Clinical Specialist Practitioner in Adult Critical Care

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Cambridge is seeking a Clinical Specialist Practitioner in Adult Critical Care. The role involves planning and delivering physiotherapy services within critical care units and supervising staff. Candidates must have a relevant physiotherapy degree and substantial experience in an acute setting. The position offers opportunities for professional development and requires participation in weekend and on-call duties. A supportive team environment is emphasized, promoting continuous learning and service improvement.

Benefits

On-site leisure facilities

Reduced-cost bus travel

Subsidised on-site parking

24/7 hot food at reduced cost

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Evidence of substantial postgraduate experience providing a broad range of experience including acute respiratory and surgical conditions.
• Ability to work to MSc standard.
• Competency to participate in weekend and on‑call work.

Responsibilities

• Plan, deliver and evaluate adult critical care physiotherapy services.
• Supervise staff and students in their respective roles.
• Coordinate workloads and participate in recruitment and selection.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Excellent inter‑personal & organisational skills

Ability to communicate and demonstrate empathy

Team leadership

Research and presentation skills

Education

Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy

Evidence of relevant post‑graduate courses / CPD

Job description

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Specialist Practitioner in Adult Critical Care

The closing date is 28 December 2025

A permanent or fixed‑term / secondment opportunity has arisen for an experienced individual to join our Critical Care team, working in the Trust’s Adult Critical Care areas. You will work within a large team of physiotherapists led by a Consultant physiotherapist to support the respiratory care, weaning and rehabilitation of a wide range of critically ill patients.

We are a large multi‑speciality hospital supporting both the local population and wider tertiary populations. You will have the opportunity to work in all of our peri‑operative specialities – John Farnam Intensive Care Unit and Neuroscience Critical Care Unit, both large multi‑speciality and tertiary ICUs.

You would be supported in learning new skills and gaining additional training to support your work within these large multi‑speciality intensive care units.

• Strong peer support
• Positive commitment to CPD and post‑graduate education
• Development of your supervisory, teaching and management skills
• Service development opportunities

The team is friendly and dedicated towards delivering an excellent service for all our users, constantly looking for better ways to provide care. You will be required to partake in our emergency out‑of‑hour services, including weekend and on‑call duties.

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical Specialist Practitioner you will have responsibilities that include:

• Planning, delivery and evaluation of the adult critical care physiotherapy service
• Supervision of staff and students
• Providing a high‑standard physiotherapy service to patients in peri‑operative beds (John Farnam ICU, IDA, Neuro Critical Care Unit (NCCU)). Occasionally treat patients in a level‑one surgical bed.
• Undertaking management roles including coordinating workloads, delegating duties, appraising and mentoring physiotherapists, and participating in recruitment and selection.
• Maintaining specialist respiratory physiotherapy competency to participate in the out‑of‑hour respiratory physiotherapy service and assisting in the training of physiotherapy staff to an agreed competency level.
• Acting independently and without supervision.

About us

• Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and more than 1,100 beds, the Trust focuses on quality, people‑centric care.
• CUH is rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission and provides ‘outstanding’ care in many areas.
• The Trust’s values – Together, Safe, Kind, Excellent – guide patient care and staff behaviour.
• CUH is committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming applicants irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, pregnancy, or socioeconomic background.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full‑time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full‑time permanent contract unless you have applied for a Graduate visa, or have completed your course and applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of employment, or the Trust has agreed to sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 28th December 2025.

Interviews are due to be held on 9th January 2025.

Benefits to you

• Development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on‑site leisure facilities, a shopping concourse, and day nurseries.
• Reduced‑cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital sites, free Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites, and a free route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals.
• Subsidised on‑site parking for eligible staff.
• 24/7 on‑site hot food at a reduced cost, and staff pod break spaces in the Deakin Centre with free tea, coffee, a break space, and a private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge.
• Flexible arrangements such as part‑time working, job‑share, term‑time working and flexible start and finish times.
• Optional discussion of required hours and alternative working hours where appropriate.
• Welcoming applications from the Armed Forces.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy with State Registration
• Evidence of relevant post‑graduate courses / CPD
• Ability to work to MSc standard
• Relevant validated clinical courses
• Involvement in special interest groups such as ICএS or BTS

Experience

• Substantial postgraduate experience (e.g. band 6 level), providing a broad range of experience including acute respiratory, surgical, neurological, DME and MSK conditions
• Collaborating with community and intermediate care services
• Supervisory skills of Band 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants and students
• Experience of working as part of a physiotherapy team and/or MDT
• Contributing to clinical education of less experienced staff or students or assistants
• Competency to participate in weekend and on‑call work (including NCCU, ITU, PICU)
• Experience at Band 7 level
• Team leadership
• Significant participation on Evidence Based Project work
• Experience in conducting formal presentations

Knowledge

• Substantial knowledge of inpatient physiotherapy
• Able to pass on skills / knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
• Knowledge of the workings of community and primary care, e.g. RSSC at Papworth

Skills

• Ability to work independently
• Excellent inter‑personal & organisational skills
• Able to communicate and demonstrate empathy, to motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses
• Able to work collaboratively within MDT
• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Evidence of participation in research / audit and presentation skills

Additional Requirements

• The ability to understand and behave at all times towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 (Exceptions Order) and therefore a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions is required.

Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge