Senior Physiotherapist | The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to be the lead physiotherapist for Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) and those having Proton Beam therapy (PBT). The Band 7 Physiotherapist will be responsible for the organisation and provision of the highly specialist Physiotherapy service for patients in the TYA and PBT services at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust. They will also provide specialist advice, education and training within the Trust, GM Cancer Alliance, regionally and nationally. The successful candidate will have responsibility for a clinical caseload and use their strong clinical reasoning skills to develop and provide individualised programmes of care. They will coordinate, supervise and support Band 5 and 6 Physiotherapists, Therapy Assistants, and students working across these areas, and lead service development to improve patient experience and the quality of care.

Benefits and opportunities include excellent learning and development opportunities across the four pillars, coaching and mentoring, and access to funding for CPD and Leadership courses. The post holder will lead, co-ordinate and ensure effective delivery of highly specialised physiotherapy treatment to TYA and PBT patients within The Christie, using advanced clinical reasoning to develop and provide specialist, individualised programmes of care. They will be responsible for service development and evaluation, including new and innovative ways of working. They will be supported to work as an oncology specialist in physiotherapy and will be clinically responsible for a highly complex area of work, able to independently plan, organise and prioritise patient-related and professional demands. The post holder will act as a resource providing highly specialist and expert advice, teaching and training within and external to the organisation regarding physiotherapy management of TYA and PBT patients. The Christie is a leading cancer centre in Europe, based in Manchester, serving Greater Manchester & Cheshire with national referrals. It combines radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, research and an extensive trials program.

The advert closes on Sunday 12 Oct 2025.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

• To undertake highly specialised comprehensive Physiotherapy assessments of patients, including those with complex physical, psycho-social and cognitive problems, using advanced clinical reasoning to develop and provide specialist, individualised programmes of care.
• To be the lead Physiotherapy clinician within TYA and PBT, providing highly specialist and expert advice, teaching and training within and external to the organisation.
• To act as an expert resource within the organisation and externally regarding the Physiotherapy management of TYA and PBT oncology patients.
• To provide specialist Physiotherapy input at MDT meetings, clinics and case conferences.
• To assess patients’ ability to carry out activities of daily living.
• To accept clinical responsibility for patients referred to the Physiotherapy service.
• To monitor, evaluate and modify Physiotherapy treatment plans to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of interventions.
• To assess for specialist disability equipment.
• To carry out home assessment visits where appropriate.
• To liaise between specialist and local rehabilitation teams to ensure seamless care across organisational boundaries.
• To carry out risk assessments and provide training on safe moving and handling in ward and home environments.
• To liaise with Social Services, Private and Voluntary agencies to ensure safe and timely discharges from hospital.
• To make appropriate and timely referrals to external agencies.
• To communicate complex and sensitive patient information to ensure effective collaboration within the multidisciplinary team.
• To provide empathetic, planned and spontaneous advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of Physiotherapy aims and ensure consistency of care.
• To communicate discharge plans and Physiotherapy intervention to the Complex Discharge team, patients and relatives.
• To be responsible for the safe use of all Physiotherapy equipment within the Trust by staff, patients and relatives.
• To use expert listening skills to understand the holistic needs of patients and carers and incorporate these into treatment planning, referring to the appropriate health care professional when required.
• To plan and provide highly specialised individual treatment programmes with patient-focused goals and outcome measures, based on evidence-based practice and cancer knowledge.
• To evaluate clinical outcomes and assist others in doing so.
• To use advanced communication skills in highly complex/sensitive situations, including breaking bad news and addressing end-of-life issues where appropriate, and to support psychological adaptation and realistic rehabilitation goals.
• To communicate effectively with patients with diverse abilities and needs, including communication barriers or disabilities.
• To inform and support other healthcare staff to develop advanced communication and clinical reasoning for complex cases.
• To work with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure a coordinated multidisciplinary service.
• To contribute to clinical teams with well-coordinated care plans and to motivate clients and carers in the therapeutic process.
• To attend relevant MDT meetings and case conferences to ensure coordinated rehabilitation services.
• To contribute to patient information development and assess for and issue relevant appliances/equipment as appropriate.
• To perform manual handling with appropriate effort and coordination; with complex patients this may require more than one therapist.
• To lead on developing physiotherapy specialised care protocols and pathways.

Professional

• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and patient management.
• Comply with The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and HCPC standards and Christie policies.
• Maintain health and safety of staff and patients and report potential risks.
• Be responsible for Continued Professional Development as directed by the Health Professions Council.
• Be flexible around working hours, potentially including 7-day working in the future.
• Maintain high standards of patient care and develop clinical standards for the work area.
• Demonstrate robust clinical governance, risk awareness, and apply this to practice.
• Maintain capability and competence through CPD and professional registration, and supervise staff and students as required.
• Utilise specialist clinical expertise to train, educate, guide and support staff.
• Maintain current knowledge of clinical practice and evidence-based practice; implement changes to improve performance and patient care.
• Work within Christie Trust guidelines and participate in in-service training; disseminate oncology physiotherapy knowledge through courses and events.
• Undertake annual performance development reviews and provide line management to staff as needed.
• Participate in research and contribute to multidisciplinary service delivery and policy projects; raise awareness of the physiotherapist role in Supportive Oncology.
• Communicate potentially difficult information to staff, including feedback on performance and handling conflicting clinical opinions.

Service Development

1. Utilise clinical expertise to continually improve quality and effectiveness of patient care within the clinical section.
2. Ensure all staff implement policy and service development changes.
3. Propose pathway changes in physiotherapy management and guide the team to provide an efficient and effective service.
4. Work with the Rehabilitation Manager and Division to develop strategic and operational management of the TYA and PBT Service.

Organisational

1. Be responsible for the designated area of work as agreed with the Rehabilitation Manager.
2. Prioritise workload, balancing patient-related and professional demands in line with department needs.
3. Liaise across multi-professional groups to coordinate service delivery.