Specialist Physiotherapist

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust; Swaffham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Swaffham is seeking a Specialist Physiotherapist to work in the community and Swaffham Community Hospital. The role demands strong clinical reasoning, leadership, and the ability to manage complex patient needs. Candidates should have an advanced degree in Physiotherapy and current HCPC registration. Join a dedicated team focused on improving patient care and enjoy opportunities for professional development.

Benefits

In-service training program

Opportunities for additional training

Wellbeing support

Leadership development programs

Qualifications

• Experience working with complex patients in a community setting.
• Evidence of working at an advanced clinical level.
• NHS experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Undertake comprehensive therapy assessments of patients including those with complex presentations.
• Plan, deliver, and coordinate therapy interventions for higher complexity patients.
• Lead and support junior staff in the community and on the ward.

Skills

Advanced clinical reasoning

Leadership skills

Patient management

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma or 1st level degree in Physiotherapy

Current HCPC registration

Job description

Specialist Physiotherapist - Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

The closing date is 16 October 2025.

Due to the promotion of the existing post holder, we have a rare and exciting role for a dynamic and forward-thinking individual, within the well-established Downham Market & Swaffham/Fens & Brecks Community Therapy Team. You will be working as a Specialist Band 7 Community Physiotherapist, supporting patients in the community setting and also in-reaching onto Swaffham Community Hospital ward.

The role is based at Swaffham Community Hospital, approximately 35 minutes drive from Norwich or 25 minutes from Kings Lynn, and will cover the Downham Market and Swaffham areas of West Norfolk.

The successful candidate would undertake a role in leading, planning & co-ordinating the delivery and evaluation of the physiotherapy service, using evidence-based practice and working within national, regional, and local agendas. Maintaining a strong clinical focus on patients presenting with complex conditions.

As a clinical specialist you will also have a role in management duties, alongside the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist and Clinical Operations Manager. You will demonstrate a high level of professionalism and strong leadership, and deputise for the Clinical Lead in their absence whilst supporting junior staff both in the community and on the ward.

Main duties of the job

Are you currently an experienced physiotherapist looking for a new challenge, with a wish to develop your current skill base and build on your existing leadership skills? If so, this role may be ideal for you.

• Being professionally and legally accountable as an autonomous practitioner for your workload, including management of patients in your care and that of your team.
• Undertaking skilled assessment using a variety of assessment techniques and advanced clinical reasoning.
• Manage your own caseload of complex patients in the community and ward-based setting, using specialist knowledge and skills as an autonomous practitioner.
• Providing training in specialist knowledge for physiotherapy staff and the wider community nursing and therapy team.
• Supporting clinical supervision and appraisals for physiotherapy staff, the wider therapy team and students.
• Supporting service transformation, development and integration projects within the wider Primary Care Network and Integrated Care System.

It is essential the post holder has the ability to travel to patients across Swaffham, Downham Market and the surrounding areas.

West Norfolk is an area of contrast and beauty situated close to the borders of Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

About us

You will have the opportunity to progress your clinical knowledge and skills through our in-service training program and will participate in regular supervision with the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist.

Successful candidates will also attend a formalised trust induction programme, mandatory training programme and have opportunities to apply for additional training relevant to their role. There will also be opportunities to develop your management and supervision skills through NCHC's well established Leadership Roadmap Programme.

We are committed to providing high quality care and have a strong agenda in improving quality, which includes the opportunity to become a Quality Champion. NCHC is committed to support staff wellbeing, and as such offers self-referral for staff physiotherapy, access to mental health support, occupational health support and NCHC has a Staff Wellbeing Board. Staff are encouraged to provide their feedback through the annual NHS Staff Survey, but we also complete quarterly pulse engagement questionnaires. Our trust values are Community, Creativity and Compassion.

Our trust vision is to improve the quality of people' lives, in their homes and community through the best in integrated health and social care.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Job responsibilities

Organisational

The post holder will: Undertake a major clinical role in assessment, review and treatment to the adult population living in the community within West Norfolk. The role is based within the Swaffham, Downham, Fens and Brecks Therapy Teams, you will be based at Swaffham Community Hospital but you would be required to provide support to the teams across West Norfolk as required. To plan, deliver and co-ordinate therapy interventions for patients of a higher complexity across West Norfolk. To be responsible for Continued Professional Development (CPD) and Personal Development Plan (PDP) for members of the therapy team. To have an input into service development, under the direction of the Clinical Leads/ Service Manager, across West Norfolk and in conjunction with the rest of the team in response to NICE guidance, local governance and government policy.

Clinical

1. Undertake comprehensive therapy assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation, using investigative, analytical and clinical reasoning skills, and inform the development of a differential diagnosis.
2. Formulate and execute individualised therapy management and treatment plans of patients including those with a complex presentation, in collaboration with the integrated team, other agencies and the patient, utilising a range of treatment skills.
3. Be aware of Assistive Technology and make referrals for this as required.
4. Assess patients holistic needs, communicating complex and sensitive information to patients and carers as to their assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment plan.
5. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.
6. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients cooperation in their treatment plan.
7. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health care professionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.
8. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.
9. Be responsible for ensuring workload for self and others is planned and prioritised according to service targets and needs.
10. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.
11. Plan and organise specialist services within the integrated team.
12. Demonstrate dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment, and manual treatment of patients, including using specialist equipment and fine tools, manual and mobilising skills.
13. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.
14. Be aware of budget and ensure all effort is made to work within this.
15. Ensure informed consent is obtained prior to initiating interventions.
16. Be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.
17. Demonstrate basic IT and standard keyboard skills.

Professional

1. Be required to undertake risk assessments and act upon them appropriately.
2. Contribute to the staff rota on a monthly basis.
3. Contribute to the supervision of workload within the integrated team.
4. Actively contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and other meetings where appropriate.
5. Support the Clinical leads and all team members within the integrated team, respecting them, their roles and contributions.
6. Attend in-house training as required to develop current role.
7. Maintain own continual professional development.
8. Be able to make own travel arrangements to patients homes, clinics, base and meetings etc., as required.
9. Be responsible for safe use and maintenance of equipment and supplies.
10. Remain accountable for own professional actions as determined by the professional bodies.
11. May be required to demonstrate own duties to students, new starters and other staff.
12. Provide mentorship for students undertaking pre/post registration courses.
13. Mentor existing staff and provide training in specialist area as appropriate, and contribute to the induction process for new staff/students.
14. Demonstrate leadership skills within own competence.
15. Be accountable for work delegated to others.

Organisational

1. Undertake mandatory training as required.
2. Participate in a Personal Development Review process.
3. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members.
4. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.
5. Follow Trust policies, and local procedures, and use discretion in interpreting them according to the setting and circumstances.
6. Comment on draft policies.
7. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.
8. Contribute to clinical audit as required.
9. Complete the staff survey as required.
10. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required

Person Specification

Other

• Able to kneel, bend and stoop, and work in cramped environments
• Able to manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6kg
• Able to manoeuvre patients using handling aids
• Must have a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle

Personal Attributes / Behaviours (linked to the Trust's Behaviour Framework)

• Highly motivated
• Tact and diplomacy
• Empathy and sensitivity

Personal and People Development

• Regular participation in supervision and continual professional development

Communication

• Good observational and reporting skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to communicate effectively in written and verbal English language
• Ability to communicate with other members of the MDT both verbally and non-verbally
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients who may have highly complex needs

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Ability to manage stressful situations
• A team player
• Concentrate when undertaking patient care and inputting data/patient records
• Positive attitude towards flexibility to meet the needs of the role
• Demonstrate good IT and standard keyboard skills
• Demonstrates an ability to support junior staff.

Experience

• NHS experience
• Evidence of working at an advanced clinical level
• Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in-house training & short courses
• Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT)
• Knowledge and experience of complex equipment provision.
• Experience of working with complex patients in a community setting.

Qualifications

• Diploma or 1st level degree in Physiotherpay or equivalent experience
• Current HCPC registration
• Clinical educators' course
• Advanced OT qualifications/attendance of short-courses

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.

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Compressed hours