Specialist Frailty Physiotherapist

NHS; Poole; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Poole is seeking a Senior Physiotherapist to join their innovative Older Persons Services Team. This permanent position requires HCPC registration and a BSc in Physiotherapy. The successful candidate will work across various departments, supervising junior staff and managing care for elderly patients. This role offers competitive pay ranging from £38,682 to £46,580 per year, with full-time and part-time options available.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience working as a physiotherapist covering core rotations.
• Experience on an on-call respiratory rota.
• Ability to drive and hold a clean driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Work holistically across professional boundaries.
• Support and supervise junior staff.
• Develop service and patient care plans for older adults.

Skills

HCPC Registration

Ability to assess and treat elderly patients

Excellent verbal and nonverbal communication

Evidence of effective supervision of junior staff

Education

BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Degree

Job description

Job summary

Are you passionate about working with older people?

An opportunity has arisen for a senior physiotherapist to join our older persons' therapy team. As the successful post holder you will be encouraged and supported to develop extended skills and advanced practice in frailty with our highly regarded, innovative and motivated Older Persons Services Team.

Our specialist post provides opportunities to work as part of the therapy team covering:

• Emergency Department (ED) & Same Day Emergency Care Unit (SDEC)
• Older Persons Assessment Unit (OPAU)
• Older Persons wards
• Older Persons complex care wards

This provides therapists with an opportunity to develop a full and rich understanding of our patient's journey, from emergency admission to their transition home.

Expectations of the post holder would include working holistically across professional boundaries, service development, supporting and supervising junior staff and opportunities to work alongside a range of experienced professionals both within the hospital and community.

This role requires HCPC Registration and BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy

Interview Date: 17th December 2025

Main duties of the job

To be successful in securing this post, you will have:

• 2 years experience working as a physiotherapist covering core rotations
• Experience working at a junior level within the NHS is essential
• Experience working on an on-call respiratory rota as participation is expected in this role
• Willing to participate in 7 day working on a rota basis
• Ability to drive, hold a clean drivers licence and have access to a car for work purposes
• Opportunity for Band 5 to complete as a secondment

Previous applicants need not apply.

Base Location: Poole Hospital

About us

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.

Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.

Details

Date posted: 21 November 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £38,682 to £46,580 a year pa/pro rata

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time

Reference number: 153-SP05294

Job locations: Poole Hospital, Longfleet road, Poole, BH15 2JB

Job description

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.

Person Specification – Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Degree
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of C.P.D

Desirable

• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Postgraduate study/training related to older people and frailty

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of working with frail patients, with complex needs which require advanced clinical reasoning
• Broad experience of working at a band 5 level within the NHS, including experience in rehabilitation
• Evidence of effective supervision of junior staff
• Evidence of and desire to supervise students

Desirable

• Involvement in/leading QI projects
• Experience in a community setting

Technical skills/competencies

Essential

• Ability to assess, manage & treat elderly patients with multi‑pathology conditions
• Experience of respiratory/on‑call
• Skills in goal setting & evaluating outcome measures
• Ability to produce clear written documentation of intervention & reports
• Therapeutic moving & handling skills at specialist level
• IT Skills within word processing

Desirable

• Use of standardised assessments
• Ability to complete a holistic assessment which may include some Physiotherapist and nursing skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Good knowledge of long term conditions affecting the older person
• Understanding current legislation relevant to older people and frailty
• The interface between hospital, intermediate care and community services.

Desirable

• A sound understanding of capacity issues and ability to recognise need for formal assessment

Interpersonal skills

Essential

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and nonverbal communication with an ability to establish a good rapport with a range of people.
• Ability to teach patients, relatives, carers & staff
• To be able to delegate work appropriately & Ability to work effectively in a team

Other

Essential

• Ability to drive, hold a clean drivers licence

Personal attributes

Essential

• Well motivated and have an interest in older adults
• Good time management & able to prioritise a caseload

Language requirement

Essential

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Poole Hospital, Longfleet road, Poole, BH15 2JB

Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Duplicate Employer details

Employer name: University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust

Address: Poole Hospital, Longfleet road, Poole, BH15 2JB

Employer's website: https://www.uhd.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)

Person Specification – Qualifications (duplicate)

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Degree
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of C.P.D

Desirable

• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Postgraduate study/training related to older people and frailty

Experience (duplicate)

Essential

• Evidence of working with frail patients, with complex needs which require advanced clinical reasoning
• Broad experience of working at a band 5 level within the NHS, including experience in rehabilitation
• Evidence of effective supervision of junior staff
• Evidence of and desire to supervise students

Desirable

• Involvement in/leading QI projects
• Experience in a community setting

Technical skills/competencies (duplicate)

Essential

• Ability to assess, manage & treat elderly patients with multi‑pathology conditions
• Experience of respiratory/on‑call
• Skills in goal setting & evaluating outcome measures
• Ability to produce clear written documentation of intervention & reports
• Therapeutic moving & handling skills at specialist level
• IT Skills within word processing

Desirable

• Use of standardised assessments
• Ability to complete a holistic assessment which may include some Physiotherapist and nursing skills

Knowledge (duplicate)

Essential

• Good knowledge of long term conditions affecting the older person
• Understanding current legislation relevant to older people and frailty
• The interface between hospital, intermediate care and community services.

Desirable

• A sound understanding of capacity issues and ability to recognise need for formal assessment

Interpersonal skills (duplicate)

Essential

• Demonstrate excellent verbal and nonverbal communication with an ability to establish a good rapport with a range of people.
• Ability to teach patients, relatives, carers & staff
• To be able to delegate work appropriately & Ability to work effectively in a team

Other (duplicate)

Essential

• Ability to drive, hold a clean drivers licence

Personal attributes (duplicate)

Essential

• Well motivated and have an interest in older adults
• Good time management & able to prioritise a caseload

Language requirement (duplicate)

Essential

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role.