Job Description

Do you want to develop your physiotherapy career within paediatrics?



We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, self-motivated member of staff to help provide a high-quality, comprehensive and proactive clinical physiotherapy service for children and young people (0 to 19 years of age) referred to our specialist children's physiotherapy service.



We are based at Kaleidoscope, a purpose-built Children and Young People's Centre, in Catford and provide physiotherapy for children and young people in the diverse population of the London borough of Lewisham with neurodevelopmental conditions.

Interview date:

9th February 2026



The post holder will work within mainstream and special schools, provide early intervention to identified client groups under five and assess and treat school-age children. They will take an active part in leading physiotherapy groups for children, deliver aquatic therapy and supervise students on clinical placement. The post holder will hold a varied caseload and be able to develop their skills in postural management, neurodevelopmental interventions, specialist equipment and orthotics.



Within Lewisham there is a strong multidisciplinary/ multiagency approach to working with children and young people, the post holder will support this and will be involved in promoting it for individual families.



We have a physiotherapy team of 13 members of staff and offer peer support, with a strong commitment to continuing professional development.



The successful candidate will be motivated, organised and committed to working within a team environment.



An extended DBS check and fulfillment of the physical requirement of the post are detailed in the person specification. A clean driving license is desirable, however the borough has good transport links.



For further information about this post or to arrange a visit please contact: Sarah Whiting, CYP Community Paediatric Physiotherapy Team lead/Clinical specialist or Ella Kajumba, Clinical Specialist on 0203 049 1452.

PLEASE NOTE:

We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post



Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:



Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development



Widening access (anchor institution) and employability



Improving the experience of staff with disability



Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development



Making equalities mainstream

Job Summary:

1. Accountable to Manager for Children's therapy and integration via the children's physiotherapy team leads.



2. To provide a high standard of neurological and neurodevelopmental Physiotherapy assessment, treatment and advice to children, young people and carers in the community setting within Lewisham healthcare; liaising with other professionals to maximise the benefits.

3. To contribute to service development including clinical governance and audit, junior staff supervision and multidisciplinary and multiagency working.

Key Result Areas:

To manage a caseload of children aged 0-19 providing a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, management, treatment and advice. The caseload consists of children with a wide range of neurological related difficulties and/or disabilities, many of whom may have complex or multiple pathology. Seen across a variety of locations within the community including Kaleidoscope, patients' homes, community leisure facilities, nurseries and schools. To be involved in supervising junior staff and students. To be a source of clinical knowledge and advice on physiotherapy patient care for parents and carers, other health professionals within the multidisciplinary team and professionals working in external agencies. To maintain accurate statistics as directed by the team leads.

Performance:

? To use well developed assessment and clinical reasoning skills in order to establish an accurate diagnosis, problem list, and prognosis in order to formulate individual and agreed care / treatment plans for a range for children and young people.

? To be responsible for reassessing patient care as treatment progresses and change treatment programmes as appropriate. To use aquatic therapy, neurodevelopmental therapy, casting and Orthotic management, use of Moving and Handling techniques and equipment, use of postural management equipment, goniometry amongst other

techniques when appropriate.

? To provide moving and handling risk assessments, supported by senior staff where necessary, related to the child's physiotherapy programme in accordance with professional guidelines and government legislation.

? To be skilled in communicating and negotiating with families and children of all ages who have a range of physical disabilities and may have associated barriers to understanding, such as learning difficulties, hearing and visual impairments and language.

? To be able to diffuse potentially difficult situations with staff, patients and relatives, using well developed negotiation and interpersonal skills.

? To be able to motivate, negotiate and communicate with children of all ages and abilities in order to effectively carry out physiotherapy assessment and treatment programmes. To motivate and persuade others including staff and parents using verbal and nonverbal communication skills and written information where needed.

? To utilise other team members, in particular clinical supervisor and other senior staff, as needed to support decision making and clinical practice in particularly complex cases.

? To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of specialist postural equipment, aids, adaptations and resources available to enable the child with disability to function as independently as possible.

? To assess children for specialist equipment and recommend its purchase from health, education and social services. To set up and adjust specialist equipment specifically for individual children. To train parents / carers and other agencies in the use of the equipment.

? To be responsible for maintaining accurate and up to date individual patient records. To provide timely and accurate written reports and physiotherapy programmes for parents / carers, other health professionals, education and social services professionals, voluntary sector workers and solicitors as required.

? To ensure smooth organisation, to delegate and supervise established services e.g. specialist clinics, patient groups in education settings for all ages, aquatic therapy, orthotics, gym group, developmental co-ordination clinic/group (DCD), PE and individual treatment.



Work force



? To assist in the supervision and appraisal of less senior physiotherapy staff including setting objectives, problem solving, personal development plans and identifying training needs.

? To assist in the induction of new members of staff and physiotherapy students into the physiotherapy department including caseload information, local procedures, policies and guidelines. Ensuring the induction programme is appropriate to meet the training needs of new members of staff.

? To participate if required in the interviewing and selection of junior and assistant physiotherapy staff.



Financial



? To advise on and justify purchase and re-use of postural management equipment including seating, standing aids, positioning and sleep systems.

? To use resources efficiently

? To advise on and justify provision of Orthotic (splinting) intervention including lycra suits and ankle splints.

? To record and return timely and accurate statistical data as required by the department and the Trust.



Partnerships

? To be actively involved in service development work, liaising closely with supervisor and where required the team leads

? To refer to other health disciplines as appropriate and to ensure departmental staff use appropriate referral systems.

? To act as a key worker for children with complex disabilities and their families. This may include initiating multi-agency meetings, liaising with families around a variety of issues, contributing to joint therapy initiating targets and onward referrals to other professionals / agencies.

? To liaise and advise other professionals in order to contribute to decision making for an individual child regarding issues such as safeguarding issues and orthopaedic surgery.



General

? To organise and prioritise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training etc. and adjust plans as required according to staffing levels, work demands and work prioritisation. Delegating work to relevant team members as appropriate.

? To respect an individual's beliefs and adapt the service provision accordingly to promote equal access to physiotherapy services e.g. use of interpreters, flexibility of appointments offered.

? To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents, incidents and complaints are reported immediately and that appropriate action is taken.

? To contribute to training of all grades of physiotherapy staff and physiotherapy students through in-service training, supervision, joint working, peer support, practical demonstrations, video analysis and other methods.

? To teach and demonstrate specific physiotherapy techniques to parents / carers and education staff to enable them to develop the skills needs to safely carry out the individual physiotherapy programme for the child. To educate parents / carers on the child's medical condition, prognosis and physical management.

? To support physiotherapy training for students and provide feedback to the clinical educator to assist in student grading.

? To demonstrate a sound understanding of the clinical governance agenda and how it relates to clinical practice

? To be actively involved in the departmental audit cycle i.e. collection and analysis of data/outcomes and as a result influence changes to service delivery e.g. increase of attendance.

? To keep abreast of current issues within the profession and National Health Service and organisation, particularly those that impact on children's services.

? To work to standards set by the Trust, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, HCPC and National Service Frameworks, NICE.

? To be responsible for own professional growth and development. To attend relevant post-graduate training courses in order to maintain current best practice. To maintain a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) portfolio reflecting personal professional development. To participate in the organisation's appraisal process.