Highly Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist in Lytham St Annes

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people. We have three main hospitals providing acute services to around 330,000 local residents. The organisation also provides specialist tertiary care for cardiac and haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. Plus, we provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year. We employ over 7000 people from 68 different countries. We welcome and encourage applications from anyone with protected characteristics, as well as supporting reservists and Veterans who are looking for a rewarding and challenging career within the NHS. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals encourages flexible working in all our roles to support staff in maintaining a healthy home‑life balance. Working patterns such as part time working, self‑rostering, compressed hours, annualised hours, term time, reverse term time and flexitime working can be explored.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly specialist Band 7 Paediatric Physiotherapist to join the Community Children’s Therapy Team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Full UK Driving Licence and access to a car is essential for this role. This post provides specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and management for babies, children and young people with complex, chronic, disabling and life‑limiting conditions across community settings. The role requires advanced clinical reasoning, autonomous decision‑making and close multi‑agency working to support children with highly complex physical, neurological and developmental needs. The post holder will hold a specialist caseload, contribute to service development, and provide clinical leadership, education and support to colleagues within the multidisciplinary team. This is a lone‑working role within the community, requiring a high level of professional accountability and adherence to Trust policies.

Main duties of the job

• To provide highly specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and ongoing management for children and young people with complex and multiple needs.
• To independently manage a specialist caseload, prioritising work according to clinical risk and service need.
• To work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary and multi‑agency framework including health, education, social care and voluntary sector partners.
• To provide specialist advice, training and support to colleagues, families and partner agencies.
• To contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement and clinical governance activity within the Community Children’s Therapy Service.
• To act as a source of specialist knowledge and clinical expertise within paediatric physiotherapy.

The Community Children’s Therapy Team delivers physiotherapy services to babies, children and young people across a wide range of community settings including homes, schools, clinics and early years environments. We work with children who present with complex physical, neurological, developmental and learning needs, often requiring coordinated, long‑term and multi‑agency intervention. The team is committed to delivering high‑quality, child‑centred care that promotes safety, independence and participation. You will be supported by an experienced leadership team and work closely with colleagues across Children’s Community Health Services. We actively encourage professional development, reflective practice and service improvement, and value the specialist contribution of senior clinicians in shaping and sustaining safe, effective services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical responsibilities

• To undertake comprehensive, highly specialist assessment of babies, children and young people using advanced clinical reasoning, standardised assessments and observational skills.
• To plan, deliver and evaluate specialist physiotherapy interventions in a variety of community environments, including home, school and clinic settings.
• To formulate, implement and regularly review individualised treatment plans and goals, adapting interventions in response to changing clinical presentation or circumstances.
• To assess, prescribe and review specialist paediatric equipment and liaise with orthotics and equipment services as required.
• To provide specialist advice to support diagnostic formulation and communicate complex, sensitive information to families in an understandable and compassionate manner.
• To accept professional accountability for clinical decision‑making and risk management within a complex caseload.

Caseload management

• To manage a defined specialist caseload autonomously, prioritising referrals and interventions based on clinical need, safeguarding considerations and risk.
• To work as a lone practitioner in the community in accordance with Trust lone‑working policies and procedures.
• To maintain accurate, timely and professional clinical records in line with Trust standards.

Leadership, education and support

• To provide specialist advice, guidance and informal supervision to junior staff, students and support workers.
• To contribute to the education and training of colleagues, students and multi‑agency partners in relation to paediatric physiotherapy practice.
• To support a culture of learning, reflective practice and continuous improvement within the team.

Multi‑agency working

• To work closely with colleagues across health, education and social care to develop coordinated, child‑centred care plans.
• To contribute specialist physiotherapy reports and attend relevant meetings including education reviews, safeguarding meetings and case conferences as required.
• To provide advice for statutory processes including SEND assessments and education‑based manual handling risk assessments.

Governance, quality and professional responsibilities

• To ensure all practice is evidence‑based and aligned with professional standards, national guidance and Trust policies.
• To participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement activity.
• To identify and upscale clinical risks, incidents or safeguarding concerns in line with Trust procedures.
• To maintain HCPC registration and demonstrate ongoing professional development through CPD and appraisal.
• To actively promote the Trust’s values and contribute to a safe, inclusive and respectful working environment.

Person specification

• Transport: Full UK Driving Licence & access to a car
• Education and Qualification: Graduate Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy, HCPC registration, Evidence of Post Graduate development
• Experience and Knowledge: Experience of working with children, Significant relevant paediatric experience at band 6 level, Experience of working within the community, Extensive general post graduate physiotherapy experience in relevant settings including significant experience within paediatrics, Significant experience of delegating work to more junior and support staff, Experience of educating and supporting student physiotherapists, Sound knowledge of current best practice, Sound understanding of the requirements of clinical governance, Sound understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality, Ability to relate theory to clinical situations, Sound understanding of relevant legislation, eligibility criteria / policies and procedures relating to children, Demonstrable knowledge of a wide range of paediatric therapy assessment and intervention, Knowledge and practical experience of manual handling including paediatric equipment, Evidence of managerial experiences/opportunities, Experience of delivering training to colleagues in health and/or other agencies
• Skills and Ability: Significant experience of supervising junior and support staff, Experience with computer‑based data systems, Post graduate training related to relevant clinical areas, Maintenance of a comprehensive portfolio of evidence of CPD, Clinical planning and organisational skills, Ability to manage own time, Ability to work alone as well as part of a team, Ability to work under pressure and recognise when support is required, IT skills including word processing, excel, power point and email, Ability to lead in a given situation, Ability to make independent decisions seeking help and guidance when required, taking into account Trust / departmental policies and guidelines, Be flexible, quick thinking, resourceful and assertive, Ability to accept advice and act upon it, Ability to negotiate, Ability to triage referrals, Full UK driving licence and access to a car, Ability to travel easily and independently across the footprint of the locality (Blackpool Wyre and Fylde), Experience of research, audit, reflective practice or outcome measures.