Job overview
We are looking for an enthusiastic band 6 with acute hospital experience at a band 5 (or equivalent) to join the Frailty Physiotherapy Team based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital.The post is permanent. This role will be focused on providing a high standard of Physiotherapy assessment, treatment and evaluation to clients within the Frailty Inpatient Physiotherapy service at Royal Sussex County Hospital. You will have excellent opportunities to develop your own skills and leadership, working within a strong and supportive MDT.
This Band 6 position is an excellent opportunity to work within a dynamic, forward thinking and innovative department with the opportunity to work in a brand new building, attend courses, preceptorship and development afternoons. Royal Sussex County Hospital is in a wonderful location, situated adjacent to the South Downs National Park and the sea, with excellent transport links to London and across Southern England. You will be joining a strong and supportive Physiotherapy team and we look forward to welcoming you on an informal visit to discuss any aspects of this exciting role.
Main duties of the job
·As an autonomous practitioner, to assess and treat specialist caseload of frailty patients, who may have complex and/or chronic presentation, and to determine a diagnosis and develop treatment programmes without direct supervision from Senior Staff.
·To work as an upskilled Physiotherapist alongside Occupational Therapy Staff
·To support Band 7 and Superintendent staff in the planning and organisation of physiotherapy team activities and programmes.
·To be responsible for teaching, supervision and appraisal of recently qualified physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, and undergraduate students, and be involved in the teaching of MDT staff.
·To undertake evidence-based practice and participate in departmental research, data collection and audit.
·To adhere to Departmental protocols, Trust policies and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Code of Conduct, and National Standards where they exist.
·To remain competent for respiratory on-calls and to work as part of the respiratory rota.
·To be prepared to participate in future 7-day service provision if applicable.
Working for our organisation
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years’ experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Communication
·To adapt communication skills to encourage patients to undertake their treatment programme, including patients with communication difficulties e.g. Dementia, learning difficulties, visual and hearing impairments and non-English speaking patients.
·To assess capacity to give consent, gain informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment such as patients who have dementia, dysphasia, dysarthria, cognitive and perceptual problems, learning difficulties or who are acutely confused
·To persuade, motivate, reassure, empathise, explain and encourage patients in undertaking their treatment programme, ensure understanding of their condition and communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential.
·To clearly communicate sensitive information to staff, patients and carers. This may include explaining prognoses about long-term disabilities, where an educational and counselling role is required.
·To be able to diffuse potentially hostile and antagonistic situations with staff, patients, and relatives using negotiation and interpersonal skills.
·To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
·To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This may include attending case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning meetings.
·Ensure timely communication with the team leader on all professional matters.
·Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mail received.
Service Delivery and Improvement
·To plan and undertake the measurement and evaluation of practice and performance through clinical audit and studies with guidance from the Team Leader.
·To support more junior staff within the department to undertake clinical audit.
·To be proactive in working in an upskilled way with OT.
·To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.
·To assist Band 7 and Band 8a Staff in the proposal and implementation of Trust Policy and Service Developments within the physiotherapy department.
·To be responsible for the equipment used in carrying out Physiotherapy duties, and to adhere to departmental equipment policy and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards. To ensure the safe use of equipment and reporting of faults by self and others including patients, carers and other health professionals
·To comply with and ensure implementation of all trust policies and procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act, including adherence to Universal Precautions and Infection Control measures.
People Management and Development
·To assist the team leader in the day-to-day supervision and coordination of the junior and assistant physiotherapy staff.
·To supervise less experienced staff and formulate Individual Development Plans and undertake regular appraisals with Junior and assistant staff.
·To supervise undergraduate physiotherapy students on clinical placements within the department
·To lead interdisciplinary projects to develop the service, with assistance and guidance of more senior members of staff.
·To flexibly plan and prioritise own time to ensure that patient care, training, supervision, and meetings are undertaken with occasional guidance from Band 7 and Band 8a staff.
·To use good prioritising and time management skills to meet the unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service.
·To participate in departmental meetings including staff, unit and grade meetings as required and to participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings as required.
·To report all complaints, incidents and accidents to the immediate senior member of staff as soon as possible and document according to trust policy.
·To be responsible for the operational management of the clinical team in the absence of the team leader.
·To be responsible for maintenance of an accurate and evaluative record keeping system using POMR (Problem Orientated Medical Records) format to demonstrate evaluation, analysis and clinical reasoning in the provision of patient care.
·Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trust’s e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning
·To maintain the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and departments standards for documentation.
·To record statistical information related to own activity and highlight variances in consultation with senior staff.
·Use computer databases to provide accurate reports containing statistics and clinical information as requested by Band 7 and Band 8a Staff.
Patient Care Delivery
·To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable, as an autonomous practitioner, for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
·To ensure high standards of clinical care within the designated area, and adhere to Trust, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Departmental standards of care.
·To be competent in the comprehensive assessment of a wide range of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using advanced theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, often in situations where conflicting evidence is present.
·To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, which may be conflicting, using underpinning theoretical knowledge and experience to suggest a diagnoses, identify main problems and form prognoses in a wide range of complex and complicated conditions. To formulate and develop individual patient management, treatment, and discharge plans, using clinical reasoning, current evidence and a wide range of treatment skills.
·To seek Senior guidance with highly complex or challenging patient cases.
·To demonstrate well developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for the assessment, therapeutic handling and manual treatment of patients e.g. neuro / mobility rehabilitation, balance exercises and handling
·To continually re-assess patients to progress treatments effectively and advise patients and carers on the appropriate discharge plan.
·To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and ensure its effective application to the work situation, guided by the Physiotherapy Team leads and Physiotherapy Management as needed.
·Always maintain patient confidentiality and dignity and support peoples’ equality, diversity and rights.
·To be responsive and adaptable to the perpetual changes in patients’ clinical states, in a frequently unpredictable clinical environment.
·To use theoretical and practical knowledge to refer to other health disciplines as appropriate, e.g. for assessment or further treatment or specialist consultant opinions.
·To work a rostered 7-day service when implemented
·To be an active member of the evening and weekend Respiratory on-call service and / or orthopaedic service.
·To maintain professionalism in public, ward and rehabilitation areas. To advise the team leader of any problems within the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
·To undertake any other duties as may be deemed necessary by Physiotherapy managers in the provision of the physiotherapy service.
·To be on call Competent and take part in the respiratory weekend rota.
Person specification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
1. Diploma in Physiotherapy or BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy or overseas equivalent Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/CPD and reflective practice Up to date professional development portfolio
Desirable criteria
2. Relevant validated postgraduate clinical courses Up to date manual and therapeutic handling training.
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
3. Previous post graduate experience working as a Band 5 Physiotherapist within the NHS supported by evidence of post graduate learning experience and its application to clinical practice
4. Broad range of clinical rotations at Band 5 Physiotherapist, including in Frailty
5. At least one band 6 or senior band 5 rotation in Frailty. Experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team
Desirable criteria
6. Experience of supervising less experienced staff such as students and assistants Contribution to education of students and assistants
7. Experience at Band 6 level Experience of community-based services
Skills non-clinical
Essential criteria
8. Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with colleagues Able to present information, written and verbally, in a clear and logical manner
9. Able to plan and prioritise own workload efficiently Experience of delegating to assistants and less experienced staff
Desirable criteria
10. Ability to use Physio tools software Ability to conduct electronic database searches e.g. Medline and CINAHL
Skills clinical
Essential criteria
11. Able to utilise a range of assessment and treatment skills such as exercise prescription, physiotherapeutic handling
People Management and Development
Essential criteria
12. Able to work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team
13. Able to maintain judgement under pressure
14. Experience as a sole Educator to Physiotherapy students
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
15. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
16. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications