Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 26 February 2026

Job summary

12 MONTH FIXED TERM MATERNITY COVER

To provide assessment and specialist Physiotherapy to adults with learning disabilities as part of the Community Adult Learning Disability Physiotherapy Team and to act as a learning disability resource for carers and other providers. To provide support and guidance to colleagues in other teams/services around making reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities and to facilitate people in accessing mainstream services wherever possible.

Main duties of the job

Key Task and Responsibilities

  • To be able to plan and facilitate appropriate therapeutic intervention including group work for the specialist client group and their families and carers
  • Demonstrate a broad knowledge of conditions in learning disability and how Physiotherapy interventions can be appropriately chosen to achieve clinical effectiveness
  • To be able to assess and manage risk in adults with learning disabilities and to do this on an on-going basis within the role as care co-ordinator
  • Assist in running hydrotherapy service, completing administration, such as the collection of referrals and booking of patient appointments
  • To act as an autonomous practitioner with an understanding of own limitations and recognition of when to seek support.
  • To contribute to overall service delivery and development, as required
  • To work closely with the college based and community health professionals, carrying out joint assessments when appropriate.
  • To implement appropriate training for parents and carers in conjunction with colleagues.
  • Be responsible for maintaining and developing own competency to practice through CPD activities, for example, using evidence based-practice projects, audits and the use of outcome measures and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development

About us

Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.

Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:

  • We're Kind
  • We're Fair
  • We Listen
  • We Care

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

277-7787997-ALD

Job locations

Queen Mary's Hospital

Frognal Avenue

Sidcup

DA14 6LT


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To possess good IT skills to effectively communicate in writing with colleagues, other professionals and families in accordance with trust policies e.g. writing of comprehensive report.
  • To store statistical data in accordance with trust policies.
  • Undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects, managing and undertaking research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives
  • To ensure live registration with appropriate professional body, e.g. CSP and HCPC
  • Actively identify personal training needs and participate in training programmes as required and identified in PDP
  • To demonstrate the ability to make appropriate decisions with regard to the confidentiality of clients and their families taking into considerations the risks to clients, self and the wider public.
  • To liaise with other colleagues in ALD and participate in different clinical groups in order to share best practice and discuss current and future professional and clinical developments e.g. case review meetings and professional fora
  • To liaise independently and effectively with external partner agencies, co-ordinating meetings and participating in case discussions between teams involved in the care of clients.
  • Carry out assessments and treatments of patients, which involves moderate to intense physical effort daily
  • Comply with the Trust Manual Handling policy and local therapeutic handling guidance at all times
  • Deal sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care such as realistic expectations of rehabilitation outcome
  • Deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, dementia, limited mobility or limited understanding
  • Work alone in environments, for example, domiciliary settings, assessing and managing risk appropriately
  • Manage the aspects of the role which may involve exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular basis, for example, bodily fluids including sputum, unpleasant smells, faeces, vomit, urine and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • To possess good IT skills to effectively communicate in writing with colleagues, other professionals and families in accordance with trust policies e.g. writing of comprehensive report.
  • To store statistical data in accordance with trust policies.
  • Undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects, managing and undertaking research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives
  • To ensure live registration with appropriate professional body, e.g. CSP and HCPC
  • Actively identify personal training needs and participate in training programmes as required and identified in PDP
  • To demonstrate the ability to make appropriate decisions with regard to the confidentiality of clients and their families taking into considerations the risks to clients, self and the wider public.
  • To liaise with other colleagues in ALD and participate in different clinical groups in order to share best practice and discuss current and future professional and clinical developments e.g. case review meetings and professional fora
  • To liaise independently and effectively with external partner agencies, co-ordinating meetings and participating in case discussions between teams involved in the care of clients.
  • Carry out assessments and treatments of patients, which involves moderate to intense physical effort daily
  • Comply with the Trust Manual Handling policy and local therapeutic handling guidance at all times
  • Deal sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care such as realistic expectations of rehabilitation outcome
  • Deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, dementia, limited mobility or limited understanding
  • Work alone in environments, for example, domiciliary settings, assessing and managing risk appropriately
  • Manage the aspects of the role which may involve exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular basis, for example, bodily fluids including sputum, unpleasant smells, faeces, vomit, urine and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Physiotherapy degree or equivalent UK HPC Registration
  • Evidence of relevant post-graduate education
  • Experiential training relevant to working with adults with learning disabilities

Experience

Essential

  • At least 2 years post physiotherapy registration.
  • A broad range of post-graduate experience, including skills that are transferable to learning disabilities, e.g. community, neuro, paediatrics, elderly care, mental health.
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience of managing patients in a hydrotherapy pool environment.
  • Experience of working with learning disabilities

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Core and developing specialist physiotherapy skills.
  • A range of assessment and treatment tools and approaches.
  • Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate risk/care plans to meet the needs of clients.

Effort and Environment

Essential

  • . Demonstrable ability to work under pressure and respond to emergency situations as appropriate
  • . A flexible approach to client intervention and to be able to work independently and flexibly to meet client needs
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications

Essential

  • Physiotherapy degree or equivalent UK HPC Registration
  • Evidence of relevant post-graduate education
  • Experiential training relevant to working with adults with learning disabilities

Experience

Essential

  • At least 2 years post physiotherapy registration.
  • A broad range of post-graduate experience, including skills that are transferable to learning disabilities, e.g. community, neuro, paediatrics, elderly care, mental health.
  • Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Experience of managing patients in a hydrotherapy pool environment.
  • Experience of working with learning disabilities

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge

Essential

  • Core and developing specialist physiotherapy skills.
  • A range of assessment and treatment tools and approaches.
  • Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate risk/care plans to meet the needs of clients.

Effort and Environment

Essential

  • . Demonstrable ability to work under pressure and respond to emergency situations as appropriate
  • . A flexible approach to client intervention and to be able to work independently and flexibly to meet client needs

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Mary's Hospital

Frognal Avenue

Sidcup

DA14 6LT


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Queen Mary's Hospital

Frognal Avenue

Sidcup

DA14 6LT


Employer's website

http://oxleas.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Physiotherapist

Louise Mara

louise.mara@nhs.net

02038715680

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£44,485 to £52,521 a year pa inc

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

277-7787997-ALD

Job locations

Queen Mary's Hospital

Frognal Avenue

Sidcup

DA14 6LT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)