Paediatric Physiotherapist Universal Services

Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an innovative Early Years MDT service aimed at reducing inequalities in deprived areas of Enfield. The service focuses on improving outcomes for 0-5 year olds' from identified high risk groups such as deprived backgrounds.

The postholder will work within a multi-agency team with a range of health, early years, social care and voluntary sector professionals.

The postholder will have a role in the development, planning and provision of universal and targeted support strands for children at risk of developmental issues and concerns and their parents as well as the wider community support network.

Main duties of the job

• To continue to develop and extend the reach of universal services, delivering a model of early intervention and prevention to children and families from birth to 5 years from deprived backgrounds.
• To offer training, supervision and support to health visitors, early years practitioners, nursery staff and parent champion volunteers working on the project.
• To run targeted intervention groups for parents/carers of children with identified as 'at risk' of early developmental delay.
• To continue to develop and improve project communication strategy, strengthening key partnerships with colleagues within health, education, voluntary and social care sectors.
• To work with the health visiting team and other professional groups in the private, voluntary and independent sectors to establish a clear and well-used referral pathway, offering guidance, training and support as required.
• To undertake screening and review assessments and to organise and run targeted intervention groups.
• To deliver and continue to improve on promotion and widespread uptake of an established training package to key partners within the early years sector.

About us
The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top.

For more information please visit the Royal Free London jobs website.

Details
Date posted: 27 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year pro rata per annum inclusive of HCAs
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 391-NMUH-8143880
Job locations: Cedar House, St Michaels Site, Gater Drive, Chaseside, Enfield, EN2 0JB

Job description
Job responsibilities
PATIENT/CLIENT CARE

• To safeguard and promote the welfare of children and work to agreed safeguarding children policies
• To work alongside Early Years Practitioners to develop evidence-based interventions for individuals and groups experiencing difficulties with their childs development and or difficulties in the carer/infant relationship
• To provide expert advice to parents and carers regarding childrens development, and to promote healthy lifestyles to individuals and groups within the community
• To develop innovative ways of working to deliver early intervention to vulnerable and hard to reach families and to modify these as appropriate using evaluation/outcome measurement tools
• To work innovatively with other professionals, organisations and volunteer colleagues sharing knowledge and skills to enhance service delivery and client care
• To adapt practice to meet individual client/carers circumstances, taking into account cultural and linguistic backgrounds and disabilities
• To provide highly specialist support and short term intervention to families who have a child identified as being in need involving them in their care planning, advocating on their behalf and signposting them to other services as appropriate
• To work effectively with clients, carers, colleagues and education staff around individual case management, providing advice, guidance and support as necessary and involving them in the planning and prioritisation of care wherever possible
• To produce accurate and detailed reports, therapy programmes, advice and information as necessary in a timely manner, reflecting clinical expertise. To refer children to other health, education or social services professionals as necessary
• To undertake home visits as required.

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

• To be able to gather information that may be highly sensitive or highly complex and to analyse it making a full assessment of a clients strengths and difficulties.
• To work closely with clients, carers, education staff and other professionals using empathy, tact, reassurance and active listening to complete assessments, discuss results, and agree treatment options
• To discuss diagnosis and potential outcomes with parents/carers, Health and Local Authority colleagues, voluntary organisations, and work collaboratively in decision making regarding referral on and intervention
• To provide training to a variety of audiences on aspects of motor co-ordination development.
• To demonstrate highly developed skills in motivating clients/carers to follow health improving advice and to engage in therapeutic interventions as appropriate
• To be responsible for communicating effectively with other Early Years professionals to provide an effective service
• To negotiate and manage conflict effectively in a range of settings, with support and supervision from line manager in highly complex cases
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible To form effective therapeutic relationships with clients and/or carers who may be under stress and/or having challenging behaviour

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

• To demonstrate highly specialist knowledge of developmental skills in children under 5 underpinned by current evidenced based practice and maintained through specialist courses and self-study
• To demonstrate a particular interest in and willingness to undertake training in working with complex families with very young children
• To identify own training needs as part of the Professional Development Review and Professional Portfolio
• To attend further training as necessary to maintain and further develop the skill and knowledge required of a highly specialist physiotherapist.
• To keep up to date with current clinical developments through reading, attendance at courses, meetings
• To develop and deliver specialist training (informal and formal) to parents/carers education staff, and other professionals
• To provide specialist advice to colleagues and junior members of the team
• To maintain up to date professional registration with HCPC and RCPT at all times.
• To participate in Peer/Clinical Support Group
• To have a working knowledge of the Child Health Promotion Programme and the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum

ANALYTICAL & JUDGEMENTAL SKILLS

• To analyse complex information on all aspects of adult and child interaction and communication skills and identify the best treatment programme for each individual family
• To understand the strengths and abilities of the childs family when discussing and planning home-based intervention
• To adapt intervention as necessary according to individual need, progress and ability
• To seek second opinions from colleagues in highly complex cases and to provide second opinions for others including more junior members of the team
• To refer children to other professionals as appropriate
• To demonstrate the ability to reflect on clinical practice and decide on the most appropriate interventions
• To develop, record and adapt individual care plans, based on assessment results and response to treatment.
• To plan, adapt and target training to all levels of participants.
• To make joint decisions with other Early Years professionals analysing information provided by them

PLANNING AND ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

• To plan and deliver training to parents/cares and health visiting staff as necessary.

POLICY/SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION

• To contribute to the development of team objectives or projects as required
• To take a delegated lead in developing specific projects as required
• To develop care policies and protocols for specific clinical areas
• To advise line manager of issues of service delivery including staffing issues, service pressures etc.
• To use highly specialist knowledge to contribute to service/policy development.
• To be aware of and adhere to all Trust and Service policies To participate and contribute to innovations and developments in areas of risk management, Quality Standard Setting and Clinical Effectiveness

INFORMATION RESOURCES

• To keep up to date and accurate client case notes, which comply with quality guidelines/policies
• To share information with others, observing data protection/information sharing guidelines
• To keep and send in accurate statistics within the required time limits

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

• To participate in and contribute to the development of innovations in the area of risk management, quality standards setting and clinical effectiveness
• To participate in research/clinical audits as required.

FREEDOM TO ACT

• To be accountable for own professional actions and recognise own professional boundaries, seeking advice as necessary
• To provide second opinions related to communication needs on cases as necessary
• To work within defined departmental, professional and organisational protocols, policies and codes of conduct.
• To plan, implement and evaluate own work, seeking advice as necessary from other specialist colleagues.
• To participate in monthly supervision and annual performance review in accordance with Trust procedures.
• To seek advice and second opinions as necessary.

Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential

• oRecognised Physiotherapy Degree
• oHighly specialist knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent qualifications, further theoretical training and experience in required speciality
• oHCPC Licence to Practice oRegistered member of Royal College of Physiotherapy
• oContinued Professional Development evidenced by attendance at short specialist postgraduate courses to maintain and develop own specialist knowledge and expertise.

Desirable

• Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups

Skills & Abilities
Essential

• oSignificant Early Years' experience and high level clinical skills including assessment and diagnosis relevant to specialist area
• oExperience of developing service initiatives, particularly in universal services.
• oExperience of working with different professional disciplines and agencies
• oExperience of clinical supervision / mentoring to a wide range of staff .
• Evidence of delivering training to a wide range of audiences.

Desirable

• Experience of working with early years practitioners

Experience
Essential

• oIn-depth knowledge of assessment tools relevant to the client group
• oIn depth and expert knowledge of a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
• oKnowledge of NHS, Education and Early Years national policy and directives where these impact on area of specialism or service delivery
• oKnowledge of barriers to understanding & ability to explain complex issues simply
• Working knowledge of electronic patient record system

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.