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Job summary

Main area
Adult Learning Disabilities
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday - Friday)
Job ref
346-DDL-008-25-A
Employer
Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Spectrum 8 Business Park
Town
Seaham
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
20/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust logo

Lead Physiotherapist

NHS AfC: Band 7

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby.

From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care —our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for.

We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health.

We’re committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

We won’t rest until everyone in our region has the mental health care they need, to lead their best possible life.

Job overview

To provide clinical leadership and professional management for Physiotherapy in the designated service area.

To have responsibility for ensuring that the highest professional standards and attitudes towards the care of service users and their carers are maintained at all times and that care is delivered in accordance with evidence based practice by all members of the team. 

Professionally accountable for own caseload, working autonomously in a variety of inpatient and community settings including the service user’s own home. Service users have a variety of complex physiotherapy needs, diverse presentations and a range of mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities.

To have responsibility for implementing, monitoring and auditing systems to ensure effective and timely appraisal, clinical supervision and training for all physiotherapy staff within designated service area.

To lead clinical audit, development of professional practice, quality improvement and service development in own service area.

To play a key role in the business planning process for the Physiotherapy Service.

To always promote a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities.

To promote at all times a positive image of the Physiotherapy Service and the wider Trust.

 

Main duties of the job

Manages a complex caseload from assessment to discharge within the care programme approach. Service users may have multiple needs with a combination of physical and mental health conditions or learning disabilities. Service users may demonstrate behaviours that challenge and may have difficult family situations of relevance.

Lead role in ensuring that the highest professional standards and attitudes towards the care of service users and their carers are maintained at all times and that care is delivered with compassion and in accordance with evidence based practice and professional guidelines by all members of the team.

Provides specialist advice to physiotherapy staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team and wider Trust through case discussion, formal consultation, clinical supervision and education.

Responsible for ensuring that all staff recognise the potential for or signs of service user harm, abuse and neglect, including poor clinical practice, report all such occurrences and take all reasonable steps to protect the service user. Responsible for ensuring that all staff identify and report concerns regarding the safeguarding of children who may be at risk.

 

Working for our organisation

You will be a member of a 70 strong physiotherapy workforce and working with 14 other B7 Physiotherapy Leads and/or Clinical Specialists. Career development is actively supported and you will either already posses or be willing to undergo Masters level learning. We are also committed to supporting external and internal CPD activities and the staff appraisal scheme.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Responsible for ensuring accurate and comprehensive service user records are maintained by all members of the physiotherapy team, using PARIS or other electronic systems approved by the Trust and in accordance with the Trust and professional record keeping standards.

Prioritises and delegates work across the team in accordance with established competence whilst maintaining professional accountability and ensuring their work meets required care standards.

Plans and co-ordinates activities across professions and with outside agencies e.g. discharge planning.

Undertakes project management roles for specific areas of work.

 Participates in operational planning and the annual business planning process for own service area.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • BSc or MSc in Physiotherapy
  • Registration with the HCPC
  • Accredited Clinical Educator
  • Clinical Supervisory Skills course.
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of Masters level learning

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in the clinical supervision of staff
  • Experience in Quality improvement and service development
  • Clinical experience in own service area
Desirable criteria
  • Experience in a leadership role
  • Experience in supporting students
  • Experience in working in Mental Health / Learning Disabilities

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act
  • Knowledge of Clinical Governance and its application to practice
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of business planning
  • Knowledge of HR policies and procedures

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrates effective clinical leadership
  • Able to communicate complex and sensitive information
Desirable criteria
  • Able to demonstrate MDT working

Employer certification / accreditation badges

We are a Living Wage EmployerApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveImproving working livesMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employer

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Lia Wase
Job title
Lead Physiotherapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01642 368555
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