Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Highly Specialist Physiotherapist; Orthopaedics

The closing date is 06 January 2026

Job summary

We are pleased to advertise this exciting opportunity for an experienced Physiotherapist to join our Orthopaedic Physiotherapy team, on a fixed term contract, providing assessment and intervention to children and young people admitted to the wards and providing specialist pre-op, post op and outpatient review for children undergoing multi-level surgery.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the child's multi-level surgery pathway from pre op through to rehabilitation post-surgery.

  • Pre op appointment
  • Community liaison
  • Rehabilitation admission
  • Rehabilitation outpatient appointment.
  • Ongoing liaison with Gait Lab team regarding child's progress.

The successful candidate will join our Integrated Therapy team of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Assistant Practitioners, managing a complex caseload on the acute wards at Alder Hey.

There will be a requirement to cover Burns inpatients when deputising for Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

Main duties of the job

To work as an autonomous practitioner managing and providing specialist rehabilitation for children who have undergone multisite surgery, managing a large caseload of children with complex needs and presentations.

To lead the Physiotherapy input for multi-site surgery and orthopaedic surgery patients, working with the team of orthopaedic surgeons, Physiotherapy Practitioners and gait lab therapists in the planning and management for children undergoing orthopaedic surgery.

To liaise regarding the acute phase/admission with the wider team involved in the care of this group of patients including families and their local community services.

To be involved in the pre-operative planning of the physiotherapy care of these patients, their management and rehabilitation whilst an inpatient in AHCH.

About us

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust is a provider of specialist health care to over 275,000 children and young people each year. Alder Hey has a presence in community outreach sites and, in collaboration with other providers, our clinicians help deliver care closer to patients' homes by holding local clinics at locations from Cumbria to Shropshire, in Wales and the Isle of Man. The Trust also provides inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs at our Sunflower House building newly relocated, and opened on the hospital site.

We currently have more than 4,000 staff working across our community and hospital sites. We're also a teaching and training hospital providing education and training to around 540 medical and over 500 nursing and allied health professional students each year.

As black and minority ethnic (BME) employees are currently under-represented in this area, we particularly welcome applications from members of our BME communities. All appointments will be made on merit.

You can expect a warm welcome at Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At Alder Hey we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:

  • Great flexible working opportunities
  • Lease car scheme and Home Electronics Scheme
  • Generous annual leave and pension scheme
  • Extensive staff health and well-being programmes

Details

Date posted

23 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7695015

Job locations

Alder Hey Childrens Hospital

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Job description

Job responsibilities

To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of caseload. To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management) to maximise function and independence. To have responsibility for the delivery and co-ordination of high-quality Physiotherapy to children with a range of conditions and presentations within the clinical speciality.

To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations, where expert opinion may differ, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising highly specialist treatment skills and a wide range of treatment options.

To contribute to accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans, guided by clearly defined principles or occupational policies.

To refer to other healthcare professionals and agencies as appropriate as part of the overall management of the child to ensure holistic care.

To hold an independent, complex, and highly specialist caseload, being able to highly demonstrate specialist assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and management plans with goals based on advanced clinical reasoning skills. To provide specialist assessment and intervention across the identified speciality, delivering holistic assessment of the childs needs and providing treatment programmes to meet the childs rehabilitation needs.

To plan and implement highly individualised therapy programmes to be carried out by the therapist, Assistant, Educational Staff and Carers. To continually monitor, evaluate and modify the programmes to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention for children with changing needs.

Manages own caseload and is responsible for the delivery of therapeutic intervention within the defined areas of the service. To organise this caseload effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities, time management, and staffing levels.

To gain valid informed consent in accordance with trust policy and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To provide highly specialist advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas.

To manage clinical risk within own caseload and to contribute to that of designated team at all times.

To participate in weekend, evening and on call working as required, working as an autonomous practitioner undertaking the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients, who may have highly complex presentations. Be expected to participate in on-call update training and clinical competence.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of caseload. To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management) to maximise function and independence. To have responsibility for the delivery and co-ordination of high-quality Physiotherapy to children with a range of conditions and presentations within the clinical speciality.

To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations, where expert opinion may differ, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising highly specialist treatment skills and a wide range of treatment options.

To contribute to accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans, guided by clearly defined principles or occupational policies.

To refer to other healthcare professionals and agencies as appropriate as part of the overall management of the child to ensure holistic care.

To hold an independent, complex, and highly specialist caseload, being able to highly demonstrate specialist assessment, diagnostic, treatment, and management plans with goals based on advanced clinical reasoning skills. To provide specialist assessment and intervention across the identified speciality, delivering holistic assessment of the childs needs and providing treatment programmes to meet the childs rehabilitation needs.

To plan and implement highly individualised therapy programmes to be carried out by the therapist, Assistant, Educational Staff and Carers. To continually monitor, evaluate and modify the programmes to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention for children with changing needs.

Manages own caseload and is responsible for the delivery of therapeutic intervention within the defined areas of the service. To organise this caseload effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities, time management, and staffing levels.

To gain valid informed consent in accordance with trust policy and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To provide highly specialist advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas.

To manage clinical risk within own caseload and to contribute to that of designated team at all times.

To participate in weekend, evening and on call working as required, working as an autonomous practitioner undertaking the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients, who may have highly complex presentations. Be expected to participate in on-call update training and clinical competence.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy, recognised by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Member of HCPC
  • Level 7 study

Desirable

  • Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrates specialist experience post-graduation in relevant fields/rotations
  • Minimum 5 years post graduate experience
  • Proven experience relevant to of a wide range of approaches to the management of patients

Desirable

  • Paediatric experience as a Band 6 in specialist clinical field

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of knowledge of a wide range of approaches used within specialist clinical field
  • Evidence of being capable of specialist assessment techniques in specialist clinical field
  • Post graduate courses relevant to specialty
  • Proven physical ability to carry out any therapeutic handling required
  • Evidence of knowledge of current trends within clinical specialty
  • Evidence of excellent communication skills, written and verbal, enabling applicant to converse across a range of understanding
  • Proven knowledge of child protection

Desirable

  • Basic computer skills

Management and Organisation

Essential

  • Evidence of experience of supervising and teaching junior and undergraduate physiotherapists
  • Proven experience of the delegation of tasks to other staff, with a firm understanding of the process of delegation
  • Proven ability to prioritise and organise caseload, underpinned by sound time management skill
  • Evidence of experience of positive working as part of a multiagency team

Desirable

  • Currently a Member of Specific Clinical Interest Group i.e. ACPRC

Professional

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development, with current portfolio
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance
  • Demonstrate knowledge of current pertinent issues affecting therapy provision both locally and nationally

Personal/ Other

Essential

  • Proven ability to compliment the dynamics of the existing team
  • Should be able to move around the city in line with the requirements of duty
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy, recognised by Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
  • Member of HCPC
  • Level 7 study

Desirable

  • Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Experience

Essential

  • Demonstrates specialist experience post-graduation in relevant fields/rotations
  • Minimum 5 years post graduate experience
  • Proven experience relevant to of a wide range of approaches to the management of patients

Desirable

  • Paediatric experience as a Band 6 in specialist clinical field

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of knowledge of a wide range of approaches used within specialist clinical field
  • Evidence of being capable of specialist assessment techniques in specialist clinical field
  • Post graduate courses relevant to specialty
  • Proven physical ability to carry out any therapeutic handling required
  • Evidence of knowledge of current trends within clinical specialty
  • Evidence of excellent communication skills, written and verbal, enabling applicant to converse across a range of understanding
  • Proven knowledge of child protection

Desirable

  • Basic computer skills

Management and Organisation

Essential

  • Evidence of experience of supervising and teaching junior and undergraduate physiotherapists
  • Proven experience of the delegation of tasks to other staff, with a firm understanding of the process of delegation
  • Proven ability to prioritise and organise caseload, underpinned by sound time management skill
  • Evidence of experience of positive working as part of a multiagency team

Desirable

  • Currently a Member of Specific Clinical Interest Group i.e. ACPRC

Professional

Essential

  • Evidence of Continuing Professional Development, with current portfolio
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance
  • Demonstrate knowledge of current pertinent issues affecting therapy provision both locally and nationally

Personal/ Other

Essential

  • Proven ability to compliment the dynamics of the existing team
  • Should be able to move around the city in line with the requirements of duty

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

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Childrens Hospital

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Alder Hey Childrens Hospital

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Deputy Head of Service

Amy Humphreys

amy.humphreys@alderhey.nhs.uk

01512525102

Details

Date posted

23 December 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year Per annum

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

411-MED-25-7695015

Job locations

Alder Hey Childrens Hospital

Liverpool

L12 2AP


Supporting documents

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