Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for an experienced band 6 physiotherapist with experience of working in a paediatric setting to cover a maternity leave for 6 months. Do you have experience of working with children and young people with musculoskeletal problems? Have you worked in a busy clinic environment? Do you have experience of working with children with complex disabilities? If the answer is yes, you could be who we are looking for.

We are looking for an individual who is hard working, compassionate and has a real desire to share and develop their skills and knowledge in working with children and young people from ages 0-19 years to help them reach their maximum potential. We offer regular clinical and managerial supervision, flexible working and regular training opportunities within the team. This post is subject to an enhanced with children’s and adults barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.

• To lead and provide a skilled and competent specialist physiotherapy service to children and young people from 0-19 years of age.
• To implement therapy programmes for individuals and groups while working as a member of an interdisciplinary/agency team.
• To participate in the development of the Therapy Service.
• To supervise other qualified and unqualified physiotherapists and therapy assistants in their work.
• The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users and their parents/carers.
• The post holder will embrace the core values of the organisation and follow current guidance in the management of Paediatric neurological, neurodevelopmental & Musculoskeletal conditions.
• Promotes safe practice.
• Value the aims of service users.
• Work in partnership and offer meaningful choice.
• Be optimistic about the possibilities of meaningful change.

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands. We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities. At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so. Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.

• To provide individual and group therapy for paediatric physiotherapy needs, by diagnosing, deciding upon management, designing and implementing clinical care packages.
• Clients will include those with dual diagnosis, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal complaints, autistic spectrum disorder, profound and multiple learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.
• To use highly specialist listening, physical, and observational skills to diagnose and manage cases in evidence-based and quality performance, risk framework.
• To sensitively provide and receive information about clients from the client, carer and other professionals and to manage difficult or contentious information appropriately.
• To work in an empathic manner in partnership with clients, carers and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the client communicates e.g. sign language.
• To arrange appointments, attend reviews/case conferences and liaise with carers, families and other professionals regarding patient care.
• To design and evaluate specific Physiotherapy projects.
• To maintain a high standard of documentation across all aspects of the service, including the patient’s case notes, administrative and statistical procedures and all related written communications.

• To supervise the work of less experienced physiotherapists, assistants and students on placement.
• To facilitate the development of the team’s skills and knowledge to meet the service needs.
• To provide clinical education for students from a variety of professions, who are observing Physiotherapy practice.
• Lead, participate and contribute to issues, within monthly clinical supervision, relating to clients, own skills and development needs.
• To manage own caseload, prioritising the waiting list, and delegating cases to the other qualified physiotherapists and assistants.

• To identify the training needs of carers in relation to clients Physiotherapy needs and design training to meet this need.
• To plan the content and delivery of training programmes as required.
• To provide specialist training about learning disabilities and physiotherapy to families, care staff and professionals.
• To share experience and expertise about Physiotherapy issues with other colleagues, carers and service users.
• To recommend and work towards achieving Personal Development Plan objectives to meet the service need and development.
• You will discuss individual job development with your Manager at the Personal Plan Development meetings each year.
• To undertake identified development of work related skills.
• To attend relevant courses, meetings and Specific Interest Groups related to Paediatric Therapies physiotherapy and to keep own regular record of C.P.D.
• To participate in training that is critical to the Trust, as identified by the Learning Foundation and the Physiotherapy professional body.
• To work following Trust Policies.
• You will work at having good working relationships with the public and team.
• To maintain accurate patient records and statistical information.

• To carry out physiotherapy research and audit as required to evaluate the service provision and develop the service against team, trust and national objectives.

This advert closes on Thursday 24 Apr 2025.