Senior PhysiotherapistNHS

Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join our Working Age Adults Physiotherapy Team and play a central role in delivering physical activity and exercise interventions within a specialist weight management and metabolic health service for people with severe mental illness ('TUNE-UP').

Delivered in partnership between South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, the service brings together multidisciplinary expertise to improve physical health and support people to become more active.

You will need a recognised physiotherapy qualification, current HCPC registration, previous NHS experience and robust clinical experience as a qualified Physiotherapist. You should bring a broad range of assessment and rehabilitation skills, experience of multidisciplinary working and the ability to adapt interventions to individual needs.

A passion for improving the care of people with mental illness is essential. Experience in mental health services, physical activity interventions, weight management or metabolic conditions would be valuable.

You will combine clinical expertise with empathy, strong communication skills and a motivational approach, helping people overcome barriers to participation and build confidence in physical activity.

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you!

Main duties of the job

You will deliver structured physical activity and exercise interventions as part of a multidisciplinary weight management and metabolic health service for people with severe mental illness.

Working autonomously, you will assess physical health, functional ability and rehabilitation needs, developing individualised programmes that account for mental health, motivation and barriers to participation. You will deliver individual and group interventions, review progress and adapt treatment plans and risk assessments as needs change.

You will work across clinical and community settings, supporting service users to access local physical activity opportunities and collaborating with community partners and physical activity workers. Interventions may include face-to-face and remote exercise groups.

You will work closely with dietetics, psychology, nursing and medical colleagues, alongside partner services at Guy's and St Thomas', to provide coordinated care.

You will contribute to developing and evaluating new initiatives, undertake audit and quality improvement, provide education to service users, carers and staff, and supervise junior physiotherapists and students as agreed with your supervisor.

Flexible Working

This is a part-time post of 22.5 hours per week. Flexible hours and working days can be agreed within service opening hours, taking account of clinical and team requirements.

Job description

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of the responsibilities and requirements.

Overall job purpose and responsibilities include:

• Deliver structured physical activity and exercise interventions within the multidisciplinary weight management and metabolic health service.
• Work as an autonomous practitioner, undertaking comprehensive assessments and developing individualised treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
• Consider how mental illness affects physical health, motivation and engagement, adapting interventions sensitively to each persons needs.
• Deliver individual and group sessions across inpatient, outpatient and community settings, including remote interventions where appropriate.
• Evaluate outcomes, reassess treatment plans and manage clinical and environmental risks.
• Support service users to access community resources, including leisure centres and local physical activity opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with service users, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues, community partners and services at Guys and St Thomas to provide integrated care.
• Provide advice, education and training to support physical activity, rehabilitation and wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and uphold professional standards, informed consent and clinical governance requirements.
• Contribute to service development, audit, outcome measurement, quality improvement and research.
• Champion the physical health needs of people with mental illness and promote the contribution of physiotherapy to their care.

About us

Our Working Age Adults Physiotherapy Team supports people receiving mental healthcare across South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. We work with service users, their families and carers, and multidisciplinary colleagues to improve physical health, mobility, function and wellbeing.

This post contributes to a specialist weight management and metabolic health service delivered in partnership with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. You will work alongside colleagues in dietetics, psychology, nursing and medicine, combining professional expertise to support people with severe mental illness.

SLaM works closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London and is part of King's Health Partners. These links provide opportunities to contribute to research and develop clinical practice.