Senior Specialist Physiotherapist - Medicine
Job overview
The Medical Therapy Team at Trafford General Hospital is seeking an experienced and motivated Band 7 Physiotherapist to provide clinical and professional leadership within the medical ward setting.
The successful applicant will have substantial experience working in acute care, with a particular interest in medicine for older people, including the management of frailty syndromes and cognitive impairment. You will demonstrate advanced assessment, clinical reasoning, and communication skills, and be able to utilise multidisciplinary assessment and rehabilitation approaches to support safe, timely discharge and effective patient flow.
The role includes responsibility for managing the respiratory on‑call rota and coordinating site‑wide respiratory training for the on‑call therapy team.
You will hold a clinical caseload and work in partnership with the Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist to jointly lead the multidisciplinary therapy team. The post includes direct clinical leadership and supervision of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Rehabilitation Assistants, as well as support for students.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician wishing to further develop leadership, service development, and advanced clinical skills within a supportive multidisciplinary environment.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will have the skills to assess every patient’s potential to return to their preferred place on leaving the hospital, as this is integral to the team’s vision. Excellent clinical reasoning skills, rapid assessment and discharge planning skills in addition to meeting the needs of patients with complex medical needs are required for this post.The post holder must be a calm but assertive communicator, who is able to negotiate a way forward in even the most challenging situations. An awareness of the Greater Manchester Discharge to assess processes and pathways would be desirable.
The post holder, at onset, will be supported by a robust induction. There is a support network for all staff including clinical supervision and you will be directly involved in the supervision of junior staff and students.
Applicants should be prepared to participate in a 7 day working service and an on -call respiratory rota.
Consideration will be given to flexible working patterns.
We strongly welcome informal discussion/ visits for more information relating to the post.
Working for our organisation
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.
Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.
You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.
Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading.
Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’
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To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place', simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ section and once opened, you can either scan or click on the QR code.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity Matters MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve.All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you.
If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU—for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations.While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application—especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions—is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Recognised BSC Honours degree in physiotherapy or equivalent
- State registration via Health and Care Professions Council
- Clinical Educators Course
- Completion of validated/nationally recognised post graduate courses or equivalent post
- Member of relevant clinical specialist interest group.
- Involvement in special interest group
- Registered member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Audit and Research training to a postgraduate level
- Completion of a postgraduate management course
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria- Significant postgraduate clinical experience at a senior/specialist level in a relevant field, following postgraduate clinical experience as a junior in a broad rotational post.
- Highly comprehensive specialist knowledge of physiotherapy assessment and treatment technique
- Working knowledge of local and national policies and procedures e.g. Manual Handling, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy/Health and Care Professionals Council Code of Conduct/Ethics, Health and Safety, Infection Control, CPR, Equality and Diversity
- Evidence of recent relevant Continual Professional Development to a specialist level
- Experience of and commitment to interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary team working
- Experience of supervision of qualified staff, students and assistants
- Evidence of contribution to clinical education and in-service training of less experienced staff/students and assistants
- Understanding of clinical effectiveness and its implications for services including experience of quality issues, audit and evidence based practice
- Demonstrate knowledge of safeguarding practices relevant to the clinical area
- Experience in a post at this level
- Experience of managing less senior staff
- Evidence of involvement in clinical effectiveness activities
- Knowledge of community and Intermediate Care Services
- Evidence of participation in post grad research