Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist - Physiotherapy Dept

NHS Scotland; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS Pension Scheme

Flexible working options

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is recruiting a Specialist Physiotherapist to lead rehabilitation in Acute Medicine at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The post focuses on complex assessments, person-centred plans, and multidisciplinary collaboration to maximise mobility and quality of life.

The role involves on-call duties at weekends and evenings, professional leadership, and contribution to service development and use of evidence-based practice. NHS Scotland benefits apply.

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• Post-graduate education in respiratory physiotherapy preferred.
• Experience within multidisciplinary teams is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape integrated rehabilitation within Acute Medicine.
• Provide expert assessment and specialist interventions to maximise mobility and function.
• Supervise and mentor specialist physiotherapy staff.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Team collaboration

Respiratory care

On-call experience

Leadership/mentorship

Education

Degree or Diploma in physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Post-graduate education in respiratory physiotherapy

Job description

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The Role

The current expansion of the Acute Medical workforce adding a number of additional staff members across all disciplines will complement and strengthen the service's rehabilitation focus. This will create enhanced opportunities for early multidisciplinary intervention, improved patient flow, reduce deconditioning, and ensure person-centred rehabilitation throughout the acute care pathway. The recent addition of a dedicated rehabilitation space further supports the team's vision of embedding rehabilitation within Acute Medicine. The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will be instrumental in leading and shaping this integrated model of care.

The post holder will demonstrate expert clinical knowledge in the management of patients with acute and chronic medical conditions, frailty, multi-morbidity, neurological impairment, and complex discharge planning needs. They will undertake comprehensive holistic assessments, develop person-centred rehabilitation programmes, and provide specialist interventions aimed at maximising mobility, physical function, and quality of life. Provide expert clinical supervision, mentorship, and professional leadership to specialist physiotherapy staff working within Acute Medicine. The post holder will provide specialist clinical expertise for patients with complex rehabilitation needs across the GRI site, supporting high-quality rehabilitation care and optimal patient outcomes.

This position will provide professional leadership, specialist advice, and clinical support to physiotherapy staff and the wider multidisciplinary team. They will contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, workforce education, and the implementation of evidence-based practice to ensure high standards of patient care and rehabilitation outcomes. They will champion a culture of continuous improvement, person- centred care, and safe, effective rehabilitation, ensuring that patients achieve their maximum rehabilitation potential and experience the best possible outcomes throughout their acute hospital journey.

The post holder will participate in the physiotherapy on-call rota and weekend service rota within the medical wards.

All other roles will be assessed for sponsorship eligibility in line with current Home Office requirements. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) can only issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) where these are met.

Duration, Location, and Working Pattern:

• Location based in Glasgow Royal Infirmary
• Full-time position (36 hours per week)
• Permanent Contract
• Shift pattern for this post are Monday - Sunday plus on call commitment.

Key Responsibilities

• As a specialist practitioner, to take a central role in all aspects of the AHP care within the medical wards of Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
• To ensure the efficient day-to-day management of the physiotherapy service provided to the medical wards at Glasgow Royal Infirmary. This includes allocation of work to junior staff, with the knowledge that some patients will require urgent attention.
• To be responsible and accountable for the management and implementation of patient care programmes.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner’s professional activities. This includes planning, prioritising and managing of workload.
• To undertake the specialist assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those patients with highly complex acute and/or chronic presentations.
• To use clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise, to form a diagnosis and to determine appropriate care plans using specialist treatment skills and options.
• To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and continually re‑assess patients progress in order to progress treatment effectively. To provide immediate and/or planned advice to patients, carers, relatives and other health care professionals.
• To use advanced specialist knowledge to co‑ordinate intervention, which may include other disciplines including referring to other disciplines.
• To participate in the emergency on call service at weekends and evenings, covering the GRI as a lone practitioner. This will involve the comprehensive assessment, treatment and monitoring of critically ill patients and patients who require significant levels of respiratory or cardiac support.
• To comply with the Organisation’s and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy policies and procedures. To attend mandatory fire, moving and handling and resuscitation training on an annual basis and be familiar with local procedures within the speciality area of work.
• Please refer to the job description for further details.

Knowledge, training, qualifications and/or experience required to do the job:

• Degree or Diploma in physiotherapy
• Health Professions Council registration
• Evidence of continual professional development in relevant area.
• Evidence of post‑graduate education/course in respiratory physiotherapy.
• Post‑graduate experience, including working in a variety of specialities and experience of working in the National Health Service
• Experience of or currently working in a multidisciplinary team
• Good knowledge of anatomy and physiology of respiratory conditions
• Good up to date knowledge of current respiratory management.
• Good working knowledge of clinical governance, audit and risk management
• Good understanding of statistics and their evaluation
• Basic understanding of computers and their application

Member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care (ACPRC) is desirable.

What We Offer

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full‑time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community

We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.