Job overview

Want a new challenge? Want to specialise in Paediatric acute respiratory Physiotherapy?
Look no further -This is the job for you!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, motivated and dynamic 
Physiotherapist (part-time: 15 hrs per week) to join our service within the children’s therapy department in Southampton Children’s Hospital.

 This unique post will work alongside an established and specialist respiratory therapy team covering:  
•    PICU: This is a level 3, designated major trauma and cardiac centre. 
•    The Children’s High Dependency units.
•    The children’s medical, surgical, orthopaedic, neurological, cardiac, oncology and day wards.
It will also assist with cover to Children's outpatients, the long-term respiratory service which includes CF/PCD and LTV and wider paediatric therapy services.

The successful applicants will be supported by specialist Physiotherapists allowing excellent opportunity for further developing clinical and theoretical skills. They will also support upskilling and supervision of other staff including band 5’s, students, staff on the on-call rota and the wider MDT. They will work in a dynamic and proactive combined children’s Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team participating in regular audits and teaching.

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.

The Children’s Hospital is one of 10 largest children’s hospitals within the UK and located within University Hospital Southampton, which is a large regional teaching hospital with links to the university and Welcome Trust research facility. 

Children’s services have been graded as ‘good’ by CQC.  We have a vast range of Paediatric specialities including a level 3 PICU, and being a designated Major Trauma, neurosurgical, neuro-rehabilitation and cardiac centre.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The successful post holder will become an integral part of our 30 strong combined Paediatric Occupational and Physiotherapy Therapy team and wider Therapy services department of over 290wte staff. They will be expected to work within our team philosophy, which is “We strongly believe in team working in a happy working environment. Workloads are shared and communication/ support is strongly encouraged. We are mutually responsible for the service and its development and expect everyone to carry out a certain level of responsibility.” 

It is a fast-paced environment where effective communication, prioritisation, and delegation skills are essential.

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 290 wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

Good communication skills are key to enable close working relationships alongside a team of highly skilled Paediatric Physiotherapists /Occupational Therapists and therapy assistants, as well as with the wider multi-disciplinary and multi-professional teams.

The post holder must be able to build a good rapport with the children, and their families/ carers, to encourage participation and will be working with children with a wide range of presenting conditions and developmental ages and abilities, and often in emotive situations.  

As an acute trust with unpredictable workloads we are looking for someone with the ability to work under pressure, problem solve and prioritise tasks. They should be self motivated and have the ability to work on their own or alongside other staff.

 As caseloads can often include patients that are acutely unwell we are looking for someone who has experience working in challenging and emotive situations with active coping strategies and resilience

 Essential skills for role:
•    The successful post holder should have completed a comprehensive B5 rotation position, including proven acute respiratory caseloads.
•     You must have acute respiratory On-call/ out of hours experience
•    Proven  paediatric experience is an essential, however this does not need to be hospital-based experience.
•     The applicant must be keen, enthusiastic and have a definite desire to work within paediatrics. 
•    Ability to work on weekends and bank holidays (on a roster basis) as part of our 7-day therapy service, and participate in the On-call out of hours unscheduled acute respiratory service

Key duties:
•    You will undertake a specialised paediatric clinical caseload of complex patients as an autonomous practitioner, according to service needs, using clinical reasoning skills and evidence-based practice to provide daily patient assessment, diagnosis and treatment, supporting appropriate and timely discharge across inpatient, and outpatient areas. 
•    You will using a range of assessment and treatment skills largely cardio- respiratory but also musculoskeletal/ neurology for holistic patient management. 
•    As a regional centre you will provide specialised clinical therapy advice both within the Trust and externally to other team members and healthcare professionals, as necessary 
•    You will work within our trust values to support patients and their families in their care pathway onsite or via community visits.
•    You would be expected to be involved with service development supporting clinical pathways. 
•    You will be involved in supporting education and training to students, in house staff and staff across our regional network. 
•    You will also be part of our 7-day service rota and on-call service. 

Due the unique nature of this post we welcome informal enquires or visits – please contact Michelle Geary  on 02381204560

We look forward to hearing from you.

Please note: AI generated application forms may not be shortlisted.

If you are interested in other Therapy opportunities, please email: [email protected]

Person specification

Trust values

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.