Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Physiotherapist to join our Cardiothoracic Therapy services team at University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.
UHS is one of Europe’s largest teaching hospitals, and is a designated cardiothoracic and regional centre for many specialties, alongside being a Major Trauma Centre covering southern England and the Channel Islands.

The well-established cardiothoracic therapy team consists of 26 Physiotherapists, Occupational therapists and therapy support staff, working cohesively to provide holistic care for our patients.  We cover a large clinical area including Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU), Cardiac high dependency (CHDU), and Coronary Care Unit (CCU). In addition to the Cardiac Surgery, Cardiology and Thoracic wards.

The post holder will rotate across the various clinical areas covered by the team to enable a breadth of experience and skill development. The role requires specialist respiratory and rehabilitation skills.

You will work as part of a combined therapy services team delivering patient care across a 7-day service, including weekends and bank holidays, on a roster basis. 

This post is part of the wider Therapy services department. You will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through our in-service training. You will be part of a large department of over 260 wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a fantastic opportunity for a new, or experienced, B6 Physiotherapist to work within the speciality of Cardiac and Thoracics. The patient caseload is very varied across elective and emergency surgery, alongside conservative management, and some palliative care. We pride ourselves on providing a supportive working environment within which all staff are able and encouraged to develop and progress to reach their full potential.

Essential skills for this post:  
•    Acute respiratory skills and competencies, to work on our respiratory on-call shifts 
•    Rehabilitation assessment and treatment skills
•    An ability to treat patients with care, compassion, and dignity.

Desirable skills for this post:
•    Experience of working in cardiothoracics
•    Experience of working in critical care
•    Neurological assessment and treatment skills
•    Understanding of Major Trauma management

What you’ll do
•    Manage a daily clinical caseload and use proficient prioritisation 
•    Lead on the assessment and treatment of complex patients requiring the following skills: 
        respiratory, rehabilitation, neurological, trauma and orthopaedic.
•    Lead on complex discharges involving the MDT.
•    Develop leadership and management skills to be able to supervise other team members.
•    Engage in training and developmental opportunities for yourself, and others.
•    Be involved with, and lead on, service development projects.
•    Assist with leading the Cardiothoracic therapy team, along with the B7 Physio's and OT’s 
•    Mentor students from local universities

The post-holder needs to be able to work flexibly over a 7-day period (including weekends and Bank Holidays on a rota system), across varying hours from 7.30am – 8pm and there will be requirement to participate in our Trust-wide, acute respiratory on-call and twilight rotas.

We look forward to hearing from you, and answering any questions you may have about this role, or our wider therapy service and UHS trust.

PLEASE NOTE:  AI-generated application forms may not be considered for shortlisting.

If this post is not suitable for you and you are interested in other Therapy opportunities, please email: [email protected]

Person specification

Trust vales

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
• Current HCPC registration
• Experience with a variety of physical and mental health conditions/multiple pathology
• Experience of working with support staff
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in independently managing a caseload of patients
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area
• Previous experience on-call, where relevant to clinical area

Skills and competencies

Essential criteria

• Communication
• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Diplomacy
• Working autonomously
• Interpersonal skills
• Taking the initiative

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.