Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Band 7 Critical Care Highly Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 08 February 2026

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 (0.8 WTE, 30 hours, 1 year fixed term) specialist rehabilitation and respiratory physiotherapist to join the Intensive Care multidisciplinary team at the Royal Free NHS Foundation Trust. Our Intensive Care unit (ICU) is a 54-bed, state-of-the-art unit, incorporating an 8-bed High Dependency Unit (HDU) and a 12-bed Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), admitting a wide range of complex patients including those from hepatobiliary/vascular surgery and liver and renal transplantation services.

The postholder will be part of the Trust's largest therapy service, working within the Critical Care, Medicine and Surgery (CMS) team. This comprises over 50 multi-professional staff operating within an interdisciplinary, co-located model across critical care, HPB/surgical wards, medical wards, and sleep and ventilation services. As a designated Highly Infective Disease Centre, the Royal Free also offers the unique opportunity to work within the UK's only active High Level Isolation Unit (HLIU), managing conditions such as Ebola virus disease.

Main duties of the job

Clinical support is provided by a Clinical Lead ICU Physiotherapist/Speech and Language Therapist, an Advanced Care Practitioner Physiotherapist, two Band 7 peers, and a Respiratory Physiotherapy Consultant. The postholder will lead the delivery of physiotherapy care to critically ill patients, with a strong focus on complex respiratory management, rehabilitation, and ventilation and tracheostomy weaning. The team offers excellent development opportunities, including access to independent prescribing physiotherapists, lung ultrasound training and mentorship, and support from colleagues with postgraduate Master's-level qualifications.

The role includes responsibility for education and training of the CMS team and the wider multidisciplinary team, with an emphasis on simulation-based learning, alongside leadership of quality improvement initiatives. The CMS team places a high priority on staff development, with regular national and international conference presentations and strong engagement in research. The department is research-active, with dedicated research and education leads and a clinical trials coordinator. The Trust also provides comprehensive leadership training, coaching, and mentorship, supporting the postholder in their line management responsibilities within an interdisciplinary model.

About us

Our trust has over 17,000 staff serving 2 million patients every year. It comprises Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital, the Royal Free Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and more than 30 services in the community. This larger scale organisation provides an unprecedented opportunity for us to continue our pioneering work, particularly in finding ways to deliver even better care to our patients.

Our mission is to deliver world class care and expertise in our clinical services, underpinned by world class teaching and research and we will continue to measure our progress against our five governing objectives: excellent outcomes, excellent patient and staff experience, excellent value for taxpayers' money, being safe and meeting our external duties, and building a strong organisation.

Everyone is welcome at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. We're proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME, gender equality, staff carers and people with disabilities and lived experiences to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS - pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7749388

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG


Job description

Job responsibilities

A full list of duties and responsibilities will be found within the job description and requirements for the role can be found within the person specification.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A full list of duties and responsibilities will be found within the job description and requirements for the role can be found within the person specification.

Person Specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential

  • oDemonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

  • oDegree/graduate diploma in Physiotherapy
  • oHealth Professions Council (HPC) registration
  • oCommitment to advanced clinical and professional development

Desirable

  • oMember of CSP
  • oMembership of special interest group
  • oAdditional qualification eg MSc or accredited courses at postgraduate level in specialist clinical area

Experience

Essential

  • oSubstantial postgraduate experience at a Band 6 level including within the critical care area
  • oKnowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of patients within specialist clinical area
  • oExperience of multidisciplinary and interagency working
  • oPrevious experience of junior staff & student supervision/ clinical education
  • oPrevious experience of leadership of staff members
  • oExperience of clinical audit and/or research
  • oExperience of teaching to uni-disciplinary/ multidisciplinary groups
  • oMotivational Interviewing/ behaviour change training (CBT or facilitation skills)
  • oLectures/ Presentations to groups/ teaching other Healthcare Professionals and patients
  • oStudent training/ supervisory skills
  • oUndertaking research, audit and/or QI
  • oActive contribution to service improvement
  • oProficient IT knowledge

Desirable

  • oEvidence of active involvement in service development & contribution to change within the workplace

Skills

Essential

  • oHighly specialist level of clinical skill within clinical area
  • oSubstantial lone working experience due to on call and weekend rota involvement
  • oExperience of line management
  • oExcellent verbal communication skills with a range of patients and healthcare professionals
  • oAn ability to lead & motivate others
  • oAbility to critically evaluate current research & apply to own practice
  • oMotivated to achieve personal and professional goals to an excellent standard as appropriate to the job role
  • oA helpful, positive and flexible attitude
  • oAbility to recognise and challenge unacceptable behaviour. To act on this appropriately using effective interpersonal skills, including assertiveness and negotiation
  • oDemonstrate a clear understanding of governance issues (to include confidentiality, health and safety, risk management)

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential

  • Ability to sustain and maintain good working relationships
  • Complies with trust manual handling guidelines
Person Specification

Royal Free World Class Values

Essential

  • oDemonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

Essential

  • oDegree/graduate diploma in Physiotherapy
  • oHealth Professions Council (HPC) registration
  • oCommitment to advanced clinical and professional development

Desirable

  • oMember of CSP
  • oMembership of special interest group
  • oAdditional qualification eg MSc or accredited courses at postgraduate level in specialist clinical area

Experience

Essential

  • oSubstantial postgraduate experience at a Band 6 level including within the critical care area
  • oKnowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of patients within specialist clinical area
  • oExperience of multidisciplinary and interagency working
  • oPrevious experience of junior staff & student supervision/ clinical education
  • oPrevious experience of leadership of staff members
  • oExperience of clinical audit and/or research
  • oExperience of teaching to uni-disciplinary/ multidisciplinary groups
  • oMotivational Interviewing/ behaviour change training (CBT or facilitation skills)
  • oLectures/ Presentations to groups/ teaching other Healthcare Professionals and patients
  • oStudent training/ supervisory skills
  • oUndertaking research, audit and/or QI
  • oActive contribution to service improvement
  • oProficient IT knowledge

Desirable

  • oEvidence of active involvement in service development & contribution to change within the workplace

Skills

Essential

  • oHighly specialist level of clinical skill within clinical area
  • oSubstantial lone working experience due to on call and weekend rota involvement
  • oExperience of line management
  • oExcellent verbal communication skills with a range of patients and healthcare professionals
  • oAn ability to lead & motivate others
  • oAbility to critically evaluate current research & apply to own practice
  • oMotivated to achieve personal and professional goals to an excellent standard as appropriate to the job role
  • oA helpful, positive and flexible attitude
  • oAbility to recognise and challenge unacceptable behaviour. To act on this appropriately using effective interpersonal skills, including assertiveness and negotiation
  • oDemonstrate a clear understanding of governance issues (to include confidentiality, health and safety, risk management)

Personal Qualities & attributes

Essential

  • Ability to sustain and maintain good working relationships
  • Complies with trust manual handling guidelines

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

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG


Employer's website

https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist

Torraine Exall

torraine.exall@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

23 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year Per annum inclusive of HCAS - pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

391-RFL-7749388

Job locations

Royal Free Hospital

Pond Street

Hampstead

NW3 2QG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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