Physiotherapist

Job summary

East London foundation trust are looking for a registered Physiotherapist with two years of post-registration experience to join their Newham health team for Adults with Learning disabilities as a full time Band 6 Specialist Physiotherapist (37.5 hours week).

You will be part of a Physiotherapy team, supervised by a Band 7 Clinical Lead Physiotherapist. You will be working with an experienced multi disciplinary team of Nurses, speech and language therapists, occupational therapist, and Psychiatrists.

The physiotherapy service has been well established for many years and offers multiple treatment pathways including Mobility, rehabilitation and Postural management for individuals with severe and profound learning disabilities in different community settings. You will be working in varied settings such as individual’s home, therapy centres, educational settings, Hydrotherapy pools and other community facilities.

You will have knowledge and understanding of working with complex neurological conditions and people with long term conditions. Experience of working with people who have a learning disability and the understanding of the legal framework is essential. You will be expected to hold an independent caseload, be autonomous in doing assessments and execute treatment programs independently. Within this role you can expected to develop your clinical, leadership and managerial skills. You will have supervision and support from the Clinical lead Physiotherapist

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialist client centered physiotherapy service to patients

To work as an autonomous practitioner in managing a defined caseload of complex cases independently, evidencing problem solving and clinical reasoning skills in line with evidence based/ client centred principles

To apply specialist physiotherapy knowledge and skills to the assessment of the needs of a given client group. From the assessment, to formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan designed to reduce the impact of disability and ill heath

To provide supervision, teaching and appraisal for junior physiotherapists, assistants, students and other members of the multidisciplinary team

To contribute to the planning, development and evaluation of the Physiotherapy service

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered
• Physiotherapy degree
• Maintenance of continuing professional development portfolio

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 18 months’ clinical, post-registration physiotherapy practice, which should include working with Adults with Learning Disabilities
• Experience in training others
• Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• Training completed in specialist LD Physiotherapy interventions e.g. 24 hour postural management

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of theory and practice of physiotherapy with clients with physical, cognitive and psycho-social needs
• Evidence of sound knowledge of the roles of other disciplines and agencies involved
• Knowledge of safe manual handling techniques
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its application
• Knowledge of legislation affecting our work as physiotherapists supporting people with Learning Disabilities in the community
• Evidence of sound knowledge of the roles of other disciplines and agencies involved

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work and communicate with a wide range of professionals as a member of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to establish a therapeutic relationship with a client and his/her family/carers, motivating them to participate in the therapeutic process
• Ability to develop and apply specialist skills in relation to physiotherapy with clients with a wide range of disabilities
• Ability to demonstrate empathy with clients and their family/carers ensuring that effective communication is achieved
• Ability to impart complex information to clients and their families/carers regarding their medical condition and the physiotherapy assessment and interventions
• Ability and commitment to working within a non-discriminatory, client-centred framework
• Ability to use equipment safely with clients
• Evidence of basic ability to supervise and manage a junior member of staff and a student with a commitment to developing these skills
• Good time management skills and an ability to prioritise own workload taking into account both clinical and non-clinical elements
• Ability to support and train others (junior staff, students, other disciplines) in the theory and practice of physiotherapy in relation to clients with a wide range of physical disabilities
• Evidence of good communication skills, both written and verbal, in relation to clinical and other areas of work.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others performance
• Ability to use a computer, e.g. to enter statistics, clinical documentation, and produce reports for use by others both internal and external to the Trust
• Ability to keep appropriate clinical and departmental records including statistics

intervention and treatment

Essential

• To assess effectively, clinically diagnose accurately and select appropriate physiotherapy treatment techniques for people with Learning Disabilities
• To run group programmes when allocated, e.g. accessible gym sessions, hydrotherapy
• To accurately and effectively apply assessment and treatment techniques for people with Learning Disabilities and use valid outcomes as appropriate.

Closing Date: 2 August 2026