Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Senior Physiotherapist - Medicine & Surgery

The closing date is 19 October 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Physiotherapist to join the Medical and Surgical Therapy team at Southport Hospital.

We are inviting applications from a highly motivated therapist to develop their skills in a number of specialist areas. Working in an acute area offers scope to build on skills in a high paced setting.

The successful applicant will work alongside highly experienced therapists, nurses and medics within our acute wards. This is an opportunity to work with patients throughout their journey and make a real difference to people's lives on their path from hospital to home. You will contribute to the continuity of our respiratory on-call physiotherapy service.

The successful candidate will provide high quality, responsive care to patients in acute care. You will provide support and help determine patient flow through the hospital. You will need to demonstrate confidence and clarity with your clinical reasoning and make informed decisions. You must be adaptable to increasing demand often in a high-pressured setting.

Main duties of the job

Working in acute medical care, you will be part of a team that aims to comprehensively and holistically assess and treat our patients incorporating home assessments when required. Our aims are to provide a reactive and proactive service to care for the frail, elderly population we service and maximising independence where possible.

The successful candidate will ideally have a minimum of 2 years post qualification experience. You will need to demonstrate effective communication skills, be highly committed to the delivery of quality care as part of our MDT and always provide thorough holistic patient intervention. A sound understanding of our patient demographic and frailty is desirable. With this you should have a broad knowledge base to assess a variety of conditions that may present in ward areas. You must be flexible in your approach to meet the demands of our 7-day service.

Our philosophy is to keep the patient at the heart of everything we do. We look for people who are willing to go the extra mile, not because they are asked to, but because they are committed to being part of a healthcare team that delivers an excellent caring service to our patients.

About us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

  • Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

409-7511577

Job locations

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Town Lane Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
  • To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
  • To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition
  • Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options. Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans
  • To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
  • Evaluate patient progress, reassess, and alter treatment programmes as required
  • To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain Professional Registration
  • To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these
  • To be responsible for a designated area of work, as delegated by a senior clinician. Plan and organise efficiently and effectively patient/client caseload, and use of time for self and more junior staff
  • To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice
  • To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
  • To provide specialist clinical advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas
  • To provide specialist clinical advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients
  • To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation
  • To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition
  • To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients/clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
  • To communicate highly sensitive information effectively with all patient groups/clients/carers where there may be difficulties in accepting or understanding information
  • To maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic including potential complaints as per Trust Policy

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters
  • To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department
  • To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings, and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as appropriate into your work. To support junior staff to do likewise
  • To be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, and by attending external courses and being a reflective practitioner
  • To participate in the supervision scheme as supervisor and supervisee

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To demonstrate leadership by means of:
  • Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
  • Influencing, motivating, supporting, and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Therapy Team
  • To provide specialist advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment, and long-term management of patients/ clients within sphere of practice.
  • To deputise for the band 7 in terms of operational issues
  • To take responsibility for their own specialist and complex decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery
  • To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff
  • To participate in working parties developing policy changes within speciality which will impact on all service users

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and facilitate compliance of staff with local and national standards of practice
  • Implement policy and service development changes as directed
  • To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation
  • To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit, and outcome measures under the guidance of senior staff. Make recommendations for change and to implement change
  • To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate
  • To support research activity within the Service
  • To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit, and research activities relevant to service to promote evidence-based practice

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
  • To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
  • To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition
  • Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options. Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans
  • To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
  • Evaluate patient progress, reassess, and alter treatment programmes as required
  • To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain Professional Registration
  • To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these
  • To be responsible for a designated area of work, as delegated by a senior clinician. Plan and organise efficiently and effectively patient/client caseload, and use of time for self and more junior staff
  • To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice
  • To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
  • To provide specialist clinical advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas
  • To provide specialist clinical advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients
  • To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation
  • To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition
  • To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients/clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment
  • To communicate highly sensitive information effectively with all patient groups/clients/carers where there may be difficulties in accepting or understanding information
  • To maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic including potential complaints as per Trust Policy

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters
  • To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department
  • To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings, and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

  • To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as appropriate into your work. To support junior staff to do likewise
  • To be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, and by attending external courses and being a reflective practitioner
  • To participate in the supervision scheme as supervisor and supervisee

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To demonstrate leadership by means of:
  • Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
  • Influencing, motivating, supporting, and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Therapy Team
  • To provide specialist advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment, and long-term management of patients/ clients within sphere of practice.
  • To deputise for the band 7 in terms of operational issues
  • To take responsibility for their own specialist and complex decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery
  • To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff
  • To participate in working parties developing policy changes within speciality which will impact on all service users

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • To adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and facilitate compliance of staff with local and national standards of practice
  • Implement policy and service development changes as directed
  • To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation
  • To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit, and outcome measures under the guidance of senior staff. Make recommendations for change and to implement change
  • To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate
  • To support research activity within the Service
  • To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit, and research activities relevant to service to promote evidence-based practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Physiotherapy
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Clinical Educators Certificate
  • Postgrad accredited study e.g. MSc in relevant health studies

Experience

Essential

  • Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the current environment and evidence of evidence-based practise in relevant health setting
  • Awareness of own strengths and limitations
  • Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
  • Experience of line managing team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and coordination
  • Evidence of effective working within an MDT
  • Experience of service development
  • Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
  • Demonstrates continuous professional development

Desirable

  • Audit and research in a clinical area

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
  • Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
  • Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
  • Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

Desirable

  • Mentorship skills

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel to various hospital locations
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree in Physiotherapy
  • HCPC registration

Desirable

  • Clinical Educators Certificate
  • Postgrad accredited study e.g. MSc in relevant health studies

Experience

Essential

  • Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the current environment and evidence of evidence-based practise in relevant health setting
  • Awareness of own strengths and limitations
  • Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
  • Experience of line managing team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and coordination
  • Evidence of effective working within an MDT
  • Experience of service development
  • Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
  • Demonstrates continuous professional development

Desirable

  • Audit and research in a clinical area

Skills

Essential

  • Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
  • Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
  • Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
  • Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

Desirable

  • Mentorship skills

Other

Essential

  • Ability to travel to various hospital locations

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

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Town Lane Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Town Lane Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Lead - Medical and Surgical Therapies

Adelle Cheetham

Adelle.Cheetham@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk

017047044076

Details

Date posted

14 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

409-7511577

Job locations

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Town Lane Kew

Southport

PR8 6PN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)