Job summary
We're excited to launch our new Healthy Ageing (Frailty) Pathway and are seeking a dedicated Frailty Physiotherapy Clinical Specialist (Band 7) to provide expert, person-centred physiotherapy across both acute and community urgent-care settings.
In this pivotal role, you will identify, assess, and manage adults--predominantly those aged 65 and over living with frailty. You'll work collaboratively within a proactive multidisciplinary team (MDT) to optimise physical function, enable timely discharge, and prevent avoidable hospital admissions through evidence-based interventions and rehabilitation.
This is an excellent opportunity to shape a new model of care that supports people to live well, maintain independence, and achieve the best possible outcomes within their own homes and communities.
Save the date - should you be successful in the selection process you will be invited to attend an interview on the 25th November (further details to follow).
Main duties of the job
- Act as the service's clinical physiotherapy specialist for frailty, providing timely, holistic assessment and treatment, and contributing to Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment-aligned plans.
- Coordinate care and discharge with therapy, nursing, medical and discharge teams to ensure safe transitions between hospital, community hospitals, care homes and patients' own homes.
- Manage an independent, complex caseload, applying advanced clinical reasoning and positive risk-taking to support safe decisions.
- Work flexibly across a 7-day service spanning ED interfaces, SDEC/ambulatory care and community, responding to urgent referrals and supporting patient flow.
- Provide specialist advice, mentor/supervise junior staff and students, and contribute to audit, QI and service development.
About us
You'll join Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust within the Healthy Ageing Service, a compassionate, multi-professional team delivering integrated frailty care across the urgent care pathway. We value learning, innovation and staff wellbeing, and we work closely with ED, inpatient, community and voluntary-sector partners to deliver seamless, person-centred care that upholds dignity and independence.
Browse ourinteractive bookletto explore our staff benefits!
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Frailty Physiotherapy Clinical Specialist, you will:
-
Lead physiotherapy input across acute and community urgent-care settings, representing physiotherapy in multidisciplinary and multi-agency forums. Provide advanced assessment, treatment planning, and progression tailored to individuals with complex, multi-morbid needs.
-
Use validated frailty and functional assessment tools alongside advanced clinical reasoning to deliver holistic assessments (physical, cognitive, and social). Co-produce personalised rehabilitation and enablement plans that focus on what matters most to each person and help prevent deconditioning.
-
Triage referrals and allocate therapy input effectively, leading proactive discharge planningincluding Discharge to Assess (D2A) where appropriateto ensure timely, safe transitions and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
-
Communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and compassionately with patients, families, and carers. Adapt communication to overcome sensory or cognitive barriers and act as an advocate for dignity, autonomy, and personalised goals.
-
Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and contribute to audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Champion evidence-based practice, support service innovation, and uphold Trust and professional standards.
-
Supervise, mentor, and teach junior physiotherapists, assistants, and students. Contribute to workforce planning and safe staffing while promoting a positive, inclusive learning culture.
-
Work flexibly across multiple environments, including acute hospitals, community hospitals, the Healthy Ageing Hub/SDEC, and patients own homes, as part of a responsive 7-day service. Travel between sites will be required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
As the Frailty Physiotherapy Clinical Specialist, you will:
-
Lead physiotherapy input across acute and community urgent-care settings, representing physiotherapy in multidisciplinary and multi-agency forums. Provide advanced assessment, treatment planning, and progression tailored to individuals with complex, multi-morbid needs.
-
Use validated frailty and functional assessment tools alongside advanced clinical reasoning to deliver holistic assessments (physical, cognitive, and social). Co-produce personalised rehabilitation and enablement plans that focus on what matters most to each person and help prevent deconditioning.
-
Triage referrals and allocate therapy input effectively, leading proactive discharge planningincluding Discharge to Assess (D2A) where appropriateto ensure timely, safe transitions and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions.
-
Communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and compassionately with patients, families, and carers. Adapt communication to overcome sensory or cognitive barriers and act as an advocate for dignity, autonomy, and personalised goals.
-
Maintain high standards of clinical documentation and contribute to audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives. Champion evidence-based practice, support service innovation, and uphold Trust and professional standards.
-
Supervise, mentor, and teach junior physiotherapists, assistants, and students. Contribute to workforce planning and safe staffing while promoting a positive, inclusive learning culture.
-
Work flexibly across multiple environments, including acute hospitals, community hospitals, the Healthy Ageing Hub/SDEC, and patients own homes, as part of a responsive 7-day service. Travel between sites will be required.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- oRegistered Physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- oEvidence of continued professional development (CPD) relevant to frailty, older adult care, or acute/community physiotherapy.
Desirable
- oPostgraduate or specialist qualification in relevant area e.g., frailty, older adult rehabilitation desirable.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- oSignificant post graduate experience in physiotherapy assessment and management of older adults with complex needs, including frailty
- oRecent experience of working in the NHS with good understanding of the hospital discharge policy
- oExperience in service development, clinical audit, or quality improvement initiatives.
- oExperience supervising, mentoring, or supporting junior staff and students.
Desirable
- oExperience leading or contributing to multidisciplinary teams, providing expert advice and care coordination.
- oExperience working across NHS urgent care pathways, including acute, community, and home-based settings.
Specific skills
Essential
- oAdvanced clinical assessment, reasoning, and decision-making skills.
- oAbility to manage a complex caseload autonomously, prioritising patient and service needs effectively.
- oExcellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information sensitively to patients, families, and professionals.
- oLeadership and team-working skills, with the ability to influence, mentor, and support colleagues.
- oAbility to plan, organise, and coordinate care across multiple settings and services.
- oCompetent in using clinical IT systems, electronic health records, and standard office software.
Person Specification
Qualifications and training
Essential
- oRegistered Physiotherapist with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- oEvidence of continued professional development (CPD) relevant to frailty, older adult care, or acute/community physiotherapy.
Desirable
- oPostgraduate or specialist qualification in relevant area e.g., frailty, older adult rehabilitation desirable.
Knowledge and experience
Essential
- oSignificant post graduate experience in physiotherapy assessment and management of older adults with complex needs, including frailty
- oRecent experience of working in the NHS with good understanding of the hospital discharge policy
- oExperience in service development, clinical audit, or quality improvement initiatives.
- oExperience supervising, mentoring, or supporting junior staff and students.
Desirable
- oExperience leading or contributing to multidisciplinary teams, providing expert advice and care coordination.
- oExperience working across NHS urgent care pathways, including acute, community, and home-based settings.
Specific skills
Essential
- oAdvanced clinical assessment, reasoning, and decision-making skills.
- oAbility to manage a complex caseload autonomously, prioritising patient and service needs effectively.
- oExcellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information sensitively to patients, families, and professionals.
- oLeadership and team-working skills, with the ability to influence, mentor, and support colleagues.
- oAbility to plan, organise, and coordinate care across multiple settings and services.
- oCompetent in using clinical IT systems, electronic health records, and standard office software.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
