Advanced Physiotherapist in Dawlish

Are you someone looking for a career in one of the UK's most respected mental health and learning disability trusts? Would you like to be part of a dedicated team committed to making a difference to people's lives to enjoy a better future? Would you like to play a role in developing a new physiotherapy service from the start?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team at the new Regional Learning Disability and Autism Unit in Dawlish (The Brook). The Brook is a new regional service which will provide high quality care and treatment for people who have learning disabilities or autism and complex mental health needs. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to support the assessment and treatment of adults with a learning disability or autism on the unit. This is a new inpatient physiotherapy service in Learning Disabilities and Autism, so a rare and exciting opportunity to develop a service from the start. We are committed to the ongoing training and development of all our staff and offer a range of opportunities for career progression. The building and environment will be state of the art and the service aims to become a centre of excellence.

Main duties of the job

• Work as a clinical specialist in inpatient physiotherapy for adults with a learning disability and/or Autism, providing advance clinical support and with responsibility to ensure clinical excellence within Devon Partnership Trust.
• Act as a source of expertise on the assessment and management of inpatient physiotherapy for adults with a learning disability and/or Autism.
• Deputise for the lead physiotherapist, taking on delegated responsibilities.
• Represent Physiotherapy at meetings and events locally, regionally and nationally.
• Take the lead on service development projects, audits and research in order to develop and improve physiotherapy provision within Devon Partnership Trust.
• Manage a complex caseload as required within The Brook as well as outreach into the community, undertaking all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner including managing clinical risk for own caseload and professional and legal accountability for all aspects of own work.
• Work closely with other multi-disciplinary team members, carers, other services and agencies to promote physical health and wellbeing, enable community inclusion and promote independence via assessment, care planning, individual interventions and training.
• Oversee an exercise professional in delivering personalised exercise plans to maintain and improve physical health.

About Us

The Trust provides mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, and specialist & secure services for the wider southwest region and nationally. We promote good mental health and wellbeing and strive to deliver high quality services that are safe and focused on people's recovery. We are committed to coproduction, involving patients, families and carers in everything we do.

Our values

We recruit based on qualifications and experience as well as behaviours that underpin our Trust's core values, including quality of care, improving lives, respect, dignity and compassion. We aim to be an inclusive employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We support part time and flexible working where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Details

• Date posted: 03 February 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata (22.5 hours per week)
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: C9369-26-0040
• Job locations: The Brook, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0NR

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/degree in physiotherapy.
• State registration current HPC certificate.
• Evidence of extensive Continuous Professional Development maintained in a portfolio.
• Training/experience in management of conditions relating to the specialty at post grad diploma or equivalent, including recent postgraduate courses relevant to the clinical field in postural management, exercise prescription, physical health promotion, sensory integration or equivalent specialist training.
• Extensive postgraduate experience some of which were spent at a senior level within a paediatric, learning disability, autism or neurology setting.
• Good experience working for the NHS.

Desirable

• Experience in developing workforce, services and other related management, leadership supervision skills.

Experience

Essential

• Specialist experience in managing complex disability and clients with significant barriers to normal communication.

Desirable

• Experience and evidence of conducting audit and research.

Skills

Essential

• Group work skills.
• Ability to work autonomously, seeking guidance as necessary.
• Prolonged periods of intense concentration for assessments and movement analysis.
• Ability to build effective working relationships in stressful circumstances.
• Use of total Communication Multimedia/IT skills.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own and others' performance.
• Problem solving skills.
• Workload management and ability to work autonomously and set priorities.
• Good general level of fitness.
• Carry out assessments and treatments of adults with complex physical, cognitive, behavioural and sensory impairment.
• Expert therapeutic handling skills and movement facilitation.
• Ability to work in settings with challenging conditions and follow infection control policies.

Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive knowledge of learning disability, autism, neurological conditions etc.
• Knowledge of National Service Frameworks and clinical guidelines; experience implementing these in practice.
• Training in staff appraisal.
• Competent IT skills.
• Ability to run internal and external courses/workshops.
• Advanced manual handling training and ability to risk assess physiotherapy programmes.
• Advanced training in standardised assessment/outcome measures for learning disability and/or autism.
• Advanced training in specialist communication and behaviour management.

Disclosure and Sponsorship

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and Disclosure to the DBS may be required. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered. See UK Visas and Immigration for details. UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer: Devon Partnership NHS Trust

Address: The Brook, Langdon Hospital, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0NR

Website: https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/