About this role
Job summary
Are you a passionate Physiotherapist looking to combine your physical health expertise with a truly holistic approach to patient care? Join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and help shape a specialist physiotherapy service that supports adults and older adults receiving inpatient mental health care across our Taunton and Yeovil sites.
In this rewarding role, you will play a vital part in improving mobility, independence, physical wellbeing, and quality of life for people experiencing severe and complex mental health difficulties. Working as an integral member of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will help patients overcome the physical challenges that can accompany mental illness, promoting recovery and enabling safer, more successful discharge from hospital.
This is a unique opportunity to work across a diverse inpatient service where no two days are the same. You'll have the autonomy to manage a varied caseload, contribute to innovative service development, support colleagues and learners, and help strengthen the physical health agenda within mental health services. If you're motivated by making a genuine difference and enjoy working collaboratively in a specialist environment, we'd love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
As our Band 6 Physiotherapist, you will:
Deliver specialist physiotherapy assessments, treatment and rehabilitation for adults and older adults receiving mental health inpatient care.Support patients with mobility difficulties, falls prevention, balance and gait problems, deconditioning, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal presentations, and long-term physical health needs.Develop personalised treatment programmes that promote physical activity, functional independence, rehabilitation, and overall wellbeing.Work closely with nurses, doctors, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to provide joined-up, recovery-focused care.Contribute to care planning, risk management, discharge planning, and physical health initiatives across inpatient services.Deliver individual and group interventions tailored to patients' needs and goals.Support students, assistants and junior colleagues through supervision, teaching and development opportunities.Participate in quality improvement projects, audits and service development activities that help shape the future of physiotherapy within mental health services.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
This specialist Band 6 position sits within our Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services and provides physiotherapy support across adult and older adult inpatient mental health wards. You will work with people experiencing acute and enduring mental health conditions, helping to optimise their physical health, mobility and recovery throughout their inpatient journey.
You'll undertake comprehensive assessments and deliver evidence-based treatment plans for patients with often complex and overlapping physical, psychological and social needs. This requires strong clinical reasoning, adaptability and a patient-centred approach, enabling you to tailor interventions that support recovery and maximise independence.
Working autonomously while being fully supported by the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to ward rounds, team discussions, discharge planning and risk management processes. You'll help ensure patients receive seamless care and have access to the physical health support they need throughout their admission.
We're looking for a qualified Physiotherapist with HCPC registration and experience working with adult patients, ideally within NHS or comparable healthcare settings. You'll bring sound knowledge across musculoskeletal, neurological and rehabilitation physiotherapy, excellent communication skills, and confidence in managing complex clinical presentations. Experience within mental health, inpatient, secure or rehabilitation services would be welcomed but is not essential.
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, you'll be encouraged to continue developing your skills through supervision, continuing professional development, collaborative learning and involvement in service improvement initiatives. You'll also have opportunities to contribute to teaching, support students and assistants, and influence the development of physiotherapy pathways within mental health services.
We are proud of our values of kindness, respect and teamwork, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences who share our commitment to delivering outstanding care. If you're ready to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people using mental health services while developing your own specialist expertise, we encourage you to apply.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy or equivalent; HCPC registration
Desirable
Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Postgraduate training in mental health or relevant fields
Experience Essential
Previous experience as a physiotherapist in NHS or equivalent setting; experience working with adults
Desirable
Experience working in acute mental health inpatient wards, secure settings or PICU Falls and Frailty management experience
Additional Criteria Essential
Recovery-focused practice
Desirable
Knowledge of physical health promotion within mental health care
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Wellsprings Hospital
Cheddon Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA2 7AU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)