Specialist Physiotherapist

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 30 March 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, well‑motivated and flexible Physiotherapist to join our Urgent Community Response, Discharge to Assess and Virtual Ward Services across Sunderland.

This role is based with the Recovery at Home team based at Leechmere Independent Living Centre in Sunderland.

The team consists of an extensive MDT which includes nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, health care assistants, therapy assistant/exercise practitioners and administrative staff. The team also works closely alongside partner agencies from the local and voluntary sector.

This role involves assessing patients in their own homes who are either acutely unwell or have recently been discharged from hospital and require enhanced intervention and short‑term support for their physical and functional health needs to remain at home.

The service is fast paced, and you would be expected to see a wide range of patients who present with a variety of conditions.

The service is committed to providing a sound environment for education and training to support the successful candidate within this role. We would strongly recommend that you contact the recruiting manager to find out more about the service and the breadth of skills you would develop within this role.

A FULL DRIVING LICENCE AND USE OF A CAR FOR WORK PURPOSES IS AN ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENT OF THIS POST.

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust – There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture/working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under‑represented groups. Looking after our workforce’s health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits – Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co‑ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.

If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

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• To work across the services which provide Urgent Community Response, Discharge to Assess and short‑term rehabilitation.
  
• To provide care to people in their own homes to prevent admission/readmission to hospital by providing rapid assessment of patients in the community over seven days.
  
• Undertake comprehensive holistic assessment of patients in both planned and unplanned situations, be able to prioritise clinical need, initiating investigations, determine a differential diagnosis and implement a plan of care reflecting evidence based guidance.
  
• To sustain agreed standards of care in order to maintain integrity and dignity of all patients in an environment which is conducive to delivering care in their usual place of residence or temporary place of residence including bed based rehabilitation.
  
• Undertake triage within the service determining clinical priority of calls, working as a coordinator to ensure teams are dispatched to respond to the referrals.
  
• Work collaboratively with multi‑professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective and evidence based.
  
• To develop his /her scope of professional practice in order to support the team to meet service requirements in accordance with professional guidelines.
  
• To ensure the provision of expert knowledge to all users of the service.
  

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• Registered with the HCPC.
  
• Physiotherapy Degree.
  
• Willingness to undertake a teaching qualification (practice educator).
  

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• Post qualification experience relevant to this role.
  
• Experience of working with people with acute or chronic Long Term Condition.
  
• Experience of multi‑disciplinary working.
  
• Experience of supervising junior staff and students.
  

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• Car Driver.
  

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• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
  
• Participated in service developments.
  
• Evidence of managing change and implementing best practice.
  
• Evidence of leadership qualities.
  
• Experience in participating in clinical audit.
  
• Ability to understand and critically evaluate outcome measures.
  
• Evidence of presentation and training skills.
  
• Evidence of the ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
  
• Ability to organise and respond effectively to complex situations and information.
  
• Evidence of building sound effective working relationships across a range of agencies within the health community.
  
• Knowledge of relevant legislation and current practice within Intermediate Care/rehabilitation.
  
• IT knowledge and skills.
  
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its applications.
  

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year (2026/27 pay award pending – £39,959‑£48,117)