Deputy Inpatient Physiotherapist

Fortius; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortius seeks an experienced Deputy Inpatient Physiotherapist to lead and mentor the inpatient physiotherapy team, ensuring evidence-based, high-quality care across wards. You will deputise for the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead, drive service development, and maintain strong professional standards within a safe, patient-centered environment.

You will oversee complex caseloads, support recruitment, and collaborate with MDTs to optimise patient flow and outcomes.

Qualifications

• HCPC and CSP registered physiotherapist.
• NHS/public hospital experience.
• Leadership and staff development experience.
• Orthopaedic/spinal ward experience.
• Experience in incident investigation and policy development.
• Experience managing staffing, rosters and patient flow.

Responsibilities

• Act as Physio in Charge in the lead's absence and ensure evidence-based care.
• Supervise Senior Physiotherapists; provide regular feedback.
• Deputise for the Lead; support policy development and service improvements.
• Develop the Physiotherapy Pre-Assessment Service; manage CRM.
• Coordinate inpatient and day-case wards; manage varied caseloads.
• Present cases at MDT/complex patient meetings.
• Support recruitment and staff development; mentor colleagues.
• Maintain IPC standards and ensure safety/equipment quality.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Clinical expertise

Auditing & quality

Problem solving

Education

Physiotherapy Degree with HCPC and CSP

Health or leadership Masters

Leadership/management qualification

Post-registration education & CPD

Orthopaedic/surgical specialist CPD

Tools

In-house EPR systems

Job description

Overall Purpose

The Deputy Inpatient Physiotherapist performs an essential role in maintaining safe and efficient service. The position supports the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead in the delivery of exceptional evidence-based quality care to all patients. The person in position is required to be an expert physiotherapist, a leader, to role model quality care and take day-to-day responsibility for the management of the service in the absence of the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead. They should provide leadership, advice and support to all staff in their area and across the hospital if asked. They should support the Lead in the efficient and effective use of resources including staffing, consumables, stock and equipment. The Deputy Inpatient Physiotherapist should deputise for the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead during periods of absence and act up as required. They should collaborate with all stakeholders involved in patients care, to provide seamless patient experience. They should be highly visible and role model expected behaviours in line with Fortius and professional values.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Responsible for the delivery of evidence-based exceptional quality and safe care to all patients in line with policy.
• Deliver motivational and visible leadership by exemplifying the highest professional standards, while actively encouraging, supporting, and developing team members.
• Act as the ‘Physio in Charge’ in the absence of the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead, ensuring the day-to-day delivery of care is evidence based and follows local and national guidelines according to policy.
• Supervise Senior Physiotherapists by carrying out regular one to one meetings and feeding back to the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead.
• Ensure in the absence of the Lead, the team on the day have a clear understanding of responsibilities, priorities and the expected standards of care.
• Be a visible, approachable and reassuring leader, creating a calm and safe environment.
• Be an expert communicator, able to diffuse situations, manage patient / relative concerns and complaints, act upon staff concerns and build rapport with key stakeholders, including consultants.
• Maintain detailed and accurate patient and operational records.
• Record accurate and timely incidents via the hospital’s incident reporting system, which facilitates investigation and learning.
• Proactively elevate concerns, seek effective solutions, demonstrate creativity and flexibility, address challenges through problem-solving, and take initiative.
• Ensure the physiotherapy / ward environment including relevant stock and equipment is maintained to a high standard of safety, effectiveness and cleanliness in accordance with IPC requirements.
• To support, as required, the Lead to maintain KPIs, incident investigations and contributing to the development of policies and procedures.
• Support the Lead in auditing standards of care and implementing changes and service / quality improvements, based on audit findings.
• To facilitate change and implementation of new processes and procedures.
• Support the Lead on the development, planning and delivery of all inpatient physiotherapy services.
• Remain up to date with national guidance, best-practice, professional standards and ensure you maintain your own development.
• Actively seek feedback on your leadership and overall performance.
• To support the Lead in coordinating, onboarding and welcoming new staff though a induction process to the hospital and team.
• Support the Lead with recruitment, retention and staff development.
• Act as a mentor to colleagues, providing adequate support, feedback and training as required.
• Support staff’s wellbeing through empathy, compassion and respect.
• Support Fortius in its business objectives, CQC assessment and upholding the Fortius Values.
• Maintain and foster good working relationships with all colleagues and stake holders.
• Support the Lead in serious clinical and non-clinical incidents, aiding patients and junior staff and being a professional resource for all.
• Deputise for the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead in their absence.
• Support the Director of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Therapy Manager and Physiotherapy services.

Clinical

• Be a highly skilled physiotherapy resource, able to manage complex patients, and be part of the daily resuscitation team.
• To drive the development of the Physiotherapy Pre-Assessment Service, taking responsibility of the CRM, triaging referrals and working closely with the Nursing Pre-Assessment Team.
• To work between both inpatient and day case wings, managing a varied caseload.
• Provide expert advice to patients, consultants, family members, GPs, and clinical and non-clinical colleagues.
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment (including screening questionnaires, triage, interview, clinical examination and assessment of psychosocial factors) of all patients.
• Direct continuous pathways of care by organising onward referrals (e.g. to another healthcare professional) in agreement with consultants as appropriate.
• Present cases and be an active participant at MDT / complex patient meetings.
• Support effective patient flow by collaborating with colleagues on patient progress and supporting discharges.
• Attend ward rounds, safety huddles, handovers and meetings to represent the physiotherapy department and to participate in patient care.
• Triage and plan individualised and holistic treatment processes, including the patient in goal setting and delivering personalised care.
• Address patient and family concerns during their hospital stay and after discharge, serving as a point of contact for patients.

Person Specification

Education, qualifications and training

• Physiotherapy Degree with HCPC and CSP registration
• Health or leadership related Masters
• Leadership / management qualification
• Evidence of post registration education and development
• Orthopaedic or surgical specialist education with evidence of CPD attendance

Knowledge and experience

• Clinical experience at band 6 equivalent or above in an orthopaedic / spinal ward-based setting for at least 3 years
• Independent hospital experience
• NHS / public hospital experience
• Extensive surgical / orthopaedic physio experience
• People management experience including recruiting and giving feedback.
• Experience of managing staffing, rosters and patient flow
• Experience in investigating incidents and managing initial patient complaints
• Experience in auditing and feeding back results
• Experience in quality projects, implementing change, having a lead or link responsibility
• Experience in contributing to policy development
• Experience in Orthopaedic Pre-Assessment Service

Communication skills

• Competent IT skills including word, team and excel
• Quick to pick up new programmes and able to use in-house EPR and related systems
• Can communicate through email in a polite, professional and easily understandable way
• Excellent communication skills, ability to demonstrate empathy, de‑escalate conflict and respond to concerns
• Able to make rapport with a diverse group of stakeholders

Leadership and management skills

• Motivated, self-directed and ability to act on own initiative
• Positive attitude, inspiring, demonstrate the Fortius Values
• Time management, ability to prioritise workload
• Accountable, professional, takes responsibility for making decisions
• Inspire confidence in others, coaches, supports, directs
• Flexible, creative, meets the service needs
• Ability to interpret financial plans and disseminate amongst others