Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Specialty Physiotherapist - Cancer & Surgery Therapies Service
The closing date is 08 April 2026
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Physiotherapist to join our Specialist Oncology and Haematology Therapy Service. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a supportive, forward‑thinking team delivering high‑quality, person‑centred care across complex specialist pathways.
The service provides a responsive, integrated therapy model primarily supporting patients with oncology and haematology conditions through specialised therapy input, with additional support to cancer surgery, renal and transplant pathways as service demand requires.
The role will span both inpatient wards and targeted community follow‑up for patients who meet defined clinical criteria, supporting safe discharge, continuity of care and reducing the risk of avoidable readmission.
Working as part of a multi‑professional team, the post holder will deliver high‑quality physiotherapy and rehabilitation, supporting recovery during and after cancer treatment and managing patients with complex long‑term conditions in line with best practice and emerging evidence.
This post is suitable for Physiotherapists seeking to develop specialist skills or experienced Band 5 Physiotherapists ready to progress to a Band 6 role. Strong clinical supervision, development opportunities and support aligned with Trust values are provided.
With best wishes,
Dhruti Desai – Team Lead Physiotherapist
Joanne Watson – Deputy Head of Therapies
Main duties of the job
Job responsibilities
- Communication
- Consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi‑professional team.
- Effectively communicate with patients, their carers/family members, including sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
- Communicate with patients experiencing psychological distress such as anxiety, depression, or aggressive behaviour.
- Overcome barriers to effective communication, e.g. due to pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigation strategies.
- Engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
- Use verbal and non‑verbal communication skills to motivate and positively influence others.
- Write clear, complex reports accurately describing patients' clinical status and ensuring information supports continuing care and clinical management.
- Clinical
- Enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post holder's own clinical practice.
- Carry out comprehensive assessments following hospital admission and surgery, including complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and carers/family.
- Interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate physiotherapy diagnoses in renal, cancer and post‑operative patients.
- Formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans based on clinical skills, evidence‑based practice and patient preferences.
- Evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and modify plans accordingly.
- Determine patients' mental capacity and obtain informed consent for treatment, working within legal frameworks when capacity is lacking.
- Coordinate interventions where collaboration across multiple disciplines is required.
- Maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and uphold professional standards.
- Determine and mitigate risk of patient and staff harm using risk assessment frameworks and the Trust's manual handling policy.
- Demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions, including manual therapy and therapeutic handling.
- Show highly developed dexterity, coordination and palpatory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients.
- Represent physiotherapy and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team meetings, ensuring coordinated care.
- Participate in the weekend service provision and overnight physiotherapy on‑call service.
- Contribute to ongoing development of the service, including targeted community follow‑up for patients to support safe discharge and continuity of care.
- Leadership and management
- Ensure competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in its safe use.
- Assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
- Undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and deputise when appropriate.
- Effectively plan and organise own time, caseload, meetings, training and adjust plans according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
- Assist in planning junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.
- Education and training
- Organise and contribute to the team's training and post‑registration education programme.
- Contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers.
- Supervise undergraduate student physiotherapists and support practice‑based learning.
- Maintain a proactive approach to learning from colleagues within and outside the physiotherapy profession.
- Ensure continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record.
- Keep contemporary knowledge to apply best practice in renal, cancer and post‑operative rehabilitation.
- Research and development
- Participate in the department's quality improvement and clinical audit programme, completing authorised projects.
- Implement and maintain evidence‑based physiotherapy practice through continual professional development.
- Apply national and local clinical standards.
- Engage in local and national clinical interest groups, sharing and disseminating knowledge with colleagues.
- Effort
- Undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
- Maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and an unpredictable working pattern.
- Tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances, maintaining professionalism.
- Tolerate unpleasant working conditions such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.
- Infection Control
- Maintain high standards of infection control, adhering to Trust's Infection Prevention and Control policies.
- Wash hands or use alcohol gel upon entry and exit of all clinical areas and between each patient contact.
- Attend mandatory infection control training.
- If develop a transmissible infection, contact Occupational Health.
About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country, providing a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and serving as a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals – the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours – Compassion, Respect, Learning, Delivery, Improvement, Excellence – define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we build.
We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and have signed NHS England's Sexual Safety Charter, committing to ten core principles.
We promote a safe, respectful hiring environment.
Feel free to join us, and together we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy
- Registered with the Health & Care Professions Council
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Experience
- Broad experience across core clinical areas (respiratory, orthopaedics, neurology, older adults)
- Experience working within a multidisciplinary team, supporting physiotherapy students and therapy support workers.
- Experience in outpatient and community‑based services.
- Experience working with oncology and haematology patients, including post‑operative cancer patients.
Personal Qualities
- Valid driving licence with access to a car.
Knowledge and Skills
- Broad clinical knowledge and advanced assessment skills, including respiratory physiotherapy, with ability to manage acutely deteriorating patients and reason complex presentations.
- Demonstrates a holistic, patient‑centred approach and applies sound governance, outcome measures and professional accountability within legal and Trust policy frameworks.
- Strong communication, organisational and leadership skills, with ability to prioritise, delegate, deliver training and work effectively within a multi‑professional team.
- High level of professional resilience and self‑motivation, with physical and emotional capacity to work in a demanding environment, maintain accurate documentation and utilise IT systems effectively.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exception Order) 1975; a disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required.
Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 per annum, pro rata.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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