Senior Community Physiotherapist (Band 6) *Internal Applicants*

Job summary

INTERNAL ONLY TO NORTH CUMBRIA INTEGRATED CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (NCIC) EMPLOYEES ONLY

Are you a team player ready for a change?

Come to the Northern Lake District – the post is based at Keswick Community Hospital and part of the wider Keswick & Solway ICC.

You will need to be experienced in managing patients with a variety of medical conditions and will be able to use your assessment and clinical reasoning skills to the full, supported by a friendly, multi-disciplinary team.

Our aim is to keep people in their own homes and out of hospital whenever possible, so ideally you will also have some community experience and be able to prioritise your caseload.

Keswick Community Hospital is a 16-bedded hospital, which is GP led. The patients are predominantly elderly with the added challenge of multi-pathology, which will require you to adapt your approach according to each individual patients’ need.

Main duties of the job

Some of the post will be ward-based, working together with OTs and Rehab Assistants to facilitate the patients’ return back home. We work closely with other staff on the ward and you will act as a role model promoting a rehab philosophy on the ward.

The community part of the post provides rehab to patients in their own homes, which may also include residential/ nursing homes or as outpatients.

Part of the role will be to complete Discharge to Assess (D2As) – you will need the ability to complete a functional assessment and the confidence to understand appropriate risk.

We also receive some more urgent referrals as Rapid Responses in the community, which may require staff to reschedule their caseload – the ability to be flexible and have good time-management and prioritisation skills is essential, together with a high level of clinical physiotherapy skills.

Good communication skills (verbal and written) are essential for this post, as you will need to communicate effectively with patients, their families and other health and social care staff. For example, you will need to triage new referrals on the phone and be able to write clear written care plans.

Experience of supervision and delegation is also important, as you will be working closely with our rehab assistants. We regularly support physiotherapy and OT students on placement with our team.

I you think this sounds like you, then please get in touch to discuss the role further.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• CSP recognised Degree/Diploma or equivalent in Physiotherapy
• HCPC Registered

Desirable

• Evidence of attendance at relevant post graduate courses
• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Experience

Essential

• Completion of core junior rotations (respiratory/neurological/musculo-skeletal/elderly care)
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working within the NHS

Desirable

• Previous experience of working at Band 6 level
• Experience of working within a community setting
• Teaching/Mentoring of healthcare professionals

Knowledge

Essential

• Good Knowledge of Evidence Based Clinical Practice within Rehabilitation
• Good Knowledge of Continuing Professional Development/Lifelong Learning
• Knowledge and understanding of Clinical Governance including Risk Management
• Understanding of Professional Code of Conduct and confidentiality
• Knowledge of key NHS drivers for change and implications for Physiotherapy services

Desirable

• Knowledge of management of patients with long-term conditions and falls
• Knowledge of clinical audit and outcome measures, and their use in service improvement
• Understanding and knowledge of local area and facilities available for patients
• Knowledge of Moving & Handling equipment and its use

Skills and Aptitudes

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively – both written and verbal
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team
• Good organisational and time management skills of self and others
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Relevant practical physiotherapy skills
• The post holder needs good IT skills, the ability to input data, communicate via email and search for evidence based practice
• Patient focused
• Flexible and Reliable
• Take an active part in training for personal and professional development

Desirable

• Teaching skills to support students, unregistered and registered staff within the team.
• Willing to actively take part in training of others
• Member of Special Interest Group
• Genuine desire to work with elderly

Other Requirements

Essential

• Full UK driving licence – Able to travel independently, (and at times) transport patients and /or equipment across the locality.
• Confident to drive in rural areas in all weathers
• Able to work 7 days per week

Closing Date: 26 July 2026