Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist

The closing date is 16 April 2026

Job summary

Specialist Physiotherapist - Band 6

We are pleased to offer two Specialist Physiotherapist posts at Band 6, with the opportunity to appoint at Band 5 as a development post for candidates who demonstrate potential but do not yet meet all Band 6 criteria.

One post is within Older People's Mental Health (OPMH) and one within Working Age Adult Mental Health. Both roles are based in in-patient settings, and applicants may be considered forone or both posts, depending on preference and experience.

Role overview

You will provide high-quality physiotherapy assessment, intervention, advice, support, education and training to service users, carers and professionals. The post involves working with individuals with specialist mental health needs, including conditions such as dementia, depression, anxiety, psychosis and bipolar spectrum disorders.

Older People's Mental Health (OPMH)

Within OPMH services, the role focuses on supporting older adults to promote optimal physical and mental wellbeing, functional ability and quality of life through tailored physiotherapy interventions.

Working Age Adult Mental Health

The Working Age Adult post supports service users across several in-patient wards over two sites, with a focus on optimising physical health outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist skills within mental health physiotherapy, supported by a welcoming multidisciplinary team and clear development pathways.

Main duties of the job

  • Participate in the planning & delivery of the physiotherapy service across the care group, prioritising clinical need to provide an effective service.
  • Assess, plan & implement comprehensive physiotherapy treatment programmes for service users, & evaluate outcomes, whilst ensuring a high standard of professional practice is maintained & further developed.
  • Manage a caseload of service users presenting with complex mental & physical health needs, frailty, multimorbidity, challenging behaviour, communication difficulties & other associated conditions.
  • Use a range of verbal & non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with service users to progress rehabilitation & treatment programmes.
  • Assess service user understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent & work within a legal framework with service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment, in line with the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
  • Use evidence-based & service user-centred approaches to assess, plan, implement & evaluate physiotherapy interventions within secondary mental health in-patient (& community, where appropriate) settings.
  • Actively participate in multi-disciplinary & multi-agency working.
  • Support service development & continuous improvement within the physiotherapy service.
  • Maintain professional standards, clinical governance & ongoing professional development in line with HCPC & Trust requirements.

Closing: 16th April 26

Shortlisting: 17th April 26

Interview: TBC

About us

Everything we do is underpinned by our core values: -

We Care- We act with respect and empathy, and always value difference

We Listen- We understand people's views and respond to their individual needs

We Deliver- We develop and provide excellent services and support our partners

We will consider a variety of flexible working arrangements to enable staff to balance their work and home lives and support staff by offering a fantastic range of benefits including :

Increase mileage rates for > 4500

A wide range of health and wellbeing support packages

A range of internal and external development and learning opportunities

Plus many more.

We are also proud to pledge our support to the Armed Forces and hold a Bronze Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

BDCFT is dedicated to environmental and social sustainability by delivering on the commitments within our Green Plan. All staff are actively encouraged and supported to participate in training and to identify and implement sustainable quality improvement across all service areas and activities.

Please note that the Trust reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received. It is in the candidate's best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £48,117 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

453-26-7858959

Job locations

Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Skipton Road

Keighley

BD20 6TA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).

Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trusts eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).

Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma Physiotherapy
  • Registered to work within the UK
  • Health Professions Council registration

Training

Essential

  • Moving and Handling Regulations and their practical application in clinical practice.
  • Evidence of attending post graduate CPD courses.

Experience

Essential

  • Participated in audit and /or research
  • Demonstrate clinical experience in care of older people and/or mental health care and/or neurological services and/or medical specialities
  • Participated in the supervision of junior staff and physiotherapy students on clinical placement

Desirable

  • Experience working in both acute and community healthcare services

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Relevance of recent government publications, eg Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, NHS Long Term Plan, Mental Health Five Year Forward View.
  • A clear understanding of the needs of service users with complex physical needs
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree/Diploma Physiotherapy
  • Registered to work within the UK
  • Health Professions Council registration

Training

Essential

  • Moving and Handling Regulations and their practical application in clinical practice.
  • Evidence of attending post graduate CPD courses.

Experience

Essential

  • Participated in audit and /or research
  • Demonstrate clinical experience in care of older people and/or mental health care and/or neurological services and/or medical specialities
  • Participated in the supervision of junior staff and physiotherapy students on clinical placement

Desirable

  • Experience working in both acute and community healthcare services

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good written and verbal communication skills
  • Relevance of recent government publications, eg Care Act, Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, NHS Long Term Plan, Mental Health Five Year Forward View.
  • A clear understanding of the needs of service users with complex physical needs

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

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Skipton Road

Keighley

BD20 6TA


Employer's website

https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Skipton Road

Keighley

BD20 6TA


Employer's website

https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/current-vacancies/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Specialist Physiotherapist

Joanne Smith

joanne.smith2@bdct.nhs.uk

07712391424

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£32,073 to £48,117 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

453-26-7858959

Job locations

Airedale Centre for Mental Health

Skipton Road

Keighley

BD20 6TA


Supporting documents

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