The B8a Physiotherapy roles include Service Lead Physiotherapists and Clinical Specialists in specialist areas. These post holders are responsible for the delivery of a service that is safe, high quality and effective, and ensure a sustainable workforce that is responsive to the developments in clinical practice and changes in service delivery. These Physiotherapists provide professional representation within the Trust to ensure that the working environment enables staff to adhere to professional codes of conduct and national frameworks.

Qualifications and Experience required:

Undergraduate BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Degree or a relevant Degree followed with an MSc in Physiotherapy. To practice as a qualified Physiotherapist you will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Professional knowledge acquired through a degree is supplemented by a high level of knowledge and skill in a specialist area which is evidenced through recognised post graduate qualification in the clinical area, management, and leadership. You are also required to provide evidence of service improvement, leadership experience and research/audit activity appropriate to the post.

What are the Expectations of a Band 8a Physiotherapist?

The Band 8a Physiotherapists is expected to have an ability to articulate and implement the strategic vision of the Physiotherapy service in line with transformation and integration; work outside traditional professional boundaries and deliver on service evaluation including service development and audit.

The role of the Band 8a Physiotherapist is to work in partnership with a range of stakeholders to ensure the delivery of a responsive service that meets service users’ needs. This requires knowledge of recent NHS and Social Care developments and their impact on service delivery; systems for governance and risk management, and highly specialist knowledge of professional practice and research.

Responsibilities include ensuring the delivery of a safe, high quality and effective service within service targets and budget; leadership to ensure a sustainable workforce who have the knowledge and skill to deliver a service with consideration to local/national initiatives, best practice and policy; management of the team in line with Human Resource processes.

What post qualifying/ post graduate courses can I access?

In house training:

Appraisal: When you start work you will be assigned an appraiser who will provide yearly appraisals. This will support core values, behaviours, knowledge, and skill required to fulfil the requirements of the post and career development.

Clinical: You will be provided with the opportunity to consolidate your knowledge and skills through work based learning. Each year you will set objectives and a personal development plan which is reviewed regularly. Your learning will be supported through in house training, clinical supervision, and peer support.

Leadership qualities are recognised as core skills to improve clinical outcomes; there are a range of in-house leadership courses available to support you. For more information, please follow the Hyperlink Link

Research and audit opportunities are provided through placement projects, links with local Universities and links with Physiotherapy Research Champions.

External training:

The service provides support through time and funding for courses external to the Trust; requests need to be discussed with your line manager.

Who do I contact about my continuing professional development?

Please speak to your line manager to discuss and agree learning plans. The workforce team may be able to offer further signposting at the email address below for stsft.cpd@nhs.net

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