Job summary Are you an experienced Physiotherapist highly motivated to make a difference by working to improve outcomes for children? Do you appreciate the benefits and enjoy joint and partnership working with both other healthcare professionals and schools? If the answer to these questions is yes then come and be part of our Children's Therapy team We are a multidisciplinary team working across both early years and school age, with an excellent admin support. We are a large, friendly and supportive team who work consistently to offer children an integrated approach to therapy, through holistic assessments and intervention. You would be expected to work with a wide range of children aged 0-19 years with neurological conditions and severe physical and complex needs. The service provides assessment, treatment programmes and strategies for the home and within mainstream and special schools. There are extensive opportunities for in-house training and continuing professional development is actively encouraged. Join our Children's Therapy team as a Band 6 Physiotherapist and be part of this exciting time. Main duties of the job To maintain a caseload of children presenting with a range of conditions To prescribe specialist equipment To work as part of an MDT showcasing your profession To facilitate group therapy To communicate with external agencies and those working directly with the child To contribute to service development To actively take part in team meetings About us So what else? This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder. We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development. We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support. You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team. Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. The small print Informal visits can be arranged on request. We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme. MCH encourages all staff to be double COVID vaccinated to protect themselves, their colleagues, their family and their patients. Date posted 24 March 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 6 Salary £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number 813-136-0325-MH Job locations Snapdragons Centre Cliffe Road Strood ME2 3DL Job description Job responsibilities 1. Communication and relationship skills To communicate effectively with patients and carers and other health care professionals and non-professionals using a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to share assessment findings, agree treatment plans, progress and modify management programmes, give advice, teaching etc. This will include patients, family members or carers with communication and comprehension difficulties and those who may be unable to accept diagnosis prognosis. To liaise with health and social care professionals and other agencies regarding paediatric patient care, treatment progress and discharge planning 2. Knowledge, training and experience To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of neurological paediatric patients in your care. To maintain a continuing professional development portfolio which reflects development 3. Analytical and judgement skills To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form an accurate diagnosis in a wide range of highly complex neurological paediatric conditions. To determine clinical diagnosis and ensure the provision of advanced physiotherapy treatment indicated. 4. Planning and organisational skills To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, balancing other patient related and professional demands ensuring that these remain in accordance with those of the team as a whole To organise, manage and delegate work under protocol to, physiotherapy assistants and technical instructors ensuring a high standard of service. 5. Physical skills To undertake specialised assessment of neurological paediatric patients including those with diverse and complex presentations and life changing conditions: using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to formulate an age appropriate and individualised treatment plan and programme. 6. Responsibility for patient / client care To deliver individualised physiotherapy treatment programmes using a broad range of physiotherapeutic skills in individual and group settings. To continually reassess patient progress, adapt treatment plans accordingly, and develop discharge plans. To refer patients appropriately to other health and social care services according to protocol providing timely and detailed information to ensure good continuity of care. To assess patient, parent, carer and educational staff, understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching training and supervision of practice 7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation To work with senior staff to ensure that clinical governance targets are met including the development of clinical standards and protocols, audit, research, clinical and non-clinical risk management. To work with head of service, manager and clinical specialists to introduce innovative methods of service delivery, which provide best practice, positive outcomes, improved access and the involvement of users in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services 8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources To demonstrate and apply an understanding of clinical governance and risk management to the work situation and manage clinical risk within your own caseload. To be aware of health and safety policies with the Medway community healthcare CIC and other areas of work (schools, nurseries, respite houses etc). 9. Responsibilities for information resources To keep up to date, accurate, problem orientated medical records in physiotherapy and MDT notes in line with Medway community healthcare CIC policy, legal requirements and professional standards and to provide written reports, discharge summaries etc as required and to ensure staff within the area of responsibility do likewise To contribute to the effective collection and timely submission of clinical information and data to support decision making and the management and delivery of care and the management and delivery of care in the community and tertiary hospitals and also during the transit between the acute and community services for children. To maintain accurate and adequate clinical records. 10. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) To contribute to the Medway community healthcare CIC research and development strategy through participation in multidisciplinary research initiatives, which inform practice and contribute to local evidence base to support service delivery. 11. Freedom to act As an autonomous practitioner to take a major role in the advanced assessment and advanced treatment of paediatric patients (within the speciality) who may have acute, complex and / or chronic disabilities which may be life threatening conditions. 12. Physical effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which may require physical effort either as a sustained or sudden requirement. The frequency should also be given, ie as an occasional or on-going requirement. Moving / transferring patients / clients, moving equipment, long periods of driving or inputting at a keyboard should also be identified. 13. Mental effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which require mental effort including the nature, level, frequency and duration of the mental effort required. The frequency of the requirement should also be identified, ie whether this occasional or a frequent need 14. Emotional effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which require emotional effort and the nature, level, frequency and duration demands of the emotional effort required 15. Working conditions (refer to effort factor questionnaire) The nature, level, frequency and duration of demands arising from inevitably adverse environmental conditions (eg inclement weather, extreme heat/cold, smells, noise and fumes) and hazards, which are unavoidable. Job description Job responsibilities 1. Communication and relationship skills To communicate effectively with patients and carers and other health care professionals and non-professionals using a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to share assessment findings, agree treatment plans, progress and modify management programmes, give advice, teaching etc. This will include patients, family members or carers with communication and comprehension difficulties and those who may be unable to accept diagnosis prognosis. To liaise with health and social care professionals and other agencies regarding paediatric patient care, treatment progress and discharge planning 2. Knowledge, training and experience To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of neurological paediatric patients in your care. To maintain a continuing professional development portfolio which reflects development 3. Analytical and judgement skills To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form an accurate diagnosis in a wide range of highly complex neurological paediatric conditions. To determine clinical diagnosis and ensure the provision of advanced physiotherapy treatment indicated. 4. Planning and organisational skills To plan, organise and prioritise own workload, balancing other patient related and professional demands ensuring that these remain in accordance with those of the team as a whole To organise, manage and delegate work under protocol to, physiotherapy assistants and technical instructors ensuring a high standard of service. 5. Physical skills To undertake specialised assessment of neurological paediatric patients including those with diverse and complex presentations and life changing conditions: using clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to formulate an age appropriate and individualised treatment plan and programme. 6. Responsibility for patient / client care To deliver individualised physiotherapy treatment programmes using a broad range of physiotherapeutic skills in individual and group settings. To continually reassess patient progress, adapt treatment plans accordingly, and develop discharge plans. To refer patients appropriately to other health and social care services according to protocol providing timely and detailed information to ensure good continuity of care. To assess patient, parent, carer and educational staff, understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching training and supervision of practice 7. Responsibility for policy and service development implementation To work with senior staff to ensure that clinical governance targets are met including the development of clinical standards and protocols, audit, research, clinical and non-clinical risk management. To work with head of service, manager and clinical specialists to introduce innovative methods of service delivery, which provide best practice, positive outcomes, improved access and the involvement of users in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services 8. Responsibilities for financial and physical resources To demonstrate and apply an understanding of clinical governance and risk management to the work situation and manage clinical risk within your own caseload. To be aware of health and safety policies with the Medway community healthcare CIC and other areas of work (schools, nurseries, respite houses etc). 9. Responsibilities for information resources To keep up to date, accurate, problem orientated medical records in physiotherapy and MDT notes in line with Medway community healthcare CIC policy, legal requirements and professional standards and to provide written reports, discharge summaries etc as required and to ensure staff within the area of responsibility do likewise To contribute to the effective collection and timely submission of clinical information and data to support decision making and the management and delivery of care and the management and delivery of care in the community and tertiary hospitals and also during the transit between the acute and community services for children. To maintain accurate and adequate clinical records. 10. Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) To contribute to the Medway community healthcare CIC research and development strategy through participation in multidisciplinary research initiatives, which inform practice and contribute to local evidence base to support service delivery. 11. Freedom to act As an autonomous practitioner to take a major role in the advanced assessment and advanced treatment of paediatric patients (within the speciality) who may have acute, complex and / or chronic disabilities which may be life threatening conditions. 12. Physical effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which may require physical effort either as a sustained or sudden requirement. The frequency should also be given, ie as an occasional or on-going requirement. Moving / transferring patients / clients, moving equipment, long periods of driving or inputting at a keyboard should also be identified. 13. Mental effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which require mental effort including the nature, level, frequency and duration of the mental effort required. The frequency of the requirement should also be identified, ie whether this occasional or a frequent need 14. Emotional effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire) Areas of the role which require emotional effort and the nature, level, frequency and duration demands of the emotional effort required 15. Working conditions (refer to effort factor questionnaire) The nature, level, frequency and duration of demands arising from inevitably adverse environmental conditions (eg inclement weather, extreme heat/cold, smells, noise and fumes) and hazards, which are unavoidable. Person Specification Qualifications Essential BSc Degree or equivalent in Physiotherapy as recognised in the UK Desirable Further training in the therapeutic management of Children with complex needs Experience Essential A minimum of 2 years post graduate experience working in paediatric setting Desirable Experience working with children presenting with complex neurological needs Skills Essential High level communication skills allowing for discussion around challenging subjects Desirable Good IT skills for effective record keeping MCH values Essential Good understanding of MCH values Person Specification Qualifications Essential BSc Degree or equivalent in Physiotherapy as recognised in the UK Desirable Further training in the therapeutic management of Children with complex needs Experience Essential A minimum of 2 years post graduate experience working in paediatric setting Desirable Experience working with children presenting with complex neurological needs Skills Essential High level communication skills allowing for discussion around challenging subjects Desirable Good IT skills for effective record keeping MCH values Essential Good understanding of MCH values Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Medway Community Healthcare Address Snapdragons Centre Cliffe Road Strood ME2 3DL Employer's website https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)