Specialist Physiotherapist - Cardio / Respiratory

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

Job summary

A UK healthcare organization is seeking a motivated Band 6 Cardiorespiratory Specialist Physiotherapist to join their team in Chichester. This role involves working in various clinical settings and contributing to patient care and service development. Candidates should have prior experience in acute hospital settings and be prepared for out-of-hours working. Full-time and part-time positions are available, offering opportunities for personal and professional development.

Benefits

Flexibility in working patterns

Opportunities for funding post-graduate qualifications

Wellbeing Programme for staff

Qualifications

• Variety of acute hospital experience is essential.
• Previous experience of out of hours working required.
• Experience in a band 6 NHS role is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Work across multiple locations including Intensive Care and Chronic Respiratory units.
• Manage a caseload of patients on specialty wards.
• Supervise band 5 physiotherapists and technical instructors.

Skills

Proven clinical skills in speciality

Leadership skills

Non-clinical skills (supervision, teaching)

Service development experience

Education

Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Documented evidence of CPD

Postgraduate education within speciality

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Specialist Physiotherapist - Cardio / Respiratory

The closing date is 12 November 2025

We are looking for a motivated Band 6 Cardiorespiratory Specialist Physiotherapist with a variety of acute hospital experience to join our cardiorespiratory physiotherapy team at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester. The post will involve working closely with therapy, nursing and medical colleagues to provide a high standard of physiotherapy assessment and treatment for patients in both acute and chronic settings. The post will include 9 month rotations in the following areas:

Respiratory Medicine Ward

Acute Cardiac Ward

Critical Care including weaning and critical care rehab supported by a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

Surgical Wards

Chronic Respiratory Outpatients including Pulmonary Rehab, and Respiratory Outpatients

Paediatrics including inpatients and respiratory outpatients which includes local management of Cystic Fibrosis and long‑term ventilated children with close links to the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and Royal Brompton Hospital

There is an expectation for out of hours working including respiratory weekend and overnight on‑call; previous experience of this is essential. It is currently a Mon‑Fri service with self‑rostered out‑of‑hours shifts and there are plans to transition to 7‑day working currently being developed. There will be an expectation of contributing to orthopaedic weekend services.

Full time and part time considered – Secondment and fixed term opportunities.

PREVIOUS APPLICANTS NEED NOT APPLY

Main duties of the job

To work effectively as a skilled Physiotherapist in a variety of locations including Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Rehabo Chronic respiratory including the Home Oxygen Service, Pulmonary Rehab, Respiratory Outpatients, Cardiac including the Acute Cardiac Unit, Surgical, Paediatrics including the general inpatient paediatric ward, postnatal ward, Cystic Fibrosis and paediatric respiratory outpatients.

There is a strong focus on service development within the team with several projects ongoing including BTS Pulmonary Rehab Accreditation and Critical Care Rehab. There are various opportunities for personal and professional development including critical care rehabilitation, in‑patient and outpatient pulmonary rehab, home oxygen prescription including CBG sampling, early and late cardiac rehab and baby MSK assessment. Studying for relevant post‑graduate qualifications is actively encouraged with funding opportunities available at the trust.

You will be expected to contribute to the development of others involving supervision of band 5s, technicians and students, and running in‑service training sessions for the team. There are yearly on‑call update sessions involving simulation training for the wider department which you will have the opportunity to take part in and develop.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the patient first. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work‑life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Candidate information pack - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role‑specific criteria.

• To work effectively as a skilled Physiotherapist in a variety of locations including
  • Intensive Care Unit and Critical Care Rehab
  • Chronic respiratory including the Home Oxygen Service, Pulmonary Rehab, Respiratory Outpatients
  • Cardiac including the Acute Cardiac Unit
  • Surgical
  • Paediatrics including the general inpatient paediatric ward, postnatal ward, Cystic Fibrosis and paediatric respiratory outpatients
• To carry out comprehensive assessments, implementing treatments and establishing therapy goals
• To manage a caseload of patients on speciality wards overseeing band 5 physiotherapists and physiotherapy technical instructors.
• To manage an outpatient caseload and the running of rehabilitation classes overseeing technical instructors and working closely with the MDT.
• To take a role in the supervision and teaching of physiotherapists, technical instructors, students/volunteers and MDT staff in the physiotherapeutic care of patients with respiratory and cardiac conditions, as well as respiratory paediatric patients.
• To participate in out of hours services

For more detail please see the detailed job description and personal specification.

An informal visit is encouraged.

Please contact with any questions.

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Documented evidence of recent speciality relevant CPD
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of postgraduate education within speciality
• Membership of appropriate specialist interest group e.g. ACPRC

Knowledge and Experience

• Various Band 5 experience including rotation in Acute Respiratory within NHS.
• Knowledge of relevant pathology and treatment concepts
• Previous experience of ooh working
• Previous band 6 NHS experience in speciality area

Skills

• Proven clinical skills in speciality
• Proven non‑clinical skills in self‑management and others e.g. supervision / IPR / teaching
• Evidence of leadership skills
• Experience of service development / research / audit

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to 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.

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full‑time,Part‑time,Job share,Flexible working