Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Team Lead Physiotherapist - Acute Frailty

The closing date is 17 July 2025

Job summary

A very rare and exciting opportunity has arisen at Bedford Hospital! We are now looking for a highly trained physiotherapist to take on our newly vacant Team Lead Physiotherapist role, leading a team of therapists within the specialist field of acute Frailty.

The post holder will need to have a proven track record in supporting and developing therapy services, as well as being able to lead a well established team. The post holder will also need to have specialist knowledge and skills within the frailty speciality, with a keen eye on embedding evidence based practice.

This post will work closely alongside our newly formed prevention of deconditioning team who are also based on the frailty wards.

Main duties of the job

To be responsible for, and lead a team of physiotherapists at Bedford Hospital to plan, co-ordinate and deliver physiotherapy intervention to patients within the speciality of frailty.

To undertake advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and/or chronic presentations.

To work closely with and support the development of pathways for patients and the development of the service to enhance patient care.

Actively participate in development of policy or process changes within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the district wide multidisciplinary service, and as team leader, ensure staff implement policy and service development changes.

Provide specialist and highly specialist advice to physiotherapy and other health professionals, colleagues working within the Trust.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP8914-MA

Job locations

Bedford Hospital - South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for further information regarding the main responsibilities of the role.

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients including those with complex presentations, using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individual management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialist programme of care.

Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding physiotherapeutic management of patients within the specialist area.

To provide and co-ordinate post graduate development to less experienced staff and clinical placements for student physiotherapists.

Provide specialist and highly specialist advice to physiotherapy and other health professionals, colleagues working within the Trust.

To ensure high standard of clinical care to all patients within this clinical speciality and support less experienced staff to do likewise.

To work within Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Guidelines, have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and other qualities of practice in liaison with senior physiotherapists.

To accept responsibility for patients with frailty diagnoses and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time, when there are conflicting pressures at short notice.

Actively participate in development of policy or process changes within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the district wide multidisciplinary service, and as team leader, ensure staff implement policy and service development changes.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

Use a large range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients and carers to progress and gain participation with rehabilitation treatment programmes. A majority of patients will have difficulties in understanding and accepting complex and sensitive information. It will also include regular interaction with relatives and carers.

To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be an active member of an out of hours emergency on-call / weekend service.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including management of patients caseload.

To maintain own continuing professional development [CPD] by keeping abreast with new developments and research and incorporate them as necessary into work of own and the rest of the team

To be an active member of the in-service training programme to develop other team members both clinically and managerially by the attendance and delivering presentations and training sessions at tutorials, training sessions in-house, and by attending external courses and practicing reflective practice.

To provide education as necessary to other members of multidisciplinary team to allow best patient care.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with physiotherapy medical, nursing and other Multidisciplinary Team colleagues to ensure a co-ordinated service. This will include case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning.

Participate in staff appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development plan to meet knowledge and competencies. Development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be both as appraiser and appraise. To ensure that other members of the team have regular appraisals and assist them to work towards their PDP and career development.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.

To deputise for other senior professionals e.g. Occupational Therapists within the interdisciplinary team and offer advice and assistance as appropriate.

Decide priorities for work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that those remain in accordance with those of the Physiotherapy Service.

To be responsible for the effective selection of and use of all treatment resources available both within the department and on the wards.

To be responsible for maintaining accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with the CSP Standards of practice and local standard requirements. Communicate assessment of treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters. To ensure that the rest of the team also maintains these standards.

Be actively involved in the collection and analysis of appropriate data and statistics for audit and for departmental use.

Be aware of Health and Safety aspects of own work including prompt recording, reporting and investigation of accidents.

Be responsible for the safe and competent use of the gym and any other equipment by patients, relatives and staff through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To undertake any other duties, that may be considered appropriate by the Therapies Service Manager, Deputy Head of Therapies or Head of Therapies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for further information regarding the main responsibilities of the role.

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients including those with complex presentations, using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individual management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialist programme of care.

Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding physiotherapeutic management of patients within the specialist area.

To provide and co-ordinate post graduate development to less experienced staff and clinical placements for student physiotherapists.

Provide specialist and highly specialist advice to physiotherapy and other health professionals, colleagues working within the Trust.

To ensure high standard of clinical care to all patients within this clinical speciality and support less experienced staff to do likewise.

To work within Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Guidelines, have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and other qualities of practice in liaison with senior physiotherapists.

To accept responsibility for patients with frailty diagnoses and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time, when there are conflicting pressures at short notice.

Actively participate in development of policy or process changes within Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the district wide multidisciplinary service, and as team leader, ensure staff implement policy and service development changes.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

Use a large range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients and carers to progress and gain participation with rehabilitation treatment programmes. A majority of patients will have difficulties in understanding and accepting complex and sensitive information. It will also include regular interaction with relatives and carers.

To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be an active member of an out of hours emergency on-call / weekend service.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including management of patients caseload.

To maintain own continuing professional development [CPD] by keeping abreast with new developments and research and incorporate them as necessary into work of own and the rest of the team

To be an active member of the in-service training programme to develop other team members both clinically and managerially by the attendance and delivering presentations and training sessions at tutorials, training sessions in-house, and by attending external courses and practicing reflective practice.

To provide education as necessary to other members of multidisciplinary team to allow best patient care.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with physiotherapy medical, nursing and other Multidisciplinary Team colleagues to ensure a co-ordinated service. This will include case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning.

Participate in staff appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development plan to meet knowledge and competencies. Development of a Personal Development Plan (PDP) will be both as appraiser and appraise. To ensure that other members of the team have regular appraisals and assist them to work towards their PDP and career development.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.

To deputise for other senior professionals e.g. Occupational Therapists within the interdisciplinary team and offer advice and assistance as appropriate.

Decide priorities for work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that those remain in accordance with those of the Physiotherapy Service.

To be responsible for the effective selection of and use of all treatment resources available both within the department and on the wards.

To be responsible for maintaining accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with the CSP Standards of practice and local standard requirements. Communicate assessment of treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters. To ensure that the rest of the team also maintains these standards.

Be actively involved in the collection and analysis of appropriate data and statistics for audit and for departmental use.

Be aware of Health and Safety aspects of own work including prompt recording, reporting and investigation of accidents.

Be responsible for the safe and competent use of the gym and any other equipment by patients, relatives and staff through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To undertake any other duties, that may be considered appropriate by the Therapies Service Manager, Deputy Head of Therapies or Head of Therapies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDegree or equivalent in Physiotherapy
  • oHCPC registration

Experience

Essential

  • oSignificant NHS experience in a senior position.
  • oExperience of working in relevant specialty.
  • oSignificant experience of supporting and leading less experienced staff.

Knowledge

Essential

  • oAdvanced knowledge of physiotherapy in speciality area
  • oKnowledge of audit and outcome measures

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of strategies to influence change management
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • oDegree or equivalent in Physiotherapy
  • oHCPC registration

Experience

Essential

  • oSignificant NHS experience in a senior position.
  • oExperience of working in relevant specialty.
  • oSignificant experience of supporting and leading less experienced staff.

Knowledge

Essential

  • oAdvanced knowledge of physiotherapy in speciality area
  • oKnowledge of audit and outcome measures

Desirable

  • oKnowledge of strategies to influence change management

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital - South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital - South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Therapies Service Manager - Physiotherapy

Alan Darby

alan.darby@bedfordhospital.nhs.uk

01234355122

Details

Date posted

04 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

418-AHP8914-MA

Job locations

Bedford Hospital - South Wing

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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