Children's Physiotherapy Service Lead

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization located in Milton Keynes is seeking a Children's Physiotherapy Service Lead. This senior leadership and clinical role involves managing both inpatient and outpatient services while providing high-quality care to children. Candidates must have a degree in physiotherapy and current HCPC registration. Leadership experience in a healthcare setting is essential. The position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a supportive, forward-thinking team dedicated to child health.

Qualifications

• Degree in Physiotherapy required.
• Current registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Experience in service management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operationally manage paediatric physiotherapy service.
• Provide clinical and managerial leadership.
• Be responsible for case load of paediatric patients.

Skills

Leadership skills

Excellent communication skills

Clinical reasoning

Supervisory skills

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

MSc or equivalent in specialist field

Current HCPC registration

Job description

Children's Physiotherapy Service Lead

The closing date is 14 January 2026

Band 8a 55,690 - £62,682 Per annum (pro rata if part-time)

Hours: 37.5, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

The Therapy Department at Milton Keynes University Hospital are seeking applications from dynamic, compassionate and resilient clinical leaders for the role of Children's Physiotherapy Service Lead. This is a combined senior leadership and clinical role, with the responsibility for leading both the inpatient and outpatient Children's Physiotherapy Service.

The clinical component of this role can be in Musculoskeletal, Neurodevelopmental, Neonatal or Respiratory care. You will be expected to be at an advanced level within your clinical area of expertise. This role is part of the wider Therapies & Dietetics senior leadership team, which is a very supportive and forward-thinking group of fellow AHP's. This is an exciting time to join Milton Keynes University Hospital as the planning of a purpose-built women's and children's hospital is in advanced stages. This facility will transform children's services across Milton Keynes.

This role works across two sites and requires regular travel between the sites, so being a car driver with access to a car is essential.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact: Adam Baddeley, Head of Therapies & Dietetics, via 01908 995406, or alternatively email [e-mail]

Interviews w/c 26th January 2026

Main duties of the job

'Allied Health Professionals experience a high diverse and equal work environment, supporting this with 8.33 out of 10.' 'NHS Survey, 2024'

• To operationally manage the paediatric physiotherapy service.
• To provide visible clinical and managerial leadership.
• To take responsibility for the development of the paediatric physiotherapy service.
• To support the Head of Therapies in the development of strategic plans in line with the Trust objectives.
• To be responsible for managing a highly specialist clinical caseload of paediatric physiotherapy patients at Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH), patients will be assessed and treated in a variety of different settings including outpatients (Child Development Centre / Stony Stratford Health Centre) or inpatients and/or community.
• The have knowledge of emerging clinical developments, provide advice to inform and lead service development in paediatric physiotherapy.
• To demonstrate and role model specialist clinical assessment and treatment skills for an agreed caseload of patients.
• To deputise for the Head of Therapies in their absence and to attend meetings as required on behalf of the Therapy Services.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Job responsibilities

Leadership and Management

To provide clinical and managerial leadership to the clinical team in area of paediatric physiotherapy by working collaboratively with Lead Paediatric Physiotherapists, other Therapy Leads and Head of Therapy.

To represent the Trust externally (locally, regionally and nationally) with respect to paediatric physiotherapy services.

Clinical Practice

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, ensuring a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management by supporting more junior staff to do likewise.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients (paediatric physiotherapy) and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To oversee the caseloads of more junior staff.

Professional Duties

To maintain own competency to practice through CPD activities, demonstrating awareness of new trends and developments and their incorporation into practice as necessary.

Ensure own clinical practice and that of staff under your supervision; meet HCPC professional standards of practice.

Governance

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and their application to work situation.

To assess and manage clinical risk within patient caseload in a wide variety of settings, providing guidance to junior staff.

Please refer to the Job Description for further details.

Person Specification

Qualifications and knowledge

• Degree in Physiotherapy.
• Current Health & Care Professions Council HCPC registration.
• Membership of appropriate professional and registration organisations
• MSc or equivalent level in specialist field, as evidenced by competencies, CPD portfolio, attendance at specialist post graduate modules and short courses

Experience

• Experience in staff/service management.
• Experience of acute and outpatient settings.
• Knowledge of a wide range of approaches in paediatric physiotherapy demonstrated by advanced clinical reasoning.
• Demonstrates confidence in working across organisational boundaries within healthcare.
• Experience of contributing to policy, planning and service development
• Experience of dealing with human resources issues such as recruitment and retention, performance management, sickness and annual leave.
• Knowledge of the strategic direction of healthcare.

Skills

• Knowledge of best practice
• Knowledge of national policies and procedures relevant to healthcare.
• Knowledge of clinical guidelines and ability to apply these to service policies
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance, risk and audit.
• Understanding of the roles of other professionals and the principles of partnership-working with key stake holders across the Therapy services.
• Knowledge of the standards of record keeping and ability to audit this
• Awareness of principles of Adult/ Child Protection

Personal and people development

• Experience of supervising staff
• Experience of developing staff competencies.
• Evidence of developing management skills in less experienced staff.
• Experience of undertaking appraisal and planning CPD for less experienced staff.
• Evidence of developing and delivering training

Communication

• Excellent interpersonal skills - including observation, listening and empathy skills.
• Negotiation and problem-solving skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others.
• Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills.
• Demonstrates leadership skills as well as ability to be a good team member
• Ability to present complex information
• Excellent presentation skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to facilitate these skills in others
• The ability to lead on projects including audit.

Specific requirements

• Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations.
• Willingness to undertake any additional training which may be identified as necessary to this role.
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure.
• Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality.
• Committed to personal and team development Integrity and a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness.
• Car driver and access to car

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust