Highly Specialist Physiotherapist

Job summary

The Childrens Trust supports children and young people with brain injury and neurodisability to live the best life possible. From our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, and through our community services, we provide specialist rehabilitation, education, therapy, care and family support.

Our services include:

• Specialist rehabilitation for children with acquired brain injury
• A non-maintained special school, supported by residential provision for children with complex education, health, therapy and care needs
• Community-based clinical support for children and young people with acquired brain injury
• Online information and resources for families, including our Bumps Happen hub and publications.

Our Tadworth site provides a child and family-focused environment, including residential accommodation, therapy facilities, outdoor space and specialist equipment. We work closely with the NHS, local authorities and other partners to help children transition between hospital, home, school and community life.

The Childrens Trust is also the only paediatric centre with a national specialised commissioning contract through NHS England to provide brain injury rehabilitation for children with severe brain injury. Alongside this nationally commissioned work, our services are supported through local health, care and education funding, as well as voluntary fundraising.

Main duties of the job

The role of Highly Specialist Physiotherapist is to provide specialist physiotherapy to children and young people accessing The Childrens Trust Rehabilitation Therapy Service. You will lead in delivering high quality, outcome focused interventions through evidence-based interventions and safe care, in order to promote function and participation in home, school and family life.

You will provide leadership to the allocated house-based therapy team, ensuring accountability and effective communication with other teams, creating a cohesive and collaborative multidisciplinary team. Our service delivery aims to promote outcome focussed interventions, safe care, function and participation of children and young people.

About us

About Us

The Childrens Trust is the UKs leading charity for children with acquired brain injury, providing expert rehabilitation, education, therapy, and care at our national specialist centre in Tadworth, and to children and their families across the UK, via our Brain Injury Community Service.

Boasting a beautiful 24-acre site in Surrey, we are located just outside of London, close to the M25 (accessible via Junction 8, A217 to Tadworth) and easily accessible via National Rail, by way of: Clapham Junction, Sutton, and Epsom.

Staff Benefits

The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including our staff flexible benefits platform, on-site nursery, free eye tests, enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, time out days for those experiencing menopause symptoms and time off for gender reassignment.

We also offer additional annual leave days for those with long service, with entitlements ranging from 35 to 41 days (including bank holidays) depending on your length of service.

Other benefits include free on-site parking; a staff shuttle service from Epsom and Sutton train stations to Tadworth Court, Car Scheme (subject to eligibility), subsidised cafeteria, on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability), the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable), or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme, and the opportunity to develop your career in a supportive environment.

Details

• Date posted: 03 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £53,751 to £60,651 a year Dependent upon experience inclusive of London weighting
• Contract: Fixed term
• Duration: 12 months
• Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
• Reference number: B0474-26-0055
• Job locations: The Childrens Trust, Tadworth Court, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5RU, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, execute and evaluate physiotherapy interventions for referred children, within a multidisciplinary team setting and using facilities available, both on and off site.
• Carry out highly specialist physiotherapy assessments and interventions, including support for the on-site Botox clinic; serial casting; and Orthotics provision.
• Produce functional goals in collaboration with the child / young person, family and MDT.
• Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr physiotherapy/postural management programmes for each child, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary team these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Work collaboratively with families to maximise engagement in therapy sessions; support the management of and promote confidence, in meeting their childs needs.
• Assess for and organise provision of necessary therapy equipment and/or orthotics. This may be loaned equipment for use at The Childrens Trust or recommendations for equipment for long-term use on return home.
• Teach, integrate and monitor physiotherapy interventions/ advice in the childs environment, whether it is carried out by parents, therapy staff, nursing or care staff.
• Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required.
• Use awareness of how other components of the childs care and rehabilitation may impact on their respiratory function.
• Use awareness of how a 24hr postural management programme impacts on the respiratory system, sleep pattern and the compliance to rehabilitation, to inform physiotherapy interventions and the multidisciplinary care and therapy plans.
• Support the delivery of 24hr rehabilitation, through the provision of advice/ information, education and modelling, to the Multidisciplinary Team, tailoring the provision of information to the needs of the child, their family and the staff concerned.
• Liaise with all appropriate medical staff, whether employed by The Childrens Trust, visiting consultants or at off-site clinics and attend clinics with the child, as and when required.
• Contribute to the assessment and discussion of new referrals to The Childrens Trust, carrying out off-site referral assessments around the United Kingdom, as required.
• Work collaboratively with professional colleagues in other services, to facilitate the admission and discharge process.
• Take on the role of Coordinating Therapist, following team discussion or as requested by the Heads of Therapy, in accordance with the profile description.
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• Contribute to child related reports and assist with the collation of these as required, in a timely manner and in line with organisational targets.
• Critically evaluate new intervention methods and implement where deemed appropriate/ necessary.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery.
• Work flexibility in terms of hours of work, including the ability to work an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.
• Represent the Therapy Team and The Childrens Trust when appropriate, deputising for the Heads of Therapy as required.
• Actively participate in and support the running of relevant meetings.
• To undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of consistent communication).
• Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust Policy.
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Attend and contribute to regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team, to discuss individual children/young people and service in general, as required e.g., reviews, case conferences, parents evenings, clinics.
• Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints, and as they occur taking immediate action where necessary.

Governance

• Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur.
• Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development, with support from Clinical Specialist Therapists/ Heads of Therapy.
• Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated.
• Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation, with support from Highly Specialist Therapists/ Head of Rehabilitation Therapies.
• Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; and use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of future practice.
• Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, in order that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required.
• Actively participate in local clinical governance activities.

Career Long Learning, Education and Research

• Undertake all mandatory training, in line with The Childrens Trust policy.
• Advance personal knowledge, understanding and skills in line with identified learning needs, by making appropriate use of a variety of learning and development resources and opportunities, e.g. by attending courses/ lectures, contact and involvement with relevant special interest groups and visiting other departments/ organisations and by conducting Literature Reviews.
• Prepare appropriately for Performance Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development in order to meet continuing professional development requirements.
• Participates in in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Limits of Authority and Problem Solving

• Make day-to-day decisions regarding physiotherapy requirements for children and young people, based on case load, including recommendations for specialist equipment.
• Responsible for day-to-day time management and prioritisation of workload, taking into account the needs of the whole service.
• Monthly formal supervision.
• Provide formal supervision monthly to junior Therapists and/or Multidisciplinary Technicians.
• Supporting the Physiotherapy Team and house based multi-disciplinary team in delivery of an effective service.

Professionalism

• Takes action and raises concerns.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of The Childrens Trust.
• Maintain professional boundaries and professionalism at all times.
• Committed to demonstrating the organisations values and behaviours at all times.

Health and Safety

• Adheres to all Health and Safety guidelines, principles, and regulations to perform your role and comply with The Childrens Trust policies and procedures.
• Provide evidence of all vaccinations (or medical exemption) required for the post.
• Adhere to manual handling procedures and complete mandatory manual handling training.
• Promotes the health and safety of others.
• Uses the incident reporting and risk assessment system (Vantage), to identify and report risks and incidents/actions if directed.
• Responsible for identifying and mitigating risk within the work environment.

Wellbeing and Emotional Resilience

• Maintains a positive approach and outlook when dealing with change and overcoming challenges and problems.
• Recognises own limitations, develops realistic goals, and uses support network resource when or if necessary.
• Treats challenges and problems as a learning experience.
• Remains organised and focused when under pressure.
• Responds appropriately and effectively to all constructive feedback.
• Motivates self and other.

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).