Job Description

This permanent band 5 Physiotherapist progression to band 6 Specialist Physiotherapist post serves the Northumberland and North Tyneside Learning Disability community population with referrals to the service being managed by the leadership and administration referral hub within Northumberland. A service level agreement exists with the North Tyneside community locality and its Northumbria health care trust / North Tyneside local authority partners. This element of the service is also managed by the Northumberland community Learning disability team and remains part of the CNTW Northumberland and North Tyneside CBU.



The core physiotherapy team will provide assessment and intervention to patients from across the Northumberland and North Tyneside region, who present with a broad range of complex and varied conditions.



Our community philosophy is to work in partnership with service users, families, carers, and other stakeholders to optimize quality of life and enable individuals and carers to utilize advised interventions to achieve maximum independence, enabling them to live in the community.



The post sits within the Northumberland Community learning Disability team and your base will be at Eddie Ferguson House in Blyth. As the Physiotherapy clinical delivery is a county wide service, there are other team bases at Greenacres in Ashington, Alnwick Fire Station and Dene Park House in Hexham.



The post holder will be an integral part of the wider team which delivers a range of specialist assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities. The team has expanded over recent years and comprises of a range of clinicians including Community Nurses, Nursing Associates, Support Workers, Clinical Psychologists, Positive Behavioural Support Practitioners, Specialist Nurses, Clinical Pharmacist Associate Practitioners, Non-Medical Prescribers, and Psychiatry.



The post holder will follow a clear development programme, with monthly meetings occurring to collect evidence of agreed learning outcomes being achieved and to set clear expectations of learning objectives. These will be based on competencies, teaching and training sessions, clinical and peer supervision, practice-based learning, attendance at meetings, self-directed learning and critical reflection.



We aim to attract and retain a diverse, talented and committed workforce, who are caring and compassionate, and therefore able to meet the demands of the modern NHS now and in the future. In return we can offer a dynamic working environment in which to build a career.



Please read this in conjunction with the main Band 5 and Band 6 job descriptions. This is not intended to replace the person specification but specify skills required in relation to community services.

The following should be considered essential :

Experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or neurological disability and a keen interest to further develop in this speciality. Knowledge of different clinical presentations of people with learning disability and how they impact on function. Clinical physiotherapy skills across the discipline including assessment and treatment techniques, clinical reasoning, and knowledge of outcome measures. Able to develop and provide client-centred, goal-orientated, and graded rehabilitation programmes and interventions to meet the specific needs of the service user with supervision from a senior therapist. Ability to clearly communicate clinical information, considering a variety of strategies to support people with complex communication/complex needs. Knowledge of physical, and environmental assessments and treatments Car driver and access to a car with a full UK driving licence.

The following should be considered desirable, or post holders should have a commitment to attaining them:



Evidenced based critical appraisal skills. Knowledge regarding effect of cognition, behavioural, perceptual and communication problems of the client group. Knowledge of outcome measures relevant to this client group Member of a relevant special clinical interest group Knowledge and experience of service development/research.

Please find attached job description for full details.

Advertising date :

29 th May 2025

Closing date :

12 th June 2025



We welcome your application.