Advanced Physiotherapist Neurosciences

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role

Main duties of the job

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a B7 Physiotherapist to join our excellent Regional Neurosciences Centre in a Spinal role at University Hospital Southampton. This is a 9-month fixed term opportunity primarily based across the 22 beds in the Wessex Spinal Unit and supporting the wider therapy service across the Wessex Neurosciences Centre and the Stroke pathway.

We are looking for a skilled and dynamic physiotherapist to provide senior clinical and operational leadership alongside the current senior therapists within the UHS spinal team and assist with strategic development of the therapy service within neurosciences. The role will also require teaching postgraduate/undergraduate students as well as providing specialist advice to onward care providers.

You will work as part of a combined therapy services team delivering patient care across a 7-day service, including weekends and bank holidays, on a roster basis. Physiotherapy staff may be part of the acute on-call respiratory rota.

This post is part of the wider Therapy services department. You will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 300 Therapy

staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

Working for our organisation

University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.

Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalizing your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.

At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and experienced Physiotherapist, who wishes to develop new leadership skills, whilst specialising in the neuro-spinal service, for a 9-month fixed term

This post offers you the chance to work in a friendly, supportive MDT environment with a team committed to improving patient care and experience. You will be completing highly specialised assessments, goal-directed treatments, and multi-therapy discharge planning. You will be required to liaise closely with local community services, specialist regional units & local DGH’s.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about high quality patient centred care within the neuro-spinal service, with excellent communication skills and the ability to work flexibly to accommodate the ever-changing nature of both acute and rehabilitation environments.

We Are Looking For Someone Who Is/has

• Proven clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of patients within acute care
• Enhanced leadership skills to work alongside the multi-professional team
• Solid foundation in audit, research, personal and service development
• Confident educator of staff and peer professionals
  
  

There is regular clinical supervision as well as peer support. There are also opportunities for involvement in audit, research & service development is always encouraged as we strive for new & innovative ways of working.

Essential

Attached you will find the person specification document, which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role; however, you also need to demonstrate the following specific skills and knowledge:

• Postgraduate experience of working in the acute hospital setting, ideally within spinal and neurosciences wards
• Proven senior experience in completing comprehensive and complex spinal and neurological assessments
• Previous experience within a variety of acute areas e.g., Orthopaedics, Medicine, Elderly
  
  

Care, Respiratory

• Clear expressed desire and reasons for working in this clinical area on your application form.
• Specialist personal development within acute neurosciences to support enhanced skills and decision making
  
  

Desirable

• Postgraduate experience in supervising other staff and students

Evidence of providing teaching to therapy staff and students

Demonstrable leadership skills

Please Note

• Interviews will be face to face only, on Tues 24th Feb
• As part of the interview involves a practical assessment, please wear smart, comfortable clothing.
• As this is a secondment opportunity, please discuss your application with your therapy manager before applying
  
  

We actively encourage all potential applicants to contact us to ask any questions they may have.

If this post is not for you and you are interested in finding out about other Therapy opportunities, please email Annette.Purkis@uhs.nhs.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.

Person specification

Qualifications, Knowledge And Experience

Essential criteria

• Masters in Physiotherapy or equivalent experience: highly specialist skills with relevant levels of study
• Current HCPC registration
• Significant relevant clinical experience or with the ability to demonstrate significant experience in physiotherapy practice
• Evidence of proven leadership and supervisory skills

Previous experience within relevant clinical area

Previous experience on-call, where relevant to clinical area

Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience of audit, evaluation, or research

Evidence of implementing change in a clinical environment

Desirable criteria

• Management qualification, or equivalent experience
• Attendance at post-graduation courses, or conferences, relevant to clinical area
• Able to demonstrate sound understanding of healthcare priorities and political agendas
• Experience working in an acute hospital setting
• Leadership qualification, or experience