Physiotherapists

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS

A CAREER

IN MOTION

There’s many benefits to working with us as a Physiotherapist, here’s just a few:

Work for a trust that stands by its values : Kindness, Courage and Respect
Work for a trust that encourages you to develop and further your career
Work in a friendly, supportive environment
Live in an area that balances excellent amenities and natural beauty with low cost of living
Live in close proximity to some fantastic northern cities and great transport links to the rest of the UK and Europe
With fantastic days out and outstanding schools there’s something for all the family.

For more information on working for us as a Physiotherapist please contact nlg-tr.wearerecruiting@nhs.net

If you are considering a career as a Physiotherapists we’ve put together the following information that we hope will help you on your journey.

Physiotherapist Career Information

Help and treat people with physical problems caused by illness, injury, disability or ageing. They see human movement as central to the health and wellbeing of individuals so they aim to identify and maximise movement. As well as treating people, they promote good health and advise people on how to avoid injury.

Physiotherapists treat many types of conditions, such as:

neurological (stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s)
neuromusculoskeletal (back pain, whiplash associated disorder, sports injuries, arthritis)
cardiovascular (chronic heart disease, rehabilitation after heart attack)
respiratory (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis)

Once they have diagnosed the client’s problem, you’ll then work with the patient to decide how to treat it. This could include:

manual therapy (such as joint mobilisation or chest percussion)
therapeutic exercise
electrotherapy (such as ultrasound, heat or cold).

In the NHS, they may work in hospitals where they’re needed in nearly every department. In intensive care, for example, they’re needed for round-the-clock chest physiotherapy to keep unconscious patients breathing.

You may also work in:

outpatients’ departments
women’s health
elderly care
stroke services
orthopaedics
mental health and learning disability services
occupational health
paediatrics

More physiotherapy is also being delivered in the local community so they can be based in health centres and treat patients in their own homes, nursing homes, day centres or schools.

Physios may work alone or in a team alongside health and/or social care professionals. Depending on where you work, this could include occupational therapists, GPs, health visitors, district nurses and social workers. You may supervise the work of support workers such as physiotherapy assistants.

Physiotherapy Assistants support the role of Physiotherapists, more junior assistants are required to undertake tasks delegated by the Physiotherapists with more senior roles able assess treat and discharge individuals who have been triaged or assessed previously by qualified staff. Support staff are essential to the service and vital to the delivery of a high quality service.

How much will I earn?

Physiotherapists generally start on a Band 5 position and work roughly 37.5 hours a week.

Routes to becoming a Physiotherapist

To be called a Physiotherapist and work in the NHS you need a degree in Physiotherapy at either Level 6 or Level 7 and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.

Physiotherapy Assistants are roles that require a good basic education standard with progression supported via in house training and development potentially up to Level 5. The development of Physiotherapy Apprenticeships now provided a potential route from assistant into Physiotherapy training.

What next

Once established a physiotherapist you may be able to specialise in a particular clinical area, move into a teaching and research posts or take up Advanced Clinical Practice roles. Alternatively, a management pathway may be a possibility either within a physiotherapy department or as a more general manager.