Team Lead Physiotherapist

MFT; Sale; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) seeks a Team Lead Physiotherapist to provide clinical leadership for Ascot House Intermediate Care Unit. You will oversee the bed-based therapy team, ensure safe, evidence-based patient care, and drive service improvements in collaboration with the wider urgent care and specialist services division.

You will manage an adult caseload, supervise junior staff, and contribute to workforce development while aligning with national guidelines and trust

Qualifications

• Honours degree in physiotherapy.
• Evidence of CPD through a portfolio.
• Postgraduate diploma-level knowledge or equivalent.
• Specialist knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning in the specialist area.
• Awareness of national guidance and governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strong clinical leadership within the bed-based intermediate care unit.
• Support day-to-day management and patient flow for the therapy team.
• Autonomously manage an adult caseload with rehabilitation complexity.
• Supervise and support Physiotherapists, including appraisals and training.
• Lead service change projects to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care.
• Support team members to achieve objectives with advice and guidance.

Skills

Team leadership

Clinical leadership

Autonomous practice

Physiotherapy

Education

Honours degree in physiotherapy

Postgraduate diploma-level qualification

Job description

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Main area Bed Based Intermediate Care Physiotherapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday 08:00-16:00) Job ref 349-LCOD-8306276-RL4

Site Ascot House Intermediate Care Unit Town Sale Salary £49,387 - £56,515 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 09/11/2026 23:59

Job overview

This is an exciting, new opportunity for a Physiotherapist to become a clinical leader in the well established bed based therapy team based at Ascot House Intermediate Care Unit.

Sitting within the expanding Urgent Care and Specialist Services division of the Local Care Organisation, alongside Discharge to Assess, Crisis and IV teams in Trafford, the bed based therapy team deliver therapeutic interventions to Trafford patients requiring a period of bed based rehabilitation, reablement and recovery.

As the Team Lead Physiotherapist, the post holder will have clinical, professional and managerial responsibility for the bed-based intermediate care team at Ascot House Intermediate Care Unit.

Sitting alongside the Senior Practitioner Occupational Therapist and within the wider multidisciplinary team, the post holder will be responsible for maximising service provision, including the delivery of safe and effective clinical practice, ensuring that all local and national guidelines and targets are adhered to and met

The post holder will use advanced therapeutic skills to provide direct, high-quality and effective therapeutic care and support to patients, whilst providing day-to-day operational management and leadership to the team.

Main duties of the job

To provide strong clinical leadership within your scope of practice to Ascot House Intermediate Care Unit.

To support the Band 7 Senior Practitioner OT in the day-to-day management of the therapy team and patient flow through the unit.

To act autonomously in the management of an adult caseload with a varying degree of rehabilitation complexity. The post holder will be expected to provide expert clinical opinion on cognition, risk management and functional abilities including rehab potential.

To supervise and support Physiotherapists by providing appraisals, supervisionsessions and peersupport and the training of junior staff including students.

To act as project lead in Ascot House to introduce service change/improvement projects and ensure the delivery of a high quality, evidence based intermediate care service.

To supporting team members to deliver on their objectives through offering advice, guidance and support as appropriate with the focus being on delivering a high quality and efficient intermediate care service.

Working for our organisation

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe – a great place to shape your career.

With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year.
Behind every patient cared for are people like you - keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.
At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high-quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others.
At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you’re part of something bigger from day one.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.

Explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place.This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS : Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS : Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment.If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.

Person specification

Person Specification

• Honours degree in physiotherapy or equivalent
• Evidence of CPD in the form of a portfolio
• Relevant postgraduate training demonstrating postgraduate diploma-level knowledge.
• Specialist knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills to underpin clinical assessment, management and treatment approaches relevant to the specialty area.
• Awareness of relevant national guidance relating to the area of work.
• Working knowledge of clinical governance and risk management.
• Knowledge of implementing new policies and procedures.
• Post-registration and relevant experience in the specialist area.
• Experience working with people with complex pathology, complex social needs and/or mental health issues.
• Ability to work autonomously within a specialist clinical area and as part of a team.
• Experience of team leadership, teaching, supervision and appraisal.
• Manual handling skills to support patients as required and manage equipment.
• Ability to manage crisis situations and reorganise workload at short notice.
• Experience of partnership working.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven organisational skills.
• Ability to use problem-solving skills and influence.
• Self-motivated.
• Flexible. Able to represent the profession, department and Trust.
• Ability to work in unpredictable environments in patients’ homes, including exposure to dirt, smoke, animals, cold, sputum and bodily fluids.
• Clinical educator qualification and/or completion of relevant Master’s-level courses
• Active member of relevant specialist interest group
• Previous audit or research experience
• Evidence of working at Master’s level, demonstrated by ongoing CPD and evidence-based project work.
• Experience working within an intermediate care setting.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.