Senior Physiotherapist
Job Title: Senior Physiotherapist
Department: Physiotherapy / Rehabilitation
Reports To: Head of Physiotherapy / Clinical Lead
Job Purpose:
The Senior Physiotherapist is an experienced clinical professional responsible for providing a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for a complex and varied caseload. This role involves providing clinical leadership, supervision, and support to junior staff and students, while actively participating in service development, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. The post-holder will act as a clinical expert in their chosen field and will be expected to work autonomously, demonstrating advanced reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Key Responsibilities:
Clinical Practice:
- To manage a complex and specialized clinical caseload, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice.
- To perform comprehensive assessments of patients with diverse and complex presentations, using advanced investigative and analytical skills to formulate accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
- To design, implement, and evaluate individualized treatment programs using a wide range of physiotherapeutic techniques, such as manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, electrotherapy, and hydrotherapy.
- To provide specialist advice to patients, carers, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a cohesive and effective care pathway.
- To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all physiotherapy equipment and to ensure that junior staff and assistants do the same.
Leadership & Supervision:
- To provide professional leadership, clinical supervision, and mentorship to junior physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, and students.
- To participate in the recruitment, training, and performance development reviews of junior staff.
- To deputize for the Clinical Lead or Head of Department in their absence, taking responsibility for operational issues and decision-making.
- To lead by example, promoting a positive, professional, and collaborative team culture.
Education & Training:
- To be an active participant in the department’s in-service training program, both as a presenter and an attendee.
- To contribute to the education and training of students from affiliated universities, acting as a clinical educator and assessor.
- To take responsibility for their own continuous professional development (CPD), keeping abreast of new research, techniques, and clinical guidelines.
Service Development & Quality:
- To actively participate in clinical audit, research, and service evaluation projects to improve patient care and service efficiency.
- To contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based clinical guidelines and protocols within the specialty.
- To monitor and evaluate the quality of care provided by the team, implementing changes as necessary to meet clinical standards and key performance indicators (KPIs).
- To be involved in the strategic planning of the service, identifying areas for improvement and innovation.
Administration:
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date patient records in line with professional and organizational standards.
- To manage own administrative tasks, including timely data input for activity statistics and outcome measures.
- To ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety, infection control, and risk management policies.
Person Specification:
- Essential Qualifications:
- BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
- Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
- Experience:
- Significant post-qualification clinical experience, including experience in a relevant specialty.
- Proven experience in supervising and mentoring junior staff and students.
- Experience in managing a complex caseload independently.
- Skills & Knowledge:
- Advanced knowledge of physiotherapy theory and practice.
- Excellent clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
- Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and prioritize a demanding workload.
- Competent in IT systems for record keeping and data analysis.
