Specialist Physiotherapist - Rotational

Merseywestlancs; Sefton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust is seeking an experienced physiotherapist to join a dynamic, supportive therapy department on our rotational programme. The post offers opportunities to develop Band 6 skills within a wide range of acute inpatient rotations and a respiratory on-call service.

The successful candidate will provide high-standard physiotherapy care, supervise junior staff and clinical students, and contribute to discharge planning and patient-flow improvements across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Advanced clinical knowledge applicable to acute inpatient settings.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams (MDT).
• Ability to deliver evidence-based physiotherapy treatment plans.
• Clinical reasoning and assessment skills for complex cases.
• Experience in supervising junior staff and clinical students.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-standard physiotherapy across acute inpatient rotations (Cardiac, Respiratory, Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Stroke, Acute Medicine, Elderly Medicine, Urgent Care).
• Participate in evening/weekend respiratory on-call service.
• Perform comprehensive assessments and develop individual treatment plans.
• Collaborate with AHP colleagues to optimise therapy resources.
• Manage a defined caseload and contribute to patient flow and discharge planning.
• Mentor physiotherapy students and support preceptorship for new staff.

Skills

Team motivation

Prioritisation

Communication

Record keeping

Time management

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Clinical Educators Certificate

Job description

We want talented and enthusiastic people from all backgrounds to join #TeamMWL, with us you can learn, grow and develop yourself and your career, realising your true ambitions and aspirations.

Whatever you’re looking for in your career, you’ll find it here at MWL.

Job overview

Are you an experienced physiotherapist looking for an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and supportive therapy department on our rotational programme? We’re looking for a Physiotherapist who is passionate in providing high standards of care.

We welcome applicants looking to further develop their Band 6 skills or those seeking development into their first Band 6 role.

As a department we are passionate about supporting continuing professional development to ensure we provide the highest standards of care to our patients.

The successful candidate will partake in the respiratory on-call service and the provision of 7-day therapy services throughout the department.

Interviews will take place on 13th November, 2026

Main duties of the job

To provide a high standard of Physiotherapy within the following acute inpatient rotations: Cardiac & Respiratory Rehab, Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Stroke, Acute Medicine, Elderly Medicine and Urgent Care and Frailty.

To be an active member of the evening and weekend respiratory on call service.

To perform advanced and detailed assessments of patients presenting with a wide range of complex conditions and comorbidities; providing a diagnosis, plan, and goals, to develop and to deliver an individualised treatment programme to patients.

To work closely with AHP colleagues to provide joint therapies assessments and treatment plans enabling efficient use of Therapies Team resources.

To manage a caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service, working without direct supervision, managing attendance of board rounds and ward meetings to contribute significantly to patient flow.

To be highly skilled in identifying pathways of patient care, discharge plans, and suitable discharge locations.

Support band 7 and 8 colleagues in the day-to-day management and supervision of therapy teams, including supporting Band 5 therapists.

Mentor physiotherapy students during clinical placements (MSc & BSc) providing support and regular supervision with support from the Practice Development Lead as required.

Support newly registered staff during the preceptorship period taking on the role of preceptor, completing regular reviews and clinical supervision.

Working for our organisation

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Supporting Clinical and Patient Excellence

• To work autonomously within departmental clinical teams to provide excellent physiotherapy care to a diverse client group.
• Manage a caseload independently on designated ward/s, supporting junior staff with their caseload management.
• To increase and expand knowledge base and experience, clinically and non-clinically.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation/multiple pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
• Formulate and deliver a complete specialised physiotherapy programme based on sound knowledge of evidence-based practise and treatment options.
• Ensure that all patients have a documented problem list and goals that the patient has been involved in creating

Our Values

• We are Kind
• We are Open
• We are Inclusive

Qualifications

• Degree in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Clinical Educators Certificate

Experience

• Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the current environment and evidence of evidence-based practise in relevant health setting
• Awareness of own strengths and limitations
• Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
• Experience of line managing team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and coordination
• Evidence of effective working within an MDT
• Experience of service development
• Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
• Audit and research in a clinical area

Skills

• Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
• Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
• Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

Other

• Ability to travel to various hospital locations

Thank you for considering an application to work for Mersey West Lancashire NHS Trust. MWL is an exciting and forward-thinking NHS