Specialist Physiotherapist - Critical Care / Surgery / Bariatrics


Company:	St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Salary:	£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Prescot, L35 5DR
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	25 Aug 2026
Closing date:	24 Sept 2026

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Summary

A Vacancy at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

37.5 hours per week worked across a 7 day service (part time can be considered)

We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Physiotherapist to join the Critical Care, Surgery and Bariatric therapy team at Whiston Hospital. We are seeking an individual who is a keen and confident practitioner with an enthusiasm to develop the Physiotherapy role within the acute surgery wards and ICU settings, with the inclusion of the bariatric surgery service, providing a caring and responsive service.

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate excellent skills in assessment of respiratory function, formulating a structured rehabilitation plan from critical illness to discharge, including the provision of equipment along with experience of facilitating home and environmental visits. Attending preoperative education sessions to help enhance recovery by giving appropriate information is an essential remit of the team. They will be responsible for overseeing the Bariatric Surgery service, attending Bariatric MDT and pre-operative school.

The successful individual will possess excellent communication skills to enable patient centred care, effective multidisciplinary team working and raising the profile of the profession within the patient setting.

Interviews will take place on 23rd September, 2026

Please be aware, that we may close a vacancy earlier than stated, should a sufficient number of applications be received. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

The implementation of evidence based practice and a willingness to identify and be involved in areas for future service development is also necessary. This individual will be enthusiastic, hardworking and motivated to develop their skills and the service they are part of. This will include competent organisational and time management skills with the ability to work flexibly due to varying day to day demands of the service.

The Trust is focused on keeping the patient at the centre of all we do. With this in mind, there is a commitment to professional development of employees to ensure high quality care is provided. This includes regular supervision and appraisal. A willingness to develop leadership skills in the supervision of rotational physiotherapists and delivery of clinical education for students from surrounding universities will also be expected.

As the Critical Care, Surgery and Bariatric therapy team involves Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists working closely, the candidate would have the ability to undertake basic generic therapy assessment and treatment as appropriate. The successful candidate should have the ability to work flexibly and adaptably to a change in working patterns in view of a 7 day service and one rostered Monday evening a month.

A minimum of 3 years post registration experience is desirable.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Our services:

Acute Care

Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care

Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services

Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services

We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018

• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)

• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

Applicant requirements

• You must have appropriate UK professional registration

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service

Main Duties

• To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.

• To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.

• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition

• Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options. Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans

• To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.

• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required

• To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations

This advert closes on Sunday 13 Sep 2026

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