Specialist Physiotherapist

Job overview

Specialist Physiotherapist – Band 6

We are pleased to offer two Specialist Physiotherapist posts at Band 6, with the opportunity to appoint at Band 5 as a development post for candidates who demonstrate potential but do not yet meet all Band 6 criteria.

One post is within Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH) and one within Working Age Adult Mental Health. Both roles are based in in‑patient settings, and applicants may be considered for one or both posts, depending on preference and experience.

Role overview

You will provide high‑quality physiotherapy assessment, intervention, advice, support, education and training to service users, carers and professionals. The post involves working with individuals with specialist mental health needs, including conditions such as dementia, depression, anxiety, psychosis and bipolar spectrum disorders.

Older People’s Mental Health (OPMH)

Within OPMH services, the role focuses on supporting older adults to promote optimal physical and mental wellbeing, functional ability and quality of life through tailored physiotherapy interventions.

Working Age Adult Mental Health

The Working Age Adult post supports service users across several in‑patient wards over two sites, with a focus on optimising physical health outcomes for individuals with mental health conditions.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop specialist skills within mental health physiotherapy, supported by a welcoming multidisciplinary team and clear development pathways.

Main duties of the job

• Participate in the planning & delivery of the physiotherapy service across the care group, prioritising clinical need to provide an effective service.
• Assess, plan & implement comprehensive physiotherapy treatment programmes for service users, & evaluate outcomes, whilst ensuring a high standard of professional practice is maintained & further developed.
• Manage a caseload of service users presenting with complex mental & physical health needs, frailty, multimorbidity, challenging behaviour, communication difficulties & other associated conditions.
• Use a range of verbal & non‑verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with service users to progress rehabilitation & treatment programmes.
• Assess service user understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent & work within a legal framework with service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment, in line with the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• Use evidence‑based & service user‑centred approaches to assess, plan, implement & evaluate physiotherapy interventions within secondary mental health in‑patient (& community, where appropriate) settings.
• Actively participate in multi‑disciplinary & multi‑agency working.
• Support service development & continuous improvement within the physiotherapy service.
• Maintain professional standards, clinical governance & ongoing professional development in line with HCPC & Trust requirements.

Closing: 16th April 26

Shortlisting: 17th April 26

Interview: TBC

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please read the attached Job description and person specification for further details about this role.

Right to Work in the UK

Prior to your appointment you will be asked to provide confirmation of your right to work and reside in the UK. During your continued employment with the Trust, you have a personal responsibility to notify your manager as soon as possible should there be any changes to your right to work status.

Regrettably, if the role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Trust’s eligibility criteria, the Trust are unable to extend your employment beyond the expiration of your current visa. The Trust is not responsible or liable for ensuring that your employment continues after this period.

As a condition of continuous employment, it essential you maintain the legal right to work in the United Kingdom throughout the duration of your employment with Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust (BDCFT).

Any change in your right-to-work status, including but not limited to visa expiration, revocation, or denial of renewal, may impact your eligibility for employment with the Trust. It is your responsibility to promptly inform your Line Manager of any changes in your right-to-work status immediately and to provide necessary documentation for verification purposes. Failure to obtain or renew your visa in a timely manner is a breach of employment conditions and will result in termination of your employment. We appreciate your attention to this matter and your commitment to fulfilling this requirement promptly.