Job summary
We have the opportunity to recruit a physiotherapist with a specialism in Spinal Cord Injury to our major trauma team to cover a secondment for approximately 12 months.
As a member of the team, you will be working primarily with patients with spinal cord injuries and in addition, those undergoing rehabilitation on the major trauma ward.
You will have access to well-equipped gym areas and hydrotherapy facilities. We offer flexible working patterns (where possible) and actively support the ongoing development of our team members.
We can offer you:
Strong peer supportWork with patients with a wide range of clinical conditionsCareer support and developmentPositive commitment to CPD and post graduate education- funding for courses and up to 7 days study leaveDevelopment of your supervisory, teaching and management skillsService development opportunities
Please be aware that applicants who we invite to interview may not be informed of interview arrangements until the new year.
Main duties of the job
To provide highly specialised acute and early rehabilitation on the trauma wards. The role is primarily within spinal cord injury with the addition of major trauma patients.
To provide outreach support for other spinal injury patients within CUH, and to local district general hospitals.
To support and work alongside other members of the trauma ward physiotherapy team and ensure delivery of the highest possible standard of service.
To lead the team in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy service on a day-to-day basis.
To be an integral part of the highly specialised acute trauma and neurosciences multidisciplinary team, including consultants, specialist nurses and specialist physiotherapists.
To develop a long term vision for the spinal cord injury rehab hub physiotherapy team and to develop the service in a way that reflects that vision.
About us
Our Trust
Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds the priorities of the Trust focus on a quality service which is all about people - patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing 'outstanding' care to our patients and rated 'Good' overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH's values - Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent - are at the heart of patient care, defining the way all staff work and behave. The Trust provides accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge, together with specialist services, dealing with rare or complex conditions for a regional, national and international population.
CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We want to ensure our people are truly representative of all the communities that we serve. We welcome applications for all positions in the organisation irrespective of people's age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity status or social economic background.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please have a read about what we can offer you in CUH Physiotherapy:
https://careers.cuh.nhs.uk/where-could-i-work/allied-health-professionals-ahps/physiotherapist/
Please do contact us for an informal discussion about our vacancy.
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments, you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant
The advert will close at midnight on the 17th December 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on the 14th January 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please have a read about what we can offer you in CUH Physiotherapy:
https://careers.cuh.nhs.uk/where-could-i-work/allied-health-professionals-ahps/physiotherapist/
Please do contact us for an informal discussion about our vacancy.
Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.
Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a Student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a Student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full time permanent contract unless you have:- applied for a Graduate visa- or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment- or the Trust has agreed that they will Sponsor you as a Skilled Worker and you will complete your studies within 3 months of the anticipated start date of employment
Please note:- Internal applicants on permanent contracts can apply for this post as a secondment or fixed term contract. For secondments, you must have the approval of your line manager before applying. If you are an internal applicant
The advert will close at midnight on the 17th December 2025.
Interviews are due to be held on the 14th January 2025.
Benefits to you
At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.
On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only caf, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.
CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.
Please note if you would like to discuss the required hours of this role further, you should approach the contact given. In some cases, alternative working hours will be considered.
We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy.
- State Registration.
- Evidence of relevant post-graduate education / CPD.
- Ability to work to MSc standard.
Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
- Relevant validated courses.
- Involvement in special interest groups.
- MSc level qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical work at band 6 level providing a broad range of experience in respiratory, elderly care, neurological, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions.
- Experience of Major Trauma and spinal cord injury (e.g. Band 6 level).
- Competency to participate in on call and weekend working.
Desirable
- Senior Management experience (e.g. NHS Band 7).
- Supervisory Skills and experience of performance management.
- Student supervisor.
- Knowledge of workings of community and intermediate care services.
Knowledge
Essential
- Competent to contribute to clinical education of less experienced staff, students or assistants.
- Extensive knowledge of Spinal cord injury rehabilitation, the Major Trauma pathway and the role of physiotherapy within it.
- Advanced knowledge on functional outcomes dependent on spinal cord injury level.
- Extensive experience of Tracheostomy weaning.
- Knowledge and understanding of complex rehabilitation processes.
- Experience of service development. Advanced knowledge with reference to tone, spasticity, specialist seating, wheelchair skills and splinting.
- Experience of service development.
Desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate highly developed physiotherapeutic handling and positioning skills, gait re-education, wheelchair skills and exercise programme development skills.
- Ability to communicate with partners, CCG, discharge planning teams, Spinal Cord injury Centres etc regarding complex patients
- Able to work independently.
- Able to pass on skills and knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
- Good organisational skills.
- Ability to manage own caseload and team delegation.
- Ability to link EBP to practice.
- Proven leadership skills.
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Critical appraisal
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to communicate with patients with impaired communication abilities.
- Able to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses.
- Able to work collaboratively within the MDT Committed to personal and team development.
- Able to maintain judgment under pressure
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy.
- State Registration.
- Evidence of relevant post-graduate education / CPD.
- Ability to work to MSc standard.
Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
- Relevant validated courses.
- Involvement in special interest groups.
- MSc level qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical work at band 6 level providing a broad range of experience in respiratory, elderly care, neurological, orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions.
- Experience of Major Trauma and spinal cord injury (e.g. Band 6 level).
- Competency to participate in on call and weekend working.
Desirable
- Senior Management experience (e.g. NHS Band 7).
- Supervisory Skills and experience of performance management.
- Student supervisor.
- Knowledge of workings of community and intermediate care services.
Knowledge
Essential
- Competent to contribute to clinical education of less experienced staff, students or assistants.
- Extensive knowledge of Spinal cord injury rehabilitation, the Major Trauma pathway and the role of physiotherapy within it.
- Advanced knowledge on functional outcomes dependent on spinal cord injury level.
- Extensive experience of Tracheostomy weaning.
- Knowledge and understanding of complex rehabilitation processes.
- Experience of service development. Advanced knowledge with reference to tone, spasticity, specialist seating, wheelchair skills and splinting.
- Experience of service development.
Desirable
Skills
Essential
- Ability to demonstrate highly developed physiotherapeutic handling and positioning skills, gait re-education, wheelchair skills and exercise programme development skills.
- Ability to communicate with partners, CCG, discharge planning teams, Spinal Cord injury Centres etc regarding complex patients
- Able to work independently.
- Able to pass on skills and knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
- Good organisational skills.
- Ability to manage own caseload and team delegation.
- Ability to link EBP to practice.
- Proven leadership skills.
Desirable
- Presentation skills
- Critical appraisal
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to communicate with patients with impaired communication abilities.
- Able to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses.
- Able to work collaboratively within the MDT Committed to personal and team development.
- Able to maintain judgment under pressure
- The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).