Specialist Learning Disabilities Physiotherapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Learning Disability Physiotherapist to join the established Physiotherapy team within the Essex Community Learning Disability Health Team.


The post holder will share leadership responsibilities for the Physiotherapy team, and work closely alongside other team leads, the Physiotherapy professional lead and the team manager to deliver high quality Physiotherapy services for people with a learning disability across Essex.
The Community Learning Disability Service provides specialist health services to adults with a learning disability. To provide comprehensive Physiotherapy assessment and intervention for specified service user group.


To provide clinical leadership to Physiotherapy staff within the Essex service.
To lead in a specialist area and contribute to the development of specialist service related policies.

Recognised UK Physiotherapy qualification or equivalent.


Current UK Health Professions Council and CSP registration.


Previous experience in with adults with learning disabilities or a transferable field.


Car driver essential with access to a car (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving).
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just fivemental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission , and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.


Our family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Essex, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.


The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:


Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? To provide high quality Physiotherapy and consultation to people within the Community Learning Disability Service.


~ To manage a complex caseload, using evidence based/client principles to assess,,plan, implement and evaluate interventions in clinic and community settings and on home visits.


To maintain clinical records
To effectively manage the local waiting list and KPIs
To provide specialist Physiotherapy advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to a client's formulation, diagnosis and case management plan.

~ To formulate and implement plans for the formal Physiotherapy treatment and/or management of a client's condition and risk based upon an appropriate conceptual framework of the client's problems.


~ To provide assessment and treatment to people with a learning disability and complex health needs, identifying the role of physiotherapy within the MDT.


To work with other agencies to identify gaps in provision of physiotherapy for this population and develop strategies to engage and develop the delivery of physiotherapy to service users.

~ To promote integration of people with learning disabilities into community activities and develop partnership working with leisure facilities, hydrotherapy pools and gym establishments.


~ To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with people with learning disabilities and their carers. To communicate and work with other agencies and community teams where necessary.


~ To provide support and mentoring for junior members of staff within the multi-disciplinary team.


To undertake complex risk assessment and risk management for individual clients and to provide advice to other professions on Physiotherapy aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

To provide leadership locally for the Physiotherapists within the Essex Learning Disability Service.
To provide an effective supervision framework for Physiotherapy staff, and provide regular supervision to allocated Physiotherapy staff as per Trust policy.


To undertake Annual Performance Appraisals with all Physiotherapists in the team locally.
To identify training and development needs of individual staff.
To co-ordinate Physiotherapy Student Practice Placements and support Practice Placement Educators within the locality.

~ To initiate, plan and implement the induction, training and educating of students and staff within the local service, as appropriate.


~ To be responsible for the supervision and written assessments of Physiotherapy Students on Practice Placement.


~ To participate in the development and delivery of Directorate and Physiotherapy Training Programmes.


~ To ensure that required evidence is available and in the required standard format e.g. to the CQC.


~ To work effectively as a member of the appropriate groups to support the planning and achievement of Local and National Objectives.


~ To work with the Professional Lead Physiotherapist in the operational planning, evaluation and audit of practice, clinical pathways and protocols within LD Physiotherapy.


Evidence of having met the full KSF Gateway for Band 6
Evidence of continuing professional development
Leadership / Management Training
Significant Postgraduate Training relevant to Learning Disability

Specialist knowledge and application of current best practice in Physiotherapy
Experience of learning disability conditions
Understanding of treatments and interventions commonly used in Learning Disability
Broad base of clinical experience working with people with a Learning Disability
Understanding current Policies and Practice relevant to Learning Disability and their implications for Physiotherapy
Experience of generic and specialist Physiotherapy assessments and interventions
Neurology Learning Disability Respiratory Care Moving and Handling Working in community setting
Experience in providing advice, support and clinical supervision to junior staff and/or students

Project Management
Effective leadership skills, including the ability to manage conflict, good communication, planning and decision making skills, organisational skills and the ability to innovate in Service Development

Assessment of complex disability and respiratory care
Broad knowledge of current best practice in Physiotherapy and Learning Disability Application of the Physiotherapy process with designated client group
Planning and coordination of treatment packages
Applied knowledge of mental health legislation including CPA and risk assessment and Management
Ability to reflect on and critically appraise own performance.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree , Across Mid West Essex , CM7 2GB


Springwood Industrial Estate, Braintree