Senior Physiotherapist - Medicine

Main area Core Clinical Services Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Working hours will be considered on a 7 day rostered working pattern) Job ref 339-CCS1330-LGG-A

Site Southmead Hospital Town Bristol Salary £39,959 - £48,117 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 04/11/2026 23:59

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1 st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Older persons Medicine team as a permanent static band 6. This post will work within the team covering older persons medical wards within our Southmead Operating Unit. These wards include our frailty short stay, complex medical wards and Elgar Enablement unit. This role gives valuable experience working with patients presenting with frailty and complex clinical needs. You will have the opportunity to develop your expertise, utilising a wide range of skills, within older persons medicine at one of the region's leading tertiary and major trauma centers.

Opportunities include developing wider clinical skills in the management of older adults, building on leadership skills, deputising for clinical leads when required, leading on quality improvement projects and working with wider MDT on improving pathways for older adults.

The core hours for the post are 08:00-16:00 Monday-Friday. The post holder will contribute to bank holiday and weekend rosters.

• Providing a physiotherapy service to the wards covered by the older persons medicine team
• Working effectively with all team members within the physiotherapy service, NBT and outside agencies to provide information about physiotherapy treatment.
• Communicate effectively with patients and Carers to progress treatment programs, provide reassurance and facilitate their care.
• Will take an active part in our weekend rota
• Supervise and mentor junior members of the team
• Deputises when required in absence for clinical leads
• Work with clinical leads to develop networks with other local hospitals and teams working on existing pathways and establishing new ones as required.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that theSouth Westhas to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see Job description for full details of the post - key features listed below

Knowledge

Theoretical knowledge in Anatomy and Physiology, Movement, Biomechanics and Pathologies.

Theoretical knowledge of impact of chronic conditions on patients physical presentation.

Has specialised knowledge in frailty including practical skills in the management of conditions commonly seen with frailty syndromes.

Knowledge of a range of physiotherapy assessment skills

Experience

A wide range of postgraduate experience across core rotational areas at band five and six level

Experience in supervision /mentoring.

Experience in working with patients living with frailty

Experience of presenting information, written and oral in a clear and logical manner.

Understanding of clinical governance and its implications for services

Skills

To perform physiotherapeutic examination and assessment and treatment of patients with diverse medical presentations, physical and psychological conditions to provide a clinical diagnosis and to develop and deliver physiotherapy treatment plans.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous physiotherapy practioner

We are one of the largest NHS hospital trusts in the UK. More than 28,000 staff care for over 1.1 million people each year. We provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition to local hospital care, we provide a wide range of specialist services for people across the South West and from all over the country.

Our specialist services include major trauma, children’s services, neurosciences, burns and plastics, stroke and thrombectomy, cardiology, cancer care, haematology, ophthalmology, cardiothoracic care, nephrology, immunology, infectious diseases and HIV, sexual health, transplant services, and obstetric medicine.

We are also a research and teaching trust. We work closely with the Universities of Bristol, Bath and the West of England to support research, innovation and education, and to improve care for patients now and in the future.

Working with patients, communities and partners we want people and communities to help shape the care we provide.

We work with patients, carers, communities, staff, voluntary organisations, and health and care partners to understand what matters most. This helps us improve services, reduce health inequalities, and make better decisions about the future of care.

The physiotherapy teams have well established CP D programs and strong supervision and wellbeing support. The senior physiotherapists regularly contribute to service development and QI projects and support junior staff, students and support workers.

Person specification

Qualification

• Degree / diploma
• HCPC registered physiotherapist
• post graduate education relevant to older people/frailty
• Member of CSP/clinical specialist interest group

Experience

• Experience of working with frailty and older people
• Experience of treating patients with complex medical conditions in acute settings
• Experience of supporting flow and discharge
• Experience of supervision of students/junior staff
• Variety of Band 5 Rotations including neuro, MSK and resp
• Student educator or Mentor CPD/Training
• previous band six experience
• experience of audit, service development and research

team and service development

• Evidence of service development/audit/research
• evidence of working within MDT
• Evidence of leadership CPD/clinical experience

CPD

• evidence of relevant CPD to role and its application

Skills

• Communication - demonstrate ability to hold difficult conversations (pt, carer, MDT)
• Demonstrates ability to manage complex stressful situations
• conflict management

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

Name Laura Baillie Job title Clinical Lead Physiotherapist for OPM Email address Laura.Baillie@nbt.nhs.uk Telephone number 07393002866

Additional information

For any additional information or if you would like to arrange a visit to our Trust please contact Laura Baillie.

#J-18808-Ljbffr