QR code linking to this job posting Senior Physiotherapist (Trauma rotation) in PLYMOUTH inPLYMOUTH PUBLISHED TUE 10 JUN 2025

Band 6: £37,338 to £44,962 a year Per Annum, pro-rata  PERMANENT  GOOD SALARY 

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is currently looking for an existing Band 6 or Band 5 Physiotherapist who is wishing to extend and develop their assessment and treatment skills to join our trauma service.
This post is also suitable for a Band 5 transitioning to Band 6 on completion of training and competency to deliver trauma services within UHP NHS Trust.
The successful candidate will be joining already established teams in delivering an enhanced seven day physiotherapy service inclusive of weekend working and evening work to patients as part of the wider physiotherapy department including a commitment to respiratory on-call. There is a comprehensive on-call competency pack and pathway to support staff going on-call.
These teams provide physiotherapy services to Cardiothoracics (cardiac and thoracic wards and cardiac ICU/HDU), Neurosurgery (neurosurgical ward and neuro ICU), Orthopaedics (major trauma, paediatric orthopaedic, fractured neck of femur, day-case, fracture clinic, elective orthopaedic and outpatient orthopaedic), Health Care of Elderly and Emergency Department (emergency care, medical assessment, acute assessment and short-stay units).
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to the patients in the clinical areas which you have rotated. This involves working across the trust and peripheral sites in a range of settings providing a seven day service including weekends and evening to Cardiothoracics (cardiac and thoracic wards and cardiac ICU/HDU), Neurosurgery (neurosurgical ward and neuro ICU), Orthopaedics (major trauma, paediatric orthopaedic, fractured neck of femur, day-case, fracture clinic, elective orthopaedic and outpatient orthopaedic), Health Care of Elderly, Emergency Department (emergency care, medical assessment, acute assessment and short-stay units) and trauma ward, providing assessment and treatment to major trauma patients as well as elective surgery patients across those areas.
To assist the Team Leaders in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to patients within the team, on a day-to-day basis.
To assess and treat own caseload of patients, who may have complex presentations, and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.
At times community / home visits may be required to be undertaken.
To deputise for the Team Leaders when necessary.
To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to provide a diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

About us
  1. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care
  2. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards and local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines (this might include meetings, report and letter writing
  3. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their condition
  4. Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. specialist neurological or respiratory techniques, manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, and other alternative options
  5. To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 physiotherapist for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions
  6. Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans
  7. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures
  8. Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate, gain co-operation, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or realistic expectations of Physiotherapy intervention
  9. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required
  10. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and to report incidents and near misses
  11. Work within trust clinical guidelines and CSP guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate
  12. Rarely, when working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior physiotherapist if required.
  13. To be an active member of the respiratory evening and weekend on-call rota and medical / surgical / cardiothoracic and critical care seven day services. Individual to ensure competencies are maintained.
  14. When working on the emergency duty rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory/orthopaedic/ neuro problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner
  15. When working on the emergency duty on-call rota, provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients respiratory/ major trauma orthopaedic/ neurology and chest functions/condition and its management.
  16. To train, clinically supervise and performance management more junior staff, technical instructors, assistants and students, with assistance from more senior members of the physiotherapy team. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation
  17. Represent physiotherapy service and /or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning
  18. To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all electrotherapy equipment, gym equipment and patient appliances and aids by patients and ensure that junior staff/assistants attain competency prior to use.
For further details please see attached JD&PS