Community Physiotherapist

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Southampton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Southampton is seeking a Band 6 Community Physiotherapist to join their Intermediate Care Rehabilitation Therapy Team. The role focuses on providing essential physiotherapy services to patients in the community, minimizing hospital admissions, and facilitating complex discharges. Candidates should have a relevant degree, a valid UK driving license, and experience including leadership responsibilities. This position offers a salary range of £38,682 to £46,580 per year.

Qualifications

• Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level with specialist training.
• Current valid UK Driving Licence required.
• Experience managing Band 5 level roles.

Responsibilities

• Provide Physiotherapy to patients in various settings.
• Ensure a person-centred approach to care delivery.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff.

Skills

Physiotherapy

Clinical reasoning

Leadership

Time management

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Post-registration diploma

Job description

Community Physiotherapist

The closing date is 05 January 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic Band 6 Physiotherapist to join our Intermediate Care Rehabilitation Therapy Team based within the East Dorset Locality.

The role is to provide Physiotherapy treatment to patients with acute illness to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital, facilitate complex discharges from hospitals and support patients with Long Term Conditions, predominately working within the community but may need to work on the ward within the local Community Hospital. You will need to hold a valid UK Driving License and have access to a car.

As a Band 6 Physiotherapist you will have the opportunity to:

• Develop your discipline specific skill.
• Develop skills in holistic assessing beyond the scope of your traditional Physiotherapy practice.
• Develop your supervisory, leadership and service development skills.
• Support junior and assistant staff and help with their development.

So, if you're looking for an employer that is working to push beyond and remove traditional boundaries and barriers bringing rehabilitation/care to patients when and where they need it, and you want to work alongside motivated, passionate and visionary colleagues, then come and join us.

Main duties of the job

To provide Physiotherapy assessment and treatment to people in their own homes, care homes or on Community Hospital wards, dependant on Locality.

To provide a high-quality person-centred approach to care delivery which always considers people's safety, privacy and dignity.

To provide specialist care and interventions, assessments, treatments and managing patients on a caseload, as part of the wider multi-disciplinary care team.

To provide specialist advice to others regarding the management and care of patients / service users.

To devise specialist programmes of care for other professionals to deliver and ensure they are delivered appropriately.

About us

At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward‑looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000‑strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

We understand that using AI can be a useful and supportive tool when completing your application. However, we have also seen an increase in the over‑reliance of AI tools which is negatively impacting applications as they remove candidates' individuality, and it becomes much harder to get a sense of who you are and your authentic experience. If you do use AI, it should be used to enhance your application and not to create your supporting statement in its entirety. If we suspect you have used AI to create your supporting statement and this does not match your experience, we may withdraw your application.

As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact [e-mail].

Person Specification

Knowledge, skills and training

• Registered practitioner to degree/diploma level supplemented by post‑registration diploma level specialist training and/or short courses or demonstrable extensive experience in the relevant specialty.
• Membership of the relevant Professional Body.
• Evidence of recent professional development in an up‑to‑date portfolio.
• Holds a current valid UK Driving Licence.
• Learning and Assessing in Practice Qualification or equivalent practice assessors training.
• Non‑Medical Prescriber.
• Knowledge and understanding of Trust Strategy relevant to role.

Job Specific Experience

• Experience at Practitioner Band 5 level.
• Demonstrable knowledge of assessment and therapeutic interventions in area of specialism.
• Able to demonstrate specialist clinical reasoning skills to assimilate information in order to make a clinical judgement regarding diagnosis and intervention.
• Ability to prioritise and organise workload effectively.
• Recent previous experience within a comparable role.
• Experience of managing change.

Managerial/Supervisory Experience

• Experience of providing clinical supervision and mentoring to junior staff.
• Experience of devising and delivering training.

Personal Qualities / Attributes

• Experience of planning and organising complex activities, e.g. organise own time and that of junior staff and learners, and undertaking discharge planning involving co‑ordination with other agencies.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation relevant to practice.
• Demonstrable ability of using tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrable ability to analyse situations and provide a resolution.
• Demonstrable leadership qualities and the ability to perform as a role model.

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.

Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year, p.a. pro rata for part time.