Go back Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust
Advanced Physiotherapist/ Gait Analyst Gait Laboratory
The closing date is 31 January 2026
Responsible for conducting assessments and analysing data for patients referred to the North West Movement Analysis Centre, with gait disorders due to conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, neuromuscular disorders and trauma.
Actively participate in clinical decision‑making within a multidisciplinary team that includes consultant orthopaedic surgeons, the gait lab director and manager, physiotherapists, clinical scientists, and biomechanist.
Work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary NWMAC team, supporting the daily operation of the gait analysis facility and driving service development and innovation.
The post holder will be managerially accountable to the N.W.M.A.C. Manager.
Main duties of the job
Clinical
* Collaborate effectively within the multidisciplinary NWMAC team to deliver a high‑quality, up‑to‑date gait analysis service.
* Support the N.W.M.A.C. manager in the day‑to‑day running of the Movement Analysis Centre.
* Perform patient testing and manage a designated caseload responsibly, including clinical prioritisation and time management.
* Perform complex technical procedures using the 3D gait analysis system, including history taking, physical examination, and accurate application of surface markers.
* Develop an understanding of errors in gait analysis through an in‑depth understanding of bony anatomy and joint motion when applying surface markers.
* Develop expertise in biomechanical data analysis and reporting software.
* Use advancedknowledge to interpret and analyse clinical and non‑clinical diagnoses in a wide variety of highly complex conditions, where there may be conflicting evidence or where some information is unavailable.
* Produce high‑quality, comprehensive gait analysis reports and present findings to the NWMAC team.
* Train and supervise junior staff, assistants and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
* Manage clinical risk within own caseload and contribute to that of designated team at all times.
* see attached document for extended list
About us
As one of Europe’s biggest and busiest children’s hospitals, at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, we treat everything from common illnesses to highly complex and specialist conditions. In addition to our main hospital site, we offer paediatric services at a number of community sites and hold local clinics across Merseyside, Cumbria, Shropshire, Wales and the Isle of Man. We also provide specialist inpatient care for children with complex mental health needs in our recently relocated and newly opened state‑of‑the‑art facility.
Alder Hey has a thriving research portfolio and leads research into children’s medicines, infection, inflammation and oncology. We are becoming recognised as one of the world’s leaders in children’s healthcare and research. We contribute to public health, lead cutting‑edge research and teach the next generation of children’s specialists. Alongside this is our Innovation Hub, a dedicated space where clinicians and industries can come together to create new products and technologies.
We know that a children’s hospital is different and that our job is more than just treating an illness. To us, every child is an individual. As well as giving them the very best care, we set out to make them feel happy, safe and confident as they play, learn and grow. At Alder Hey we are here to look after a child and their family and that includes mums, dads, brothers and sisters.
Job responsibilities
Professional
* Adhere to HCPC Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of Practice.
* Maintain continuous professional development (CPD), including keeping a detailed portfolio.
* Actively participate in staff training, tutorials, external courses, and reflective practice, including delivering presentations.
* Engage in staff appraisal and personal development planning as both appraiser and appraisee.
* Ensure timely and meticulous completion of all work.
* Lead or contribute to evidence‑based projects, research, audits and outcome evaluations to improve laboratory practices.
* Stay updated with developments in motion analysis through collaboration with other UK and European laboratories.
* Communicate and collaborate effectively with allied health professionals, social services, education, and voluntary organisations to provide coordinated multi‑agency care.
* Demonstrate understanding of Trust values, Clinical Governance and Risk Management.
* Attend mandatory training, including Child Protection, and comply with national guidelines.
Organisational
* Manage work within NWMAC efficiently, balancing patient care and professional responsibilities in line with service priorities.
* Support the gait lab manager with operational tasks and service delivery improvements.
* Prioritise workload and ensure alignment with departmental objectives.
* Promote health and safety in the workplace, including timely reporting of incidents and ensuring safe equipment use.
* Maintain comprehensive and legally compliant documentation, sharing assessment and treatment outcomes with relevant stakeholders in line with Data Protection policies.
* Comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and help review and update as appropriate.
* Undertake any duties that might be considered appropriate by the gait lab manager/director.
* Co‑ordinate and organise in‑service staff training, meetings and internal/external courses.
* Implement service improvements aligned with quality initiatives in partnership with the gait lab manager/director.
* Comply with risk management responsibilities as outlined in the Trusts strategy.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
* oBSc or Diploma in Physiotherapy, recognised by HCPC, or Engineering/physics/science‑based degree.
* oEvidence of Post Graduate training and development.
* oMember of HCPC, registered Clinical Scientist or Physiotherapist
* oAttendance at basic gait analysis course
Experience and Skills
* oEvidence of in‑depth knowledge of motion analysis, theoretical and practical.
* oEvidence of understanding of 3D motion analysis systems.
* oEvidence of advanced knowledge in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
* oProven evidence of musculoskeletal background
* oEvidence of active participation in teaching and educational programmes.
* oEvidence of working with senior clinical staff and other allied healthcare professionals.
* oExperience as a community‑based physiotherapist, particularly in the assessment and treatment of clients with neurological conditions.
* oEvidence of participation in research projects.
* oExperience in developing novel algorithms, but also understanding, optimising and applying developed algorithms for extraction of digital mobility outcomes (e.g., gait outcomes).
* oGood grasp of the English language – written and oral.
* oEvidence of high‑level communication skills, written and verbal, enabling applicant to converse across a range of understanding
* oTo be able to communicate with healthcare professionals effectively using medical and technical terminology.
* oEvidence of good team working and communication skills.
* oThe ability to work flexibly.
* oCapacity for original thought
Interests and Motivation
* oKnowledge of current issues within the field of motion analysis.
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.
Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust
£47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum pro rata
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