Specialist Physiotherapist

NHS; Tooting; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading mental health trust in the UK is seeking a Specialist Physiotherapist to join their team in Tooting. This role involves providing physiotherapy assessments and treatment in a mental health inpatient setting, managing a diverse clinical caseload, and supervising junior staff. Successful candidates will have a strong background in physiotherapy, knowledge of mental health challenges, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Flexible working and professional development opportunities are offered.

Benefits

Flexible working

Career development opportunities

Positive, welcoming environment

Qualifications

• High level of physiotherapy experience in various specialities.
• Significant clinical rotation experience including MSK and neurology.
• Experience working with service users with mental health conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provide physiotherapy assessment and treatment in a mental health setting.
• Lead older people's exercise classes and manage a varied caseload.
• Contribute to service improvement and clinical audits.

Skills

Physiotherapy assessments

Knowledge of mental health

Team working

Supervision of junior staff

Clinical reasoning

Education

Physiotherapy degree

Full HCPC registration

Postgraduate training in Mental Health

Job description

South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 21 January 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Physiotherapist with proven knowledge, experience and a real interest in mental health to join our growing team.

Your main duties will be to provide physiotherapy assessment and treatment for working age adults, older people and adolescents in a mental health in‑patient setting.

If successful, you will be recruited to work across sites include Springfield University Hospital and Tolworth Hospital. You will encounter patients with a variety of physical health complaints from various specialities including but not limited to; musculoskeletal, neurology and older people. You will also have opportunities to work within the National Obsessive Compulsive Disorders Service alongside a well‑established multidisciplinary team, learning disabilities, forensics and deaf services to name just some.

You will be supported by the Band 8a Head of Physiotherapy and Band 7 Physiotherapy team Lead in monthly supervisions, reflective practice sessions, dedicated CPD time and the option to attend Inservice training sessions with our musculoskeletal colleagues at St Georges Hospital. You will be involved in supervision of junior members of staff in addition to carrying a clinical caseload. You will also contribute to the development of the future NHS workforce by hosting physiotherapy student placements from a variety of Higher Education Institutions. You will be actively supported in your professional and clinical development.

Main duties of the job

You will undertake advanced, holistic physiotherapy assessments and formulate comprehensive treatment plans for service users with complex mental health and physical health problems across several specialities and settings. You will need to be confident in your ability to complete musculoskeletal and neurological assessments while clinically reasoning your decisions.

You will have the responsibility for leading and managing the older people exercise class. You will also be involved in data collection and service improvement.

It is essential that the successful candidate have a high level of physiotherapy experience and knowledge gained through rotations at band 5 and 6 level in a variety of physiotherapy specialities. You will work in a setting where the demand can fluctuate and so will need to be highly organised and self‑motivated to manage during these times. A high level of resilience will be required to handle some of the social and emotional components the role can entail. You will be supported during these times by the Head of Physiotherapy and the Wider Trust.

This is a wonderful opportunity to further develop your therapeutic, communication and clinical reasoning skills. We encourage informal visits and would be happy to discuss any questions that you may have.

About us

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill‑health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti‑racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co‑produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Springfield University Hospital, Tooting

Our largest, 19‑ward site is in Springfield Village, created following our £150m investment into two new world class mental health facilities. A 32‑acre public park, shops and cafes are coming soon. Close to shops, cafes and Tooting Bec on the Northern Line plus Earlsfield and Tooting rail stations and bus routes.

Job responsibilities

You will need to have a broad experience of working within a variety of physiotherapy specialities and enjoy the challenge that this can bring. You will carry a varied and often complex clinical caseload of musculoskeletal, orthopaedic, neurological mobility complaints as well as have opportunities to develop your clinical skills.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the supervision for the Physiotherapy Assistant and expected to contribute to the a dedicated Inservice training programme to aid their development.

It is expected that the successful candidate will work across both sites; Springfield University Hospital and Tolworth Hospital and this will be discussed in more detail at the interview stage.

Person Specification

TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS

• Physiotherapy degree
• Full HCPC registration
• Postgraduate training courses relevant to Mental Health.
• CSP registered.
• No HCPC cautions or conditions of practice in place.

EXPERIENCE

• Significant experience as a junior grade in a broad range of clinical rotations including MSK, older people, neurology, respiratory care and rehabilitation.
• Experience of working with service users presenting with mental health conditions.
• A good understanding of issues facing service users with mental health conditions.
• Successful team working.
• Previous experience of working in a mental health setting
• Previous involvement in clinical audit or research
• Previous experience of supervising students &/or physiotherapy assistants
• Experience working with hearing impairment/deafness
• Experience working with eating disorders

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 London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust

£46,419 to £55,046 a yearper annum inclusive of Inner London HCAs