First Community Health and Care

Specialist Physiotherapist for the Prisons Service

The closing date is 12 October 2025

Job summary

Are you looking for a varied and different experience in your MSK role?

This post will provide you with that, alongside the support of an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist.

The post holder will be a part of the MSK service within First Community Health and Care, based in east Surrey with the primary role being provision of physiotherapy services to HMP Coldingley, Send, Downview and Highdown, which are distributed throughout Surrey.

You will see a huge variety of MSK patients, very different to your usual hospital outpatient setting. Working in the prison will test your ingenuity and communication skills.

This post is an excellent opportunity for anyone wishing to advance their management and service development skills whilst maintaining a clinical caseload.

Continued professional and personal development is strongly encouraged and the post holder will be part of an active in-service training programme along with the rest of the MSK team.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for a the assessment and treatment of offenders presenting with varied conditions and including some very complex cases.

They will work closely with the other prison physiotherapists and provide supervision and support to the physiotherapy assistant.

The prison clinic is an exciting opportunity to work as part of a MDT including GPs, Consultants, Pharmacists, Nurses, and exercise professionals providing a high standard of healthcare to this diverse population.

The successful applicant will have experience as a senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist in an outpatient setting.

They will be a team player and experienced in supervising staff.

They should have evidence of relevant post-graduate training as well as effective communication and problem-solving skills.

About us

Do you want to be part of an organisation that was rated best provider of NHS care to work for nationwide? (2023 staff survey results)

First Community is a staff owned social enterprise rated Good by CQC, which delivers NHS community services across east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We are looking for individuals who share our values First-rate care, First-rate people, First-rate value.

First Community is a great place to work, everyone has a voice and is supported to develop their career to its full potential. We offer all our staff: NHS terms and conditions, high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment, an NHS pension, flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.

Please talk to us before applying or at interview about the flexibility you need. We may not be able to meet your needs exactly, but we do promise to fully consider your request and meet your needs where possible. Please note, flexible working options may vary depending on the role.

At First Community we welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. We ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.

Sustainability is integral to First Community achieving the NHS Net Zero target.

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata + welcome bonus

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1053

Job locations

Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Nhs Trust

Canada Avenue

Redhill

RH1 5RH


Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for

  • Assessing, treating and managing own caseload of patients who may have complex presentations whilst maintaining own records as an autonomous practitioner.
  • The day to day management of the Physiotherapy Service for the Prisons.
  • Providing a high standard of clinical work which will also include teaching and the supervision of junior physiotherapy staff, prison staff, assistants and students.

When completing your application please refer to both the Application Guide and full Job Description & Person Specification - these can be found under supporting documents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is responsible for

  • Assessing, treating and managing own caseload of patients who may have complex presentations whilst maintaining own records as an autonomous practitioner.
  • The day to day management of the Physiotherapy Service for the Prisons.
  • Providing a high standard of clinical work which will also include teaching and the supervision of junior physiotherapy staff, prison staff, assistants and students.

When completing your application please refer to both the Application Guide and full Job Description & Person Specification - these can be found under supporting documents.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma equivalent in physiotherapy
  • HCPC Registration
  • Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent post-graduate courses relevant to the clinical field.

Desirable

  • Formal management training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of delivering undergraduate student supervision and clinical education to graduate and post graduate standard in area of speciality
  • Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience
  • Minimum of 3 years experience as senior in MSK

Desirable

  • Experience of managing a team
  • Undertaking/initiating audits and QI work

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of complex conditions within speciality.

Skills

Essential

  • Articulate, Good communication skills
  • Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge to others

Desirable

  • Appraisal skills
  • Demonstratable presentation skills

Other

Essential

  • Committed to personal and team development.
  • Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality and department
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma equivalent in physiotherapy
  • HCPC Registration
  • Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent post-graduate courses relevant to the clinical field.

Desirable

  • Formal management training

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of delivering undergraduate student supervision and clinical education to graduate and post graduate standard in area of speciality
  • Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience
  • Minimum of 3 years experience as senior in MSK

Desirable

  • Experience of managing a team
  • Undertaking/initiating audits and QI work

Knowledge

Essential

  • Knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of complex conditions within speciality.

Skills

Essential

  • Articulate, Good communication skills
  • Able to work with others and pass on skills and knowledge to others

Desirable

  • Appraisal skills
  • Demonstratable presentation skills

Other

Essential

  • Committed to personal and team development.
  • Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality and department

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

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

First Community Health and Care

Address

Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Nhs Trust

Canada Avenue

Redhill

RH1 5RH


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

First Community Health and Care

Address

Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Nhs Trust

Canada Avenue

Redhill

RH1 5RH


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Prison Lead Physiotherapist

Sarah Buckland

sarah.buckland@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

25 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata + welcome bonus

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1053

Job locations

Surrey & Sussex Healthcare Nhs Trust

Canada Avenue

Redhill

RH1 5RH


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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