Specialist Physiotherapist - Oncology

NHS Jobs; Sunderland; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working Policy

Fitness Centre access

Library services

Care Co-ordinator for childcare

Job summary

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Band 6 Specialist Physiotherapist to support oncology prehabilitation across cancer pathways. The role includes assessment, treatment, and development of prehabilitation services with MDT collaboration.

The post offers opportunities to contribute to service expansion, research, and workforce development within an evolving cancer care model.

Qualifications

• BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent required.
• HCPC registration to practice as physiotherapist.
• Postgraduate qualifications in leadership, advancing practice or oncology are desirable.
• CPD evident with reflective practice, training and clinical experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and exercise-based prehabilitation.
• Deliver both face-to-face and telephone/virtual interventions.
• Develop personalised exercise and rehabilitation programmes for cancer patients.
• Supervise the Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner and support workforce development.
• Contribute to education, service evaluation and quality improvement across cancer pathways.

Skills

Prehabilitation knowledge

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Clinical assessment

Exercise prescription

Data collection

Education & training

Personalised care

Research & audit

Leadership / supervision

Education

BSc Physiotherapy

HCPC Registration

Postgraduate oncology/leadership training

CPD and reflective practice

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist - Oncology

The closing date is 06 October 2026

Anexciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Band 6Specialist Physiotherapist to join the Cancer Prehabilitation Service withinSouth Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. This newly funded post willsupport the continued development and expansion of oncology prehabilitationservices, helping patients optimise their physical health and wellbeing before,during and after cancer treatment. The role will initially support establishedCancer pathways whilst contributing to the expansion of services intocolorectal cancer pathways. You will work as part of a dynamicmultidisciplinary team, delivering evidence-based interventions that improvetreatment readiness, recovery, quality of life and patient outcomes. This is anexcellent opportunity to contribute to an innovative and developing servicethat is aligned to national personalised cancer care priorities.

Main duties of the job

Thepost holder will provide specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment,exercise prescription, rehabilitation, nutrition and wellbeing advice forpatients undergoing cancer treatment. Working closely with the PrehabilitationLead, you will manage a specialist caseload, deliver both face-to-face andtelephone/virtual interventions, and contribute to the ongoing development ofcancer prehabilitation pathways across the Trust. Key responsibilities includeundertaking comprehensive patient assessments, developing personalised exerciseand rehabilitation programmes, supporting multidisciplinary team working,collecting outcome data, participating in service evaluation and qualityimprovement projects, and contributing to education and workforce developmentactivities. The successful candidate will also provide supervision and supportto the Band 4 Prehabilitation Assistant Practitioner and play an active role indelivering high-quality, patient-centred care that improves treatmenttolerance, reduces complications, enhances recovery and improves patientoutcomes.

About us

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, wemay withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

This role will support the clinical delivery and ongoing development of cancerprehabilitation and rehabilitation services across tumour pathways within South Tynesideand Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust.We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled Specialist Physiotherapist to support theextension of the Trusts cancer prehabilitation service which is currently established withinHead & Neck and Lung cancer pathways, into colorectal cancer pathways.The post holder will provide specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment andexercise-based prehabilitation and rehabilitation interventions, while working closely withand supporting the Prehabilitation Lead. The role will include providing specialistphysiotherapy input within tumour groups, support the supervision of the PrehabilitationAssistant Practitioner, pathway development, and contribution to research, serviceevaluation and quality improvement including supporting workforce development acrossthe cancer care pathway.This post will offer significant opportunities to contribute to service development within ane evolving cancer prehabilitation model.

Qualifications

• BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent
• HCPC State Registration
• Continuing Professional Development - including
• evidence of reflective practice, training and clinical experience
• Basic IT skills including Microsoft Office modalities
• Evidence of post-graduate competence, knowledge and skills.
• An understanding of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, its culture, strategic direction, achievements, and NHS standing
• Post graduate qualifications in leadership, advancing practice or oncology
• Clinical supervision training
• Good understanding of psychology and nutrition in Oncology

Experience

• Post graduate NHS experience in core speciality areas
• Experience in a local authority, hospital, or NHS
• organisation
• Evidence of interaction with the public or patients in a care setting
• Experience of working directly with patients
• providing care and treatment interventions
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Previous experience working within
• oncology
• Experience of group exercise provision
• Experience presenting information to groups
• Experience of working in acute hospital and community settings
• Previous experience of delivering colorectal/cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation or similar programmes

Physical skills

• Ability to work under pressure
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical
• effort throughout the working day and to work within an environment with competing demands
• Able to meet travel requirements of post

Skills and Knowledge

• Knowledge of prehabilitation/rehabilitation and its benefits
• Form professional relationships with patients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture
• Ability to work with patients on a one-to-one basis,
• with awareness of own limitations, recognising and working within own scope of practice and seeking support when needed
• Ability to deliver patient centred care
• Able to evidence/ demonstrate values and behaviours aligned to the Trust
• Able to use initiative and good organisational skills: timely organisation, delegation and prioritisation
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to communicate at all levels
• Ability to independently follow guidance and
• tandards
• Ability to engage, empathise and motivate people
• Ability to work in a stressful environment with aggressive and emotional people
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Knowledge and understanding of psychological issues faced by patients in specialty area.
• Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
• Basic IT skills
• Evidence of ability to be innovative
• and proactive
• Understanding of an holistic assessment and be able to give advice for pain management, fatigue and breathlessness

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 Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust