Specialist Physiotherapist

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

The closing date is 20 October 2025

Mental Health Physiotherapy is a fast‑growing and exciting specialism within Physiotherapy. This is a unique opportunity to join the first team of Physiotherapists to work across the Trust’s adult mental health wards. As an inaugural member of this team you will be pivotal in the creation, design and delivery of this exciting new service.

This is a Specialist Physiotherapist (Band 6) role and would ideally suit an experienced practitioner with the desire to help deliver a high‑quality service to people with mental health conditions. You will be supported by a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist (Band 7). The team will be led by a Professional Lead Physiotherapist (Band 8a) in Mental Health.

You will not be expected to supervise any Physiotherapists initially but the plan is to grow the service to include Band 5 Physiotherapists and, at that point, you would be responsible for supervision. Opportunities to support student Physiotherapists will also arise as the service develops.

The post holder will be based in East Sussex and provide input onto wards in Hastings. You will manage a caseload of adult patients with mental health conditions and provide input for adult, older adult and dementia wards. Experience in mental health is advantageous but not essential.

A broad range of skills in areas such as older people, dementia, rehabilitation, neurology, musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and respiratory physiotherapy is required. Due to the specialist nature of the role and the breadth of care pathways we offer, support and CPD will be provided to develop any skill gaps.

You will manage a varied caseload across multiple care pathways including mobility and falls, dementia care, posture care, respiratory care, MSK pain / chronic pain and other physical health conditions such as neurological and orthopaedic conditions. You will deliver direct interventions and group classes and increase the skills and competencies of other staff on wards.

Collaboration within the physiotherapy professional group, spanning the whole of Sussex and including learning‑disability, MSK chronic‑pain and other specialists, and working closely with Social Care, Primary Care and other specialist secondary services is a key part of the role.

By joining our team, you will benefit from:

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• Strong supportive teams with dedicated supportive leaders
  
• A service that works to develop clear evidence‑based care pathways
  

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• Physiotherapy degree
  
• Full HCPC registration
  
• Postgraduate training courses relevant to Mental Health
  
• Full CSP registration
  
• No HCPC cautions or conditions of practice
  

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• 3‑year experience as a junior grade in a broad range of clinical rotations including MSK, older people, neurology, respiratory care and rehabilitation
  
• Experience working with service users presenting with mental health conditions
  
• Good understanding of issues facing service users with mental health conditions
  
• Successful team‑working
  
• Previous experience of working in a mental health setting
  
• Previous involvement in clinical audit or research
  
• Previous experience of supervising students and/or physiotherapy assistants
  
• Experience working with hearing impairment/deafness
  
• Experience working with eating disorders
  

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• Qualified Physiotherapist, registered with the HCPC
  
• Experienced in a broad range of areas mentioned above
  
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced and varied role
  

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and, as such, a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required.

£46,419 to £55,046 a year inclusive of Inner London HCAs