Lead Children's Physiotherapist

NHS; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 37,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust is seeking a Lead Children's Physiotherapist for a fixed-term role covering 10 months. This position involves delivering physiotherapy services to children in various settings and leading a team. Key responsibilities include managing a clinical caseload and providing guidance and support to junior staff. Candidates must have HCPC registration, experience in paediatric care, and strong leadership skills. The role offers flexible working hours at the Milton Keynes site.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Registration in the relevant profession with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Membership of relevant specialist interest group or professional association.
• Awareness of NHS and Trust systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage a specialist clinical caseload of paediatric patients across settings.
• Lead paediatric physiotherapy on the acute children's ward.
• Provide clinical leadership to the paediatric team.

Skills

Time management and organisational skills

Excellent written and verbal communication

Advanced assessment and treatment skills

Strong clinical reasoning

Competence in IT

Education

HCPC Registration

Evidence of specialist continuing professional development

Job description

Job Summary

Lead Children's Physiotherapist – Fixed‑term contract for 10‑month maternity cover. Department: Children's Physiotherapy, Therapies. Hours: 29.25 hours/week. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated Band 7 Children’s Physiotherapist to join our team for a 10‑month period of maternity cover from 1 April 2026.

Role Overview

Deliver physiotherapy services to children and young people aged 0‑19 years within acute and community settings. This post will involve working in the Childrens Physiotherapy Department based in Stony Stratford Health Centre and Milton Keynes Hospital. Driving between sites is essential.

The role includes jointly managing the paediatric ward and a neuro‑disability out‑patient caseload. This involves complex assessment, programme development and review, equipment ordering, EHCP annual reviews and liaison with families and the multidisciplinary team.

Supervision of Band 5 & Band 6 physiotherapists, assistant practitioners and students is also part of the position.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a specialist clinical caseload of paediatric patients across outpatients, inpatients and community settings.
• Lead paediatric physiotherapy on the acute children's ward and work collaboratively with Lead Therapists and Therapy Service Leads.
• Provide clinical and managerial leadership to the paediatric team, inform service development and manage staffing levels/skill mix.
• Demonstrate specialist assessment and treatment skills for a broad range of neurological and developmental conditions.
• Review staffing needs, provide guidance to junior staff, and support professional development and CPD.
• Actively contribute to governance, risk management, quality assurance, audit and research within the specialty.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up‑to‑date documentation in line with legal and Trust standards.

Qualifications & Knowledge

• Registration in the relevant profession with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
• Evidence of a range of specialist continuing professional development.
• Membership of relevant specialist interest group and/or professional association (e.g., CSP).
• Awareness of NHS and Trust systems, policies, procedures and current changes.
• Sound therapeutic and clinical knowledge and ability to apply national guidelines.

Experience

• Significant experience in therapeutic processes for paediatric patients, including assessment, care planning, motivation, monitoring and evaluation of highly specialised treatment.
• Experience working in an MDT setting with liaison to clinical specialists, GPs, specialist nurses and community teams.
• Proven leadership experience in a relevant clinical specialty or similar field, including supervision, appraisal and training of junior staff and students.
• Ability to autonomously manage a caseload of highly complex paediatric patients.
• Experience with projects, audits, benchmarking and clinical audit using NICE guidance.

Skills

• Proven time management and organisational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing.
• Advanced assessment and treatment skills for paediatric patients.
• Ability to present and teach information to junior and assistant staff.
• Strong clinical reasoning and problem‑solving skills.
• Competence in IT, including email.

Personal & Development

• Experience in managing and developing junior and assistant staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and influence ability.
• Knowledge of change management principles and HR policies.

Specific Requirements

• Ability to perform duties with reasonable aids and adaptations.
• Car driver with a valid licence to travel across hospital sites and home visits where necessary.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer Details

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Paediatric Therapies (Dept)

Milton Keynes

MK6 5LD

Employer website: https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh