Paediatric Clinical Specialist PCD physiotherapist | University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

University Hospitals of Leicester; England; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS Trust in England is seeking a Clinical Lead Specialist Physiotherapist for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). This role involves providing expert physiotherapy care, developing treatment plans, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to support children with PCD. The ideal candidate will have a background in physiotherapy and experience in pediatric care, ensuring adherence to clinical standards while driving service improvement. Opportunities for career development are included.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Access to specialized training

Qualifications

• Registered physiotherapist with a degree.
• Experience with PCD management preferred.
• Strong leadership and team collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead physiotherapy care for children with PCD.
• Provide clinical assessments and interventions.
• Work alongside healthcare teams in multiple settings.

Skills

Leadership

Expertise in physiotherapy

Communication

Clinical reasoning

Teamwork

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Job description

Job Title: Clinical Lead Specialist Physiotherapist in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD)

Band: 7

Location: Primary base will be LRI however travel between UHL’s hospital sites and BCH will be required.

Hours: 30 hours per week (4 days) LRI

Reporting to: Therapy Clinical Team Lead for Paediatrics / Clinical Lead for PCD Management

UHL is one of four specialist centres for the Management of Primary Ciliary Dyskinsea (PCD). The service covers a wide geographic area; central England however the post holder will be primarily responsible for the East part but may need to support children and young people on the West side of the region.

The successful applicant will work alongside the established paediatric physiotherapy team, which includes our Clinical Specialists that work within the following specialities, Cystic Fibrosis, Long Term Ventilation, Difficult asthma and Respiratory Outpatients. You will also work alongside our in‑patient Physiotherapy team.

This post is an exciting post that could lead to future career development within the PCD physiotherapy service.

To provide expert‑level physiotherapy assessments and interventions/care for all children and young people with PCD in our catchment area to promote health and independence and facilitate optimum function for patients. This includes clinic‑based care, outreach, virtual support, advisory support and community‑based interventions.

The post holder will ensure adherence to national PCD physiotherapy standards and support the clinical network across central England. The post holder will be primary responsible for the children living in the east of geographical area covered by Central England PCD Management service. The physiotherapist at BCH will be primary responsible for the children in the west of the geographical area however there will sometimes be cross cover.

The post holder will be accountable for the delivery of high quality therapy care within the PCD management service.

Strategy and Values

• High‑quality care for all
• Being a great place to work
• Partnerships for impact
• Research and education excellence
• Health equality in all we do – taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.

Core Values

• Compassionate
• Proud
• Inclusive
• One Team

About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk

Clinical Duties

• Be an integral member of the PCD Team and work alongside the PCD team at UHL and liaise and work closely with the PCD MDT colleagues at BCH.
• Attend PCD clinics at UHL and BCH as appropriate.
• Attend shared care clinics within our catchment area.
• Physiotherapists in UHL and BCH to cross‑cover as appropriate.
• Work flexibly to ensure attendance in clinics and liaise effectively with members of the MDT to ensure all clinics are attended.
• Undertake and lead the planning, co‑ordination, delivering and evaluation of the paediatric physiotherapy service to patients with PCD.
• Provide clinical and professional leadership to physiotherapy colleagues in the speciality area.
• Develop clinical practice within the speciality of PCD ensuring compliance with national and local guidelines and frameworks.
• Responsible for the clinical standards, evidence‑based practise and quality metrics within the speciality.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner to provide specialist therapy assessments, diagnose and develop individualised treatment programmes based on the patients needs, using advanced clinical reasoning skills. This may be in different settings: out‑patients clinics (AR or FU), shared care clinics, transition clinics, home visits, school visits or urgent/ad‑hoc clinical reviews for severely unwell or deteriorating patients. Including sample collection (cough swabs/sputum/nose swab/nasal rinse/virology).
• To be responsible for the physiotherapy needs of clinical caseload of the PCD service; which will include complex cases within the specialist area of PCD. Provide follow up assessment / reviews to monitor effectiveness and compliance to physiotherapy treatments and advice.
• Advisory support for patients, families, local physiotherapy teams, schools via phone, emails, case discussions or joint working / case reviews.
• Undertake an active role in developing and promoting physiotherapy within the speciality.
• Be responsible for the day to day management of the delivery of physiotherapy in an efficient and effective way.
• Ensure the training and development of staff within the Therapy Speciality Team and any local physiotherapists working with children with PCD.
• Liaise with colleagues and work across site/ cross speciality/other centres in order to ensure the provision of a seamless equitable service.
• Develop the evidence base practice through audit, clinical effectiveness and research.
• Assist and support the Therapy Management Team and Therapy Speciality Leads and Therapy Team Leaders within the service in the improvement and transformation of Therapy services.
• To be responsible for the advancement of personal skills and knowledge in a clinical and leadership context and to attend post registration training in order to maintain own and others’ CPD.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the best available evidence for practice for the specialty.

Equipment Management

• Maintain adequate stock of physiotherapy adjuncts: PEP devices, nebulisers (Pari‑boy and eflows), NIPPY Clearway for use of patients within PCD Management Service.
• Liaise with suppliers to gain quotes as well as organising updates and teaching sessions for physiotherapy adjuncts.
• Liaise with PCD administrator to coordinate equipment ordering and delivery.
• Ensure all equipment delivered that requires regular service is taken to UHL medical supplies department and logged onto their system.
• All nebuliser compressors and Clearways barcodes are inputted on the equipment database in the PCD drive.
• Maintain documentation of issued equipment in line with service policy.
• Any nebulisers/clearways that are issued to patients, to be documented on the equipment database so we have a log of where the equipment is. It is the responsibility of the person that issues the equipment to complete the database form.
• Liaise with the physiotherapist at BCH to ensure all equipment that needs servicing is done so in a timely manner.
• Offer support and advice regarding equipment queries from patients, carers, and local professionals.
• Advise patients and families on the appropriate use, care and maintenance of physiotherapy devices/adjuncts and equipment. If necessary use equipment contract to ensure family return device for regular maintenance services in line with UHL policy.

Education & Family Support

• Provide tailored education and support to children, young people with PCD and their families on:
  • PCD and management of PCD symptoms / understanding their baseline symptoms
  • Airway clearance techniques and escalation plans
  • Physiotherapy adjuncts/devices: use, care and maintenance of this equipment
  • Importance of exercise / activity
  • Infection prevention
• Monitor and support compliance with physiotherapy treatment plans via additional virtual calls, home visits or out‑patient appointments.
• Reassessing, evaluating and delivering training across patient developmental stages to maximise/optimise effectiveness at each stage.
• Support transition of care from paediatric PCD to adult PCD Management services.
• Liaise, educate and support local physiotherapist in management of their PCD caseload.
• Liaise, educate and support schools to help children with PCD reach their potential in education and not miss out due to their condition.

Service Delivery & Development

• Attend and contribute to regular MDT clinics.
• Liaise with physiotherapists and teams in shared care hospitals and community settings to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in regional outreach clinics across Central England.
• Maintain timely, effective communication with external professionals.
• Follow national PCD physiotherapy guidelines and best practice frameworks.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in line with trust and professional standards.
• Participate in ongoing service development and quality improvement projects.
• Attend training and professional development to maintain specialist knowledge.
• Support and supervise junior staff or student as appropriate.
• Liaise and work closely with the national PCD physiotherapist in England to maintain high standards of care for children with PCD.
• Develop links with international physiotherapists working with children with PCD.
• Promote research and development in collaboration with national and international PCD physiotherapists.

Governance

• Comply and be aware of all aspects of the clinical governance agenda e.g. risk, audit, evidence based practice, patient involvement.
• To initiate and develop audit initiatives for the benefit of the Therapy Service, speciality and patients.
• To lead audit within the speciality and to ensure standards are maintained using the audit process.
• Use ‘Datix’ to complete incident forms, untoward incidents and near misses and ensure that appropriate action is identified and implemented and lessons learned is shared.
• Escalate clinical concerns via agreed MDT or safeguarding pathways.

This advert closes on Friday 28 Nov 2025.