Job summary
Specialist Physiotherapist (Acute Assessment and Frailty)
Department Therapies
Band 6
Hours: 22.5 hours per week (Monday, Friday and choice of other day), fixed term contract until July 2026.
The Therapy team at MKUH are looking for a forward thinking, passionate physiotherapist to join the Acute Assessment and Frailty Team (AAFT). AAFT is an interdisciplinary service comprising Nurses, Physios, Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants working within emergency care, community interface and acute medicine services at MKUH.
We are looking for dynamic individuals with medical, elderly care or frailty experience to provide specialist frailty assessments and treatments as part of a multidisciplinary team. You will assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions using evidence based/best practice. It is essential to have excellent resilience when working within busy, fast paced departments of urgent care services, have a positive attitude to taking risks to support people to return home wherever possible, and be highly skilled at influencing decision making at senior levels.
The successful applicant will be a highly motivated, flexible and innovative therapist. Good communication, time management and organisational skills are essential, and you should be able to work on your own initiative and as part of a team. You will be responsible for supervising and training junior therapy staff and assistants.
Main duties of the job
To provide advanced Physiotherapy assessment and treatment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions.
To be responsible for own case load within a predominately Acute assessment areas, working without direct supervision but with daily senior support as required.
To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team and integrate working practices with community partners in order to facilitate timely discharge andadmission avoidance.
To train and develop junior staff and students.
To undertake evidence based audit to further own and teams clinical practice. Make recommendations to Manager / Team Leader regarding changes to practice and/or service policies and protocols.
To represent therapies as a visible, knowledgeable, confident, supportive and high performing professional group.
Within this exciting role there will be an amazing opportunity to attend our Frailty Masters Module, developed in conjunction with the University of Northampton. You will also benefit from support from our own dedicated Therapy Practice Development team.
We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To be professional and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
To undertake Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments for patients, including those with a complex presentation, using advanced investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care and signpost to other specialist or services re-evaluating as appropriate.
To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
Professional
To comply with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapys Code of Members Professional Values and Behaviour.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients, contributing to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
To be responsible for attending and participating in formal supervision, including clinical supervision, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and the standards of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Organisational
To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of junior staff, assistants and student on a daily bases in conjunction with the team leader. To ensure that your own practice and that of staff under your supervision, meet the required professional standards of practise.
To ensure compliance with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to follow the general professional guidelines and standards from the Health Professions Council and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
To be professional and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
To undertake Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments for patients, including those with a complex presentation, using advanced investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care and signpost to other specialist or services re-evaluating as appropriate.
To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
Professional
To comply with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapys Code of Members Professional Values and Behaviour.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients, contributing to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
To be responsible for attending and participating in formal supervision, including clinical supervision, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures and the standards of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Organisational
To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of junior staff, assistants and student on a daily bases in conjunction with the team leader. To ensure that your own practice and that of staff under your supervision, meet the required professional standards of practise.
To ensure compliance with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to follow the general professional guidelines and standards from the Health Professions Council and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Physiotherapy Degree
- Registered with UK Health Centre Professions Council
- Evidence of post registration CPD relating to frailty
- Sound therapeutic and clinical knowledge
- Knowledge of Physiotherapy best practise for a range of conditions
Desirable
- Membership of CSP
- Membership of Specialist Interest Groups
- Awareness of NHS and Trust systems, policies, procedures and current changes
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience in a hospital setting
- Completed core rotations in Outpatients/Orthopaedics/Neurology/ Respiratory/ Medicine & Surgery
- Active member of multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working with Older People with frailty
Skills
Essential
- Proven time management skills
- Ability to organise and prioritise own caseload
- Practice evidence-based therapy
- High level of IST including presentation of IST, with the ability to teach other staff including juniors, assistants and students
- Ability to do 1:1 sessions and appraisals with juniors, assistants and students
- Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
- Able to appropriately apply a range of treatment approaches
Desirable
- Acute respiratory physiotherapy skills and competencies
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Experience of managing and developing colleagues
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Demonstrate a high level of confidence in interactions with senior medical and nursing staff, delivering respectful professional challenge when necessary
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Able to work on a 7-day rota
Desirable
- Able to work as part of the Respiratory on-call and weekend rota
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Physiotherapy Degree
- Registered with UK Health Centre Professions Council
- Evidence of post registration CPD relating to frailty
- Sound therapeutic and clinical knowledge
- Knowledge of Physiotherapy best practise for a range of conditions
Desirable
- Membership of CSP
- Membership of Specialist Interest Groups
- Awareness of NHS and Trust systems, policies, procedures and current changes
Experience
Essential
- Relevant experience in a hospital setting
- Completed core rotations in Outpatients/Orthopaedics/Neurology/ Respiratory/ Medicine & Surgery
- Active member of multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of working with Older People with frailty
Skills
Essential
- Proven time management skills
- Ability to organise and prioritise own caseload
- Practice evidence-based therapy
- High level of IST including presentation of IST, with the ability to teach other staff including juniors, assistants and students
- Ability to do 1:1 sessions and appraisals with juniors, assistants and students
- Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
- Able to appropriately apply a range of treatment approaches
Desirable
- Acute respiratory physiotherapy skills and competencies
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
Desirable
- Experience of managing and developing colleagues
Communication
Essential
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Demonstrate a high level of confidence in interactions with senior medical and nursing staff, delivering respectful professional challenge when necessary
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
- Able to work on a 7-day rota
Desirable
- Able to work as part of the Respiratory on-call and weekend rota
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).
