Senior Physiotherapist (Neurosurgery)

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a demonstrably experienced, motivated and passionate Physiotherapist to join our highly regarded neurosurgical team. This post would suit Band 5's looking to specialise or current Band 6's who would like to broaden their experience.

The neurosurgical team provides a physiotherapy service to Neurosurgery ward which includes major trauma patients, head and spinal tumours, intracranial bleeds, spinal cord injury and elective spinal surgery patients. The service also covers Neuro intensive care unit and works closely with the rehabilitation team in critical care to provide high quality care. Applicants will need previous demonstrable experience working as a physiotherapist, across a broad range of specialities, including medicine / respiratory / neurology / outpatients / orthopaedics. If you are looking to develop your career in this field this is an excellent prospect.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job
To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to the neurosurgical clinical areas. This involves providing a seven day service to neurosurgery.

To assist the Team Leaders in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to patients within the team, on a day-to-day basis.

To assess and treat own caseload of patients, who may have complex presentations and to maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.

To deputise for the Team Leaders when necessary.

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to provide a diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working autonomously. Senior support and supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions and journal reviews. Access to advice and support from specialist physiotherapists is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

Supervise, educate and assess the performance of physiotherapy students and more junior staff; this would be to a graduate standard and involve working with universities to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.

The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process, please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you into contact with the recruitment team.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date.

If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted
18 August 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 6
Salary
£39,959 to £48,117 a year
Per Annum
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
216-LT-DA8163894
Job locations
Derriford Hospital
Derriford Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Clinical1. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.2. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards and local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines (this might include meetings, report and letter writing)3. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their condition.4. Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. specialist neurological or respiratory techniques, manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, and other alternative options.5. To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 physiotherapist for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.6. Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans.7. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.8. Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate, gain co-operation, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or realistic expectations of Physiotherapy intervention.

For further information please see attached job description

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Post graduate demonstrable experience in core rotations: Neurology or Neurosurgery, Acute Respiratory, Orthopaedics
• Demonstrable experience working in an acute hospital
• Demonstrable experience of teaching
• An awareness of current NHS and Health issues influencing this post
• Evidence of contribution to clinical education / supervision of less experienced staff, students or assistants
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Evidence of relevant CPD

Desirable

• Previous demonstrable experience of working in Neurosurgical unit
• Demonstrable experience working with tracheostomy patients
• Clinical educator
• Demonstrable audit experience
• Demonstrable experience of working in a major trauma unit
• Demonstrable experience of working at Band 6 level
• Evidence of service improvement

Qualifications
Essential

• Degree (BSc Hons Physiotherapy) or equivalent.
• HCPC registration.
• Attendance at additional relevant professional courses

Desirable

• MSc relevant to the area
• Leadership qualification
• Evidence of management and leadership development

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
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Address
Derriford Hospital
Derriford Road
Plymouth
PL6 8DH
United Kingdom
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Head of Physiotherapy
Achin Sobti
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

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.
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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.