Highly Specialist Physiotherapist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic and forward-thinking Highly Specialist Physiotherapist to join our Urgent Community Response Service within the Recovery at Home Team across Sunderland.

Based between Leechmere Independent Living Centre, Sunderland and the Care Coordination Hub at Clarendon, Hebburn, this role offers the opportunity to work within a dynamic and innovative service focused on preventing unnecessary hospital admissions, supporting timely hospital discharge and enabling people to remain independent within their own homes.

As a highly valued member of our multidisciplinary team, you will work alongside Nurse Practitioners, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Healthcare Assistants, Therapy Assistants/Exercise Practitioners and Administrative Staff. The service also works in partnership with colleagues across primary care, secondary care, social care, local authority and voluntary sector organisations to deliver seamless, person-centred care.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Physiotherapist looking to further develop their leadership skills and play a key role in shaping the future delivery of community rehabilitation and urgent care services.

We are committed to professional development and offer a supportive learning environment with access to training and leadership opportunities. Informal enquiries and visits are welcomed.

Main duties of the job

As a Highly Specialist Physiotherapist, you will take a lead role within the Recovery at Home Team, providing advanced assessment, clinical decision-making and rehabilitation interventions to patients in their own homes who are experiencing acute illness, functional decline or require enhanced support following hospital discharge.

Working autonomously within a fast-paced Urgent Community Response Service, you will manage a diverse caseload of patients with complex physical and functional needs. You will undertake comprehensive assessments, develop evidence-based treatment plans and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary colleagues to deliver timely interventions that maximise independence and reduce avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions.

You will provide professional leadership and specialist physiotherapy expertise within the multidisciplinary team, acting as a clinical resource and role model for colleagues. The role includes supervision, mentoring, teaching and supporting the development of staff to promote high standards of patient care and evidence-based practice.

A key element of the role is contributing to service development through quality improvement initiatives, audit, evaluation and implementation of best practice. You will support service transformation, pathway development and innovation to ensure services continue to meet the needs of the local population.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes are essential requirements.

About us

Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.

One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.

The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements.If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.

Details

• Date posted: 09 October 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: C9155-CMAHP-1026-20
• Job locations: Independent Living Centre, Claymere Road, Leechmere Industrial Estate, SUNDERLAND, SR2 9TS, United Kingdom, Clarendon, Windmill Way, Hebburn, NE31 1AT, United Kingdom, Intermediate Care Assessment and Rehabilitation (ICAR), Houghton Primary Care Centre, Brinkburn Crescent, Houghton Le Spring, DH4 5GU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.

• Take a lead role in the Recovery at Home Team and Discharge to Assess, providing care to people in their own homes to prevent admission/re-admission to hospital by providing rapid assessment of patients in the community over seven days.
• To work autonomously, assessing individual patient needs, initiating investigations, determining a differential diagnosis and initiating appropriate holistic, evidence based treatment and care. Refer patients who require medical intervention to the appropriate services.
• Undertake triage and coordination within the service determining clinical priority of calls to ensure teams are dispatched to respond to the referral.
• Provide patient centred care, push the boundaries of clinical practice and develop innovative and cost effective health care delivery systems.
• Act as a resource for all members of the multi-disciplinary team, providing expert therapy advice concerning aspects of patient management.
• To motivate and support the team approach to delivering new and innovative models of care for patients.
• Act as a mentor and coach to more junior staff across community services supporting their development.
• Work collaboratively with multi professional teams to ensure practice is efficient, effective and evidence based.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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).