent post-graduate specialist training; post-graduate courses in leadership/management; membership of APCP or relevant National SIG.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a DBS disclosure may be required.

Certificate of Sponsorship: Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship will be considered. For details see the UK Visas and Immigration guidance.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration. See NHS Careers for information.

Employer name: Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7EH

Employer’s website: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx