Overview
Job summary: A Specialist Physiotherapist (Band 6) Fixed Term Contract October 2026 to join our Rehabilitation services team. The role is to offer intervention that is goal focused, evidence based, and child and family centred. You will be collaborating with colleagues in the relevant disciplines comprising the team around each child.
The specialist physiotherapy involves working in inpatient rehabilitation including young people accessing outpatient rehabilitation. You will lead in delivering interventions that support the child and their family centred to reach their goals through evidence-based practice, in order to promote physical skills and participation in home, school and family life. Our service delivery aims to promote outcome focussed interventions, safe care, function and participation of children and young people accessing home, school, and community life. You will deliver child and family focused, goal led interventions at a specialist level within a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency setting.
About Us: The Childrens Trust is the UKs leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.
Staff Benefits include a range of benefits such as enhanced leave, pension options, on-site parking, staff shuttle service, subsidised cafeteria, staff accommodation (subject to availability), and opportunities to develop your career in a supportive and collaborative environment.
Responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
* Provide high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy provision for children and young people, in partnership with other members of the multi-disciplinary team in rehabilitation, step down and short break services.
* Undertake specialist physiotherapy assessments of children with a range of needs including highly complex needs.
* Assess for, plan, deliver and evaluate physiotherapy interventions for children using facilities available both on and off The Childrens Trust site.
* Produce functional and participation-based goals in collaboration with the child/young person, family, and MDT.
* Devise suitable individual physiotherapy and 24-hour postural management advice for each child in collaboration with their parents and the MDT, monitored and adjusted as needed.
* Collaborate with families to maximise engagement in therapy sessions and support management of their child’s needs.
* Assess for and organise provision of necessary therapy equipment and/or orthotics.
* Work with MDT and family to provide an integrated approach to the child’s overall management.
* Support implementation of specific respiratory physiotherapy programmes with the support of highly specialist staff.
* Liaise with medical staff and attend clinics/grand rounds as required; work collaboratively to facilitate admission and transition processes.
* Act as Coordinating Therapist following team discussion or as requested by the Head of Rehabilitation Therapies.
* Maintain accurate intervention records in accordance with legal, professional and organisational requirements.
* Contribute to child-related reports and assist with timely collation of these as required.
* Provide clinical cover across the service during periods of staff shortage or heavy workload to ensure effective service delivery.
* Work flexibly in terms of hours if required for service delivery.
* Undertake other duties within your skills and abilities as required by the organisation.
* Collaborate with community and inpatient teams to deliver timely assessments, goal setting, treatment planning, intensive therapy and meaningful outcomes.
* Provide information to inform progress reporting, discharge planning and transfer of input to local community services.
Communication
* Communicate effectively with children/young people, families and MDT members; address barriers to communication as appropriate.
* Attend and contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and maintain clear, confidential records.
Management of Self and Others
* Provide support and supervision for junior team members and students within area of responsibility.
* Participate in performance development reviews and monthly supervision as required.
* Manage time effectively, prioritising and delegating work as required.
Governance
* Read and implement policies, procedures and risk assessments; stay up to date with changes.
* Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and apply evidence-informed practice; identify opportunities for service improvement with support from senior staff.
* Continue the audit cycle, evaluating changes implemented and adopting or stopping interventions as appropriate.
* Monitor effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service and take action to resolve issues with support from senior staff.
* Reflect on own and others’ performance to improve future practice.
* Undergo risk assessment training and ensure detailed risk assessments are completed as required.
* Participate in local clinical governance activities.
Career Long Learning, Education and Research
* Undertake mandatory training in line with policy.
* Advance knowledge and skills through courses, professional groups and literature reviews.
* Prepare for performance development reviews by identifying learning objectives and development opportunities.
* Participate in in-service training and contribute to service development projects.
Limits of Authority and Problem Solving
* Make day-to-day decisions regarding physiotherapy requirements based on caseload, including equipment recommendations.
* Manage time and workload priorities; provide monthly formal supervision to juniors.
* Support the Physiotherapy Team and multidisciplinary colleagues in delivering an effective service.
* Undertake other duties as required.
* Work with community and inpatient teams to deliver assessments, planning, and outcomes for children and young people.
* Provide timely information to inform progress reporting and transfer of input to local services.
Health and Safety
* Adhere to health and safety guidelines and organisational policies.
* Provide evidence of vaccinations or medical exemption as required.
* Follow manual handling procedures and undertake training as required.
* Promote health and safety of others and report risks via appropriate systems.
Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience
* Maintain a positive approach to change and challenges; recognise personal limits and seek support when needed.
* Remain organised under pressure and respond to constructive feedback.
* Motivate self and others.
Qualifications and Experience
Knowledge (Essential): Knowledge of current research in acute brain injury in paediatrics; Knowledge of outcome measures relating to acute brain injury and/or paediatric neurology.
Knowledge (Desirable): Podium and/or poster presentations at conferences.
* Qualifications (Essential): Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy; HCPC registration; member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy; continuing professional development above regulatory standards; willingness to undertake training; proactive in identifying training needs.
* Skills & Abilities (Essential): Clinical reasoning, workload management, IT skills, effective communication, risk assessment, reflective practice and feedback.
* Skills & Abilities (Desirable): Clinical assessment and intervention skills relevant to neuro-disability in children/young people.
* Experience (Essential): Experience working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Experience (Desirable): At least two years clinical experience post qualification; experience with children/young people and/or acquired brain injury; experience of working with families.
* Personal Qualities (Essential): Commitment to the charity’s values, flexible and reliable, highly motivated, able to cope in a demanding environment.
Disclosures
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and will require Disclosure to be checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.
Employer details
The Children’s Trust, Tadworth Court, Tadworth, Surrey KT20 5RU
Employer website: thechildrenstrust.org.uk/jobs
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