Job summary
The Neurosurgical Physiotherapy team is highly regarded within Therapy and Rehabilitation Services at National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Band 8a physiotherapist with a background in cardio-respiratory to join Therapy and Rehabilitation services.
This post is to cover a maternity leave, from September 2025 to August 2026.
The post-holder would be working in Neuro Critical Care, as part of the wider Neurosurgery Therapy Team.
Main duties of the job
There will be the opportunity to further develop skills in the assessment and management of patients with a wide range of complex and rare neurological disabilities. You would be responsible for providing respiratory advice and teaching to the department, and work as part of the NHNN tracheostomy team.
You must have a substantual postgraduate experience in a physical, cardio-respiratory setting, with some experience of application to neurological settings.
The role has a high clinical component, and effective communication and a positive approach to the management of complex disability are essential.
Regular supervision and support for continued professional development is offered, as is the opportunity to work on projects.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Job description
Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit: Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications Training
Essential
- Degree / diploma in Physiotherapy
- HPC registered
- Evidence of post-graduate training in cardio respiratory to the equivalent of modules at Masters level
- Active member of appropriate special interest group e.g. ACPRC ACPIN
- Evidence of management training
- Evidence of appraisal training
Desirable
- Masters degree / working towards a MSc
- Evidence of teaching skills course
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Member of the relevant professional college or society
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 6 years post-graduate experience
- 6 years' experience treating patients with cardio respiratory impairments
- Previous experience as a band 7 or 8a physiotherapist for a minimum of 2 years
- Evidence of having supervised qualified therapy staff
- Experience in initiating and undertaking audit
- Experience of teaching a wide range of groups, e.g. therapy colleagues, the multidisciplinary team and external agencies.
- Evidence of active participation in the organisation of education programmes
- Evidence in involvement in risk management, quality standard setting and clinical effectiveness
- Evidence of a knowledge of the recruitment and selection process
Desirable
- Experience in initiating and undertaking research
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Autonomous practitioner who has the ability to work unsupervised
- Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own workload and that of others
- Ability to supervise staff
- An understanding of interdisciplinary issues and an ability to work efficiently and effectively in an interdisciplinary team
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information in an understandable form to patients, significant others and all other professionals involved
- Effective written communication skills, including accurate record keeping using POMR system, and policy documents
- Effective oral communication skills with patients, line managers, other health care professionals, demonstrating negotiating skills and ability to manage and diffuse potential conflict
- Demonstration of clinical leadership qualities e.g. management of change, clinical competence, the ability to inspire, motivate and empower teams
- Broad knowledge of current best evidence based practice in neuro cardio respiratory physiotherapy
- Demonstration of use of audit, quality standard setting and risk management processes for clinical effectiveness, taking a lead in projects
- A commitment to evidence based practice
- A commitment to professional development of self and other therapists
- A positive approach to the treatment of acute, chronic and progressive disability
- Evidence of initiative
- Application of complex clinical reasoning to a diverse neurologically impaired patient group, demonstrating highly specialist analytical and diagnostic skills during assessment and intervention
- Ability to plan, coordinate and advise appropriate physiotherapy treatment and evaluate outcomes, using generic and unidisciplinary measures, for patients with highly complex neuro-disability
- Evidence of up to date Continued Professional Development diary including evidence of reflective practice, in-service training, any courses attended and clinical experience gained
- Demonstrate an ability to prioritise own and physiotherapy workload equitably across physiotherapy services as required, responding to unpredictable changes to patients and staffing levels
- Evidence of effective presentation and training skills to a wide ranging audience e.g. peers, multidisciplinary teams and user groups, nationally and internationally
- Evidence of being self-motivated
- Constructive assertiveness
- Ability to lead and actively participate in research, demonstrating knowledge of research methodologies and research application
- Application of Health and Safety and risk management policies
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications Training
Essential
- Degree / diploma in Physiotherapy
- HPC registered
- Evidence of post-graduate training in cardio respiratory to the equivalent of modules at Masters level
- Active member of appropriate special interest group e.g. ACPRC ACPIN
- Evidence of management training
- Evidence of appraisal training
Desirable
- Masters degree / working towards a MSc
- Evidence of teaching skills course
- Experience of working in the NHS
- Member of the relevant professional college or society
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 6 years post-graduate experience
- 6 years' experience treating patients with cardio respiratory impairments
- Previous experience as a band 7 or 8a physiotherapist for a minimum of 2 years
- Evidence of having supervised qualified therapy staff
- Experience in initiating and undertaking audit
- Experience of teaching a wide range of groups, e.g. therapy colleagues, the multidisciplinary team and external agencies.
- Evidence of active participation in the organisation of education programmes
- Evidence in involvement in risk management, quality standard setting and clinical effectiveness
- Evidence of a knowledge of the recruitment and selection process
Desirable
- Experience in initiating and undertaking research
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Autonomous practitioner who has the ability to work unsupervised
- Effective time management and the ability to prioritise own workload and that of others
- Ability to supervise staff
- An understanding of interdisciplinary issues and an ability to work efficiently and effectively in an interdisciplinary team
- Able to communicate complex, sensitive and contentious information in an understandable form to patients, significant others and all other professionals involved
- Effective written communication skills, including accurate record keeping using POMR system, and policy documents
- Effective oral communication skills with patients, line managers, other health care professionals, demonstrating negotiating skills and ability to manage and diffuse potential conflict
- Demonstration of clinical leadership qualities e.g. management of change, clinical competence, the ability to inspire, motivate and empower teams
- Broad knowledge of current best evidence based practice in neuro cardio respiratory physiotherapy
- Demonstration of use of audit, quality standard setting and risk management processes for clinical effectiveness, taking a lead in projects
- A commitment to evidence based practice
- A commitment to professional development of self and other therapists
- A positive approach to the treatment of acute, chronic and progressive disability
- Evidence of initiative
- Application of complex clinical reasoning to a diverse neurologically impaired patient group, demonstrating highly specialist analytical and diagnostic skills during assessment and intervention
- Ability to plan, coordinate and advise appropriate physiotherapy treatment and evaluate outcomes, using generic and unidisciplinary measures, for patients with highly complex neuro-disability
- Evidence of up to date Continued Professional Development diary including evidence of reflective practice, in-service training, any courses attended and clinical experience gained
- Demonstrate an ability to prioritise own and physiotherapy workload equitably across physiotherapy services as required, responding to unpredictable changes to patients and staffing levels
- Evidence of effective presentation and training skills to a wide ranging audience e.g. peers, multidisciplinary teams and user groups, nationally and internationally
- Evidence of being self-motivated
- Constructive assertiveness
- Ability to lead and actively participate in research, demonstrating knowledge of research methodologies and research application
- Application of Health and Safety and risk management policies
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery Therapy & Rehab Services
Queen Square
London
WC1N 3BG
Employer's website
https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
