Specialist Physiotherapist

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust; Barnsley; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider seeks a full-time Specialist Physiotherapist to join the Barnsley Community Learning Disability Team. In this vital role, you will provide specialized physiotherapy assessment and treatment for adults with learning disabilities. You will collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams, supervise junior staff, and maintain high standards in documentation. Candidates should have relevant post-registration experience and an HCPC registration. We value diverse applications and encourage you to apply and make a meaningful impact.

Qualifications

• Post registration experience in learning disability.
• Experience in risk assessment and moving & handling issues.
• Supervisory experience for staff or students.

Responsibilities

• Deliver specialist physiotherapy assessment and intervention.
• Supervise Band 5 physiotherapists and assistants.
• Maintain high documentation standards in electronic systems.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Physiotherapy assessment

Treatment skills

Supervision skills

Communication skills

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent

Registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC)

Tools

Specialist physiotherapy equipment

Job description

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 03 January 2026

Hi, I'm Clare, Lead AHP, and I'm really pleased you're looking at this opportunity. We're a close‑knit, supportive team that genuinely looks out for one another. Everyone brings something different, and we celebrate that. If you are a motivated, compassionate, and skilled Physiotherapist looking to make a genuine impact, we encourage you to apply.

About the Role: This is a full‑time Band 6 Physiotherapy post within the dynamic Barnsley Community Learning Disability Team. You will play a crucial role in providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and intervention to adults with a learning disability across the Barnsley community.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Main duties of the job

Deliver a high standard of assessment and intervention in a variety of community settings, including service users' homes, day centres, colleges, and community facilities. Typical referrals you will manage include complex postural needs, managing falls and reduced mobility, conducting musculoskeletal assessments, providing input for respiratory function, and carrying out equipment reviews (e.g., specialised seating, sleep systems). This post offers the opportunity to facilitate specialist treatment modalities such as Rebound Therapy and Hydrotherapy.

Pathway Contribution: Your work will feed into the embedded Learning Disability pathways, ensuring integrated and holistic care.

Supervision & Mentoring: You will provide clinical supervision for a Band 5 Physiotherapist and a Therapy Assistant, fostering their development and ensuring high‑quality practice across the team.

Documentation Excellence: Maintain a high standard of documentation and reports and utilise our electronic notes systems efficiently.

We seek someone eager to learn and develop personally and assist our service to grow, responding to the needs of the LD population.

Our base is the Mapplewell Centre, which offers a comfortable and modern working environment. It is conveniently situated, offering easy access to the M1 motorway and is only a short distance from Barnsley town centre.

To arrange an informal visit or for more information, please contact Andrew Birkenshaw, Team Manager on 01226 645200.

About us

We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means we're accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder carries the responsibility for a defined caseload working with adults in the Community team for people with Learning Disabilities. The caseload will include clients of all levels of ability as defined by the team criteria. The post holder will serve as an effective member of the multi‑disciplinary team. The post holder will promote a consistent multi‑agency approach.

The post holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the Specialist Learning Disability Health team in accordance with local and national guidance.

The post holder will have the ability to work independently as a specialist individual practitioner and make autonomous decisions as required. Have good clinical, management and leadership skills.

The post holder will work with service users on an individual and group basis as required to provide assessment and treatment and therapeutic interventions in conjunction with the community pathways, including in reach to inpatient areas where required.

KEY RESULT AREAS

To work as an integral member of the Specialist Learning Disability Health team.

To carry out a specialised clinical caseload, undertaking specialist assessment, treatment and advice to patients often with complex neurological presentations and formulate a clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment plan as an autonomous practitioner.

To be responsible for specialist advice to staff, patients and carers.

Supervision of students, assistant, and Band 5 Physiotherapist.

No direct budget responsibility.

Clinical

To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care.

To perform specialist physiotherapeutic assessment and treatment of patients with diverse presentations, multiple pathologies and complex condition, formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan using specialised clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques.

To display specialist problem‑solving skills to recognise and identify patients requiring further investigations, referring appropriately to other services within and outside the physiotherapy remit. To be aware of and screen for serious pathologies with appropriate management.

To hold responsibility for own caseload, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support is available from more senior colleagues as required. Clinical work is not routinely evaluated.

To formulate and deliver individual physiotherapy treatment programmes based on a sound knowledge of evidence‑based practice and treatment options; to interpret and analyse clinical and non‑clinical information to form a diagnosis, prognosis and to recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans.

To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and understand the pathways and legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent.

To communicate effectively with patient and carers, overcoming barriers to communication and understanding in order to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

To provide planned and spontaneous advice, teaching and instruction of patients, relatives, carers and other health care professionals to promote the understanding of rehabilitation goals and ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

Where necessary to be involved in MDT meetings to ensure the delivery of an coordinated service to patients.

To be responsible for risk assessment of own caseload and working environment and ensure the correct and safe use of all equipment and appliances by patients, and by staff and students through training and supervision of practice.

Professional

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through a variety of CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

To maintain and develop up‑to‑date specialist knowledge of Evidence Based Practice within area of work.

Undertake measurement and evaluation of specialist treatment and current practice through use of evidence based practice and outcome measures. Recommend change of practice to Lead AHP and be involved in the implementation of changes to practice and service protocols.

Maintain HCPC registration, Trust, CSP and departmental standards, guidelines and policies ensuring quality of service and monitor own Band 5 and assistants quality of practice.

To induct and provide clinical education, support and training to Band 5 physiotherapist and assistants assessing and evaluating competence as required.

To participate when required in the clinical education of medical professionals in the specialist field of learning disability physiotherapy.

To partake in the clinical supervision and education of undergraduate physiotherapy students, whilst maintaining communication links with the universities.

To participate in the Trust's appraisal system.

Be an active member of the in‑service training programme by attendance at and delivery of training sessions, peer review and external courses where appropriate.

To ensure accurate, legible and comprehensive treatment records are kept in line with CSP and Trust standards of practice.

Establish and maintain communication links with other medical specialities in representation of physiotherapy services, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multi‑disciplinary approach.

To accept responsibility from and delegate to other members of the physiotherapy staff.

To be aware of health and safety aspects of your work and implement any policies deemed necessary to improve safety.

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

Person Specification

Special Knowledge/Skills

• Specialist knowledge and application of physiotherapy assessments and interventions relevant to learning disability, including clinical reasoning, moving and handling, treatment skills and techniques in learning disability support and rehabilitation.
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
• Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work.
• Understanding of and ability to use appropriate outcome measures.
• Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
• Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
• Supervisory / appraisal skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
• Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application.
• Understanding of person‑centred care and positive behavioural approaches.

Personal Attributes

• Ability to implement all of the 6C values & behaviours expected of health care professionals.
• Values contribution of others.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Organisational skills.
• Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
• Willingness to work flexibly.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Experience

• Post registration experience including in learning disability.
• Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of risk assessment/moving and handling issues including the safe and correct use of all specialist equipment.
• Experience of a range of learning disability settings.
• Supervision of staff and / or students.
• Involvement in audit/research/quality issues or training.

Qualifications

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
• Registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC).
• A recognised qualification or appropriate evidence of suitable experience in teaching and assessing in clinical practice (e.g. Supporting Learning in Practice (SLiP) or equivalent, or Accredited Clinical Educator (ACE) status).

Training

• Evidence of post‑graduate learning & development.
• To be willing to undertake post‑graduate training to further skills, knowledge and expertise.
• Post‑graduate training relevant to Learning Disability.

Physical Attributes

• Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
• A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).

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.

South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust