Highly Specialist Physiotherapist

Go back South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 23 October 2026

Anexciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic andforward-thinking Highly Specialist Physiotherapist to joinour UrgentCommunity Response Service within the Recovery at Home Teamacross Sunderland.

Basedbetween Leechmere Independent Living Centre, Sunderland and theCareCoordination Hub at Clarendon, Hebburn , this role offers theopportunity to work within a dynamic and innovative service focused onpreventing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting timely hospitaldischarge and enabling people to remain independent within their own homes.

Asa highly valued member of our multidisciplinary team, you will work alongsideNurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, HealthcareAssistants, Therapy Assistants/Exercise Practitioners and Administrative Staff.The service also works in partnership with colleagues across primary care,secondary care, social care, local authority and voluntary sector organisationsto deliver seamless, person-centred care.

Thisis an exciting opportunity for an experienced Physiotherapist looking tofurther develop their leadership skills and play a key role in shaping thefuture delivery of community rehabilitation and urgent care services.

We are committed to professional development and offer a supportive learning environment with access to training and leadership opportunities. Informal enquiries and visits are welcomed.

Main duties of the job

Asa Highly Specialist Physiotherapist, you will take a lead role within theRecovery at Home Team, providing advanced assessment, clinical decision-makingand rehabilitation interventions to patients in their own homes who areexperiencing acute illness, functional decline or require enhanced supportfollowing hospital discharge.

Workingautonomously within a fast-paced Urgent Community Response Service, you willmanage a diverse caseload of patients with complex physical and functionalneeds. You will undertake comprehensive assessments, develop evidence-basedtreatment plans and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues todeliver timely interventions that maximise independence and reduce avoidablehospital admissions and readmissions.

Youwill provide professional leadership and specialist physiotherapy expertisewithin the multidisciplinary team, acting as a clinical resource and role modelfor colleagues. The role includes supervision, mentoring, teaching andsupporting the development of staff to promote high standards of patient careand evidence-based practice.

Akey element of the role is contributing to service development through qualityimprovement initiatives, audit, evaluation and implementation of best practice.You will support service transformation, pathway development and innovation toensure services continue to meet the needs of the local population.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential requirements.

About us

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI,and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, wemay withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Job responsibilities

Takea lead role in the Recovery at Home Team and Discharge to Assess, providingcare to people in their own homes to prevent admission/re-admission to hospitalby providing rapid assessment of patients in the community over seven days.
Towork autonomously, assessing individual patient needs, initiatinginvestigations, determining a differential diagnosis and initiating appropriateholistic, evidence based treatment and care. Refer patients who require medicalintervention to the appropriate services.
Undertaketriage and coordination within the service determining clinical priority ofcalls to ensure teams are dispatched to respond to the referral.
Providepatient centred care, push the boundaries of clinical practice and developinnovative and cost effective health care delivery systems.
Actas a resource for all members of the multi-disciplinary team, providing experttherapy advice concerning aspects of patient management.
To motivate and support theteam approach to delivering new and innovative models of care for patients.
Actas a mentor and coach to more junior staff across community services supportingtheir development.
Workcollaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient,effective and evidence based.

Person Specification

Physical Skills

Car driver with access to a car for work purpose.

Qualifications

Registered with the HCPC
Bsc or Msc in Physiotherapy
Clinical Skills

Experience

Significant post qualification experience relevant to this role.
Experience of working with people with acute or chronic Long Term Condition and/or working in the community.
Significant experience of working with patients who are acutely unwell / deteriorating
Experience of multi-disciplinary working
Experience of supervising junior staff and students.
Experience of leading clinical development.
Experience of managing change and a team of staff.
Confident in delivery of education.
Ability to undertake research
Ability to undertake audit

Skills and Knowledge

Expert assessment, analytical, interpretation and clinical decision making skills.
Evidence of Continuing Professional Development.
Evidence of managing change and implementing best practice.
Evidence of leadership qualities.
Experience in participating in clinical audit.
Ability to understand and critically evaluate outcome measures.
Evidence of presentation and training skills.
Evidence of the ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
Ability to organise and respond effectively to complex situations and information.
Evidence of building sound effective working relationships across a range of agencies within the health community.
Knowledge of relevant legislation and current practice within Intermediate Care/ rehabilitation.
IT knowledge and skills
Knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and its applications

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.

South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust

Intermediate Care Assessment and Rehabilitation (ICAR)

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Highly Specialist Physiotherapist