University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Team Lead Physiotherapist for Front Door Integrated Discharge Team

The closing date is 26 November 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a motivated senior physiotherapist with good acute hospital experience to work within our Inpatient Physiotherapy teams covering the wards at Royal Sussex County Hospital which is now a 7 day service, covering the hours 8-6pm. The post is permanent. This role will be focused on providing a high standard of Physiotherapy assessment, treatment and evaluation to clients within the Inpatient Physiotherapy service at Royal Sussex County Hospital. You will have excellent opportunities for your own skills development, working within a strong and supportive MDT and alongside an established peer group of Physiotherapy Support Workers. This Band 7 position is an excellent opportunity to work within a dynamic, forward looking and innovative department. Royal Sussex County Hospital is in a wonderful location, situated adjacent to the South Downs National Park and the sea and with excellent transport links to London and across Southern England. You will be joining a strong and supportive Physiotherapy team within the top performing University Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We look forward to welcoming you on an informal visit or discussing any aspect of this exciting opportunity further.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for the training and development of the staff working in the Front Door Integrated Discharge Team including weekend provision.

To comprehend the acuity of patients within A&E, the Acute Assessment Unit, the rest of the acute floor and C5 Acute Medicine beds, understanding, and facilitating complex hospital discharges ensuring patient flow.

To lead in advanced assessment, clinical diagnosis and treatment of patients who may have complex and/or chronic presentation, under different specialities.

To provide an effective high-quality service to all patients and assist with the supervision and teaching of all members of the team including students.

To provide skilled team leadership and service development within therapies and the wider MDT.

To implement policy and policy changes in own clinical area and to assist with the setting and monitoring of standards of practice.

To undertake evidence-based projects in conjunction with the Head of Physiotherapy and other members of the MDT, including recommendations for change in practice and to lead in appropriate departmental research in this clinical area.

To problem solve clinical and non-clinical complex situations.

To remain competent for respiratory on-calls and to work as part of the respiratory rota.

To participate in a 7-day rota including weekends and bank holidays

About us

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate information pack - University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Details

Date posted

12 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7585827-NOV25

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

Communication

  • To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and other professional colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated, patient centred multidisciplinary service. This includes highly complex information in a lead role at discharge planning (e.g. family meetings, goal setting, team case conferences, and complaint meetings).
  • To work collaboratively with Occupational Therapy IDT Team Lead in order to deliver and effective and efficient front door therapy service.
  • To communicate effectively with external organisations such as community services, GPs etc to help ensure effective transfer of patient care. To contribute to discussions with external agencies on systems in place to facilitate this.
  • To communicate effectively and consistently with patients and carers, individually and in groups, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of often highly complex aspects of their condition and recovery (goal setting, family meetings, carer training tasks, individual activity programmes).
  • To be highly skilled in verbal and non-verbal communication skills, allowing patients to express their thoughts, feelings, concerns and expectations. This includes patients who are distressed, depressed or angry and who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating. (e.g. blind, deaf, frail, illiterate or those with other co-existing pathology such as mental health problems.)
  • Educate patients, carers and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including physiotherapy techniques, therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities and advice and education with regards to patient condition
  • Use empathetic, tactful and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients rehabilitation potential; giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues
  • To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
  • To be able to motivate others such as staff and patients through effective communication skills.

**For further details, please see the attached Job Description**

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.

Communication

  • To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and other professional colleagues to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated, patient centred multidisciplinary service. This includes highly complex information in a lead role at discharge planning (e.g. family meetings, goal setting, team case conferences, and complaint meetings).
  • To work collaboratively with Occupational Therapy IDT Team Lead in order to deliver and effective and efficient front door therapy service.
  • To communicate effectively with external organisations such as community services, GPs etc to help ensure effective transfer of patient care. To contribute to discussions with external agencies on systems in place to facilitate this.
  • To communicate effectively and consistently with patients and carers, individually and in groups, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of often highly complex aspects of their condition and recovery (goal setting, family meetings, carer training tasks, individual activity programmes).
  • To be highly skilled in verbal and non-verbal communication skills, allowing patients to express their thoughts, feelings, concerns and expectations. This includes patients who are distressed, depressed or angry and who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating. (e.g. blind, deaf, frail, illiterate or those with other co-existing pathology such as mental health problems.)
  • Educate patients, carers and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including physiotherapy techniques, therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities and advice and education with regards to patient condition
  • Use empathetic, tactful and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients rehabilitation potential; giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues
  • To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
  • To be able to motivate others such as staff and patients through effective communication skills.

**For further details, please see the attached Job Description**

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • HCPC Registration

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy Portfolio of continuous professional development

Desirable

  • Master's degree in related subject

Skills (non-clinical)

Essential

  • Experience of operational team management
  • Experience of strategic management and representing physiotherapy at higher level
  • Masters modules or equivalent courses / learning relevant to the clinical speciality.
  • Previous Band 6 experience in core in-patient area.

Desirable

  • Course(s) in management
  • Experience at Team Lead level in front door Therapy services

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Experience of teaching and staff development in a clinical setting, within and beyond physiotherapy department.

Desirable

  • Experience of performance management.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Person Specification

Professional Registration

Essential

  • HCPC Registration

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy Portfolio of continuous professional development

Desirable

  • Master's degree in related subject

Skills (non-clinical)

Essential

  • Experience of operational team management
  • Experience of strategic management and representing physiotherapy at higher level
  • Masters modules or equivalent courses / learning relevant to the clinical speciality.
  • Previous Band 6 experience in core in-patient area.

Desirable

  • Course(s) in management
  • Experience at Team Lead level in front door Therapy services

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Experience of teaching and staff development in a clinical setting, within and beyond physiotherapy department.

Desirable

  • Experience of performance management.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Operational Lead Physiotherapist RSCH

George Browne

georgina.browne4@nhs.net

01273696955

Details

Date posted

12 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

279-7585827-NOV25

Job locations

Royal Sussex County Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BE


Supporting documents

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