Lead Physiotherapist in the Surgical Rehabilitation Team | Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Homerton University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Greater London is seeking a highly motivated Physiotherapist to lead their Surgical Rehabilitation Team. The role involves assessing and rehabilitating surgical patients while working closely with surgical teams to ensure effective recovery. The ideal candidate will have NHS experience, strong leadership skills, and knowledge in trauma and orthopaedics. This opportunity provides the chance to mentor junior staff and contribute to patient care and outcomes in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• NHS experience is required.
• Ability to provide expert clinical guidance to junior staff.
• Skill in delivering peri-operative physiotherapy.

Responsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy assessment and rehabilitation for surgical patients.
• Lead therapy interventions across surgical wards.
• Work with surgical consultants on trauma pathways.
• Offer clinical guidance to junior staff and multidisciplinary colleagues.
• Participate in MDT meetings to support patient flow.
• Manage post-operative rehabilitation in the community.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership skills

Knowledge of trauma and orthopaedics

Job description

Overview

A great opportunity for a highly motivated Physiotherapist to lead our Surgical Rehabilitation Team. This role requires effective communication, leadership, and a strong understanding of trauma and orthopaedics, and will involve supervising and mentoring junior staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation for patients in the Surgical Rehabilitation pathway, including Trauma & Orthopaedics, elective orthopaedics, and general surgical inpatients.
• Lead on the delivery of therapy interventions across designated surgical wards, supporting timely recovery, safe discharge, and high‑quality patient experience.
• Work closely with surgical consultants and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure adherence to trauma pathways, enhanced recovery protocols, and rehabilitation prescriptions.
• Provide expert clinical guidance to junior staff, students, and multidisciplinary colleagues, contributing to service development, operational management, and clinical excellence.
• Deliver peri‑operative physiotherapy: pre‑operative education/optimisation, early mobilisation, pain‑management strategies, and discharge planning.
• Provide supervision, clinical support, and appraisal for Band 6 and Band 5 physiotherapists and support student education and assessment.
• Promote a positive, inclusive learning environment within the team.
• Participate in surgical MDT meetings, whiteboards, and case discussions to support patient flow and safe discharge, and provide specialist advice to medical and nursing staff.
• Take part in pre‑operative multi‑disciplinary outpatient clinics, contributing to clinical decision‑making regarding fitness for surgery or pre‑op requirements.
• Contribute to running pre‑ and post‑operative educational/exercise groups for elective surgery and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Collaborate with occupational therapists, trauma nurse co‑ordinator, rehabilitation assistants, and social care to manage post‑operative rehabilitation in the community, ensuring speedy recovery and minimising risk of re‑admission.

Qualifications & Experience

• Previous NHS experience is required.
• Effective communication and leadership skills.
• Good working knowledge of trauma and orthopaedics.

Additional Information

This advert closes on Wednesday 17 Dec 2025.