About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Band 8a Physiotherapist to join the Paediatric Respiratory service within West London Children's Healthcare (WLCH).
This specialist Band 8a role offers the opportunity to work within a highly skilled multidisciplinary team delivering advanced respiratory physiotherapy care to infants, children and young people with complex respiratory and long-term ventilation needs across acute and community pathways.
WLCH brings together paediatric services across Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, providing outstanding opportunities for cross-site collaboration, service development, education and research.
In return, WLCH offers:
Outstanding learning and development opportunities Access to specialist clinical supervision and leadership development Opportunities to participate in research and innovation through Imperial College London and the Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health (PaeCH) A supportive multidisciplinary working environment Opportunities to work across diverse specialist paediatric services Access to NHS pension and staff benefits schemes If you are committed to improving outcomes for children and young people and thrive in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment, we would welcome your application.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work as a Band 8a Specialist Physiotherapist within the Paediatric Respiratory and Long-Term Ventilation service across West London Children's Healthcare (WLCH).The role involves providing highly specialist physiotherapy assessment,treatment and management for infants, children and young people with complex respiratory, neuromuscular and long-term ventilation needs.
The successful candidate will independently manage a complex clinical caseload across inpatient and outpatient settings,delivering evidence-based respiratory physiotherapy interventions and contributing to multidisciplinary care planning.The role requires advanced clinical reasoning, specialist respiratory skills and the ability to work collaboratively with children, families, carers and multidisciplinary teams across acute and community services.
The post holder will also provide line management,leadership and supervision to junior staff, assistants and students,contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives, and support education, audit and research activities within the specialty.
The role includes participation in weekend working and the physiotherapy on-call rota following completion of competency-based training and induction.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a progressive and research-active paediatric service within a unique integrated children's healthcare organisation committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across North West London.
About us
Our Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.
Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.
We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid.
We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan. In line with Greener NHS ambitions, we aim for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Achieving this requires collective effort. We encourage staff to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution wherever possible. Every action counts to create a healthier, more sustainable future.
We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
If you haven't heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder will work as a Band 8a Specialist Physiotherapist within the Paediatric Respiratory and Long-Term Ventilation service across West London Childrens Healthcare (WLCH). The role involves providing highly specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and management for infants, children and young people with complex respiratory, neuromuscular and long-term ventilation needs.
The successful candidate will independently manage a complex clinical caseload across inpatient and outpatient settings, delivering evidence-based respiratory physiotherapy interventions and contributing to multidisciplinary care planning. The role requires advanced clinical reasoning, specialist respiratory skills and the ability to work collaboratively with children, families, carers and multidisciplinary teams across acute and community services.
The post holder will also provide line management, leadership and supervision to junior staff, assistants and students, contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives, and support education, audit and research activities within the specialty.
The role includes participation in weekend working and the physiotherapy on-call rota following completion of competency-based training and induction.
This is an excellent opportunity to join a progressive and research-active paediatric service within a unique integrated childrens healthcare organisation committed to improving outcomes for children and young people across North West London.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications Essential
Degree (or equivalent) in Physiotherapy, Health & Care Professions Council registration, and evidence of continuous and current professional and academic development relevant to the clinical field Evidence of experience /post graduate training and education to Masters level or equivalent and CPD relevant to speciality area Evidence of structured training in appraisal and supervisory skills, alongside leadership and management training Evidence of post graduate training in basic research skills e.g. literature reviews, critical appraisal Postgraduate training in quality improvement (QI), audit, service evaluation, or research activity
Desirable
Masters or PhD degree in relevant subject Membership of relevant professional groups and Specialist interest group
Experience Essential
Demonstrates extensive post-qualification experience at a senior level within the relevant speciality, including leading effective teams and achieving success in multidisciplinary and multi-agency working environments. Shows significant experience in supervising qualified therapy staff and students, alongside managing staff performance and applying workforce policies effectively. Has strong experience in clinical governance, including incident investigation, implementing changes to practice, and using governance frameworks to monitor and improve patient care quality. Actively contributes to evaluation of clinical practice through research, audit, service evaluation, and quality improvement projects, supported by postgraduate experience and the ability to analyse and interpret data. Evidences continuous professional development through formal and informal learning, supports a culture of research awareness, and demonstrates reflective learning from experience to improve practice.
Desirable
Experience at band 8a level Clinical leadership of other disciplines Experience of applying for governance approvals
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities Essential
Demonstrates expert clinical reasoning skills in applying a range of techniques within the relevant clinical area, supported by specialist knowledge and best evidence-based practice in assessment and intervention. Maintains up-to-date professional knowledge by integrating current research into patient care and understanding the influence of psychosocial and cultural factors on health behaviours. Applies advanced knowledge of clinical quality, patient safety, and policy, while effectively resolving professional ethical issues. Shows the ability to articulate a clear vision for therapy services and lead, inspire, motivate, and empower teams within an integrated service. Effectively organises, prioritises, delegates, and works to deadlines while delivering service improvement projects. Demonstrates change management skills, prepares service-level reports, and uses audit, quality standards, risk management, and outcome data analysis to support continuous service development in line with the evolving healthcare environment. Exhibits advanced written and verbal communication skills, adapting style flexibly to meet the needs of patients, carers, and staff. Builds strong working relationships, commands the confidence of multidisciplinary teams, and demonstrates empathy in challenging or emotional situations. Possesses proven skills in negotiation, conflict resolution, and delivering presentations and training in both formal and informal settings, alongside excellence in education and teaching of staff and students. Demonstrates strong mentoring, coaching, and advanced supervision skills to support staff and colleagues. Actively reflects on and critically appraises own performance, showing a commitment to continuous improvement and professional development. Maintains a professional attitude and appearance, works collaboratively as a motivated team player, and contributes to a positive and supportive working environment. Exhibits resilience and the ability to cope in demanding and stressful environments, including managing challenging or aggressive behaviour. Uses sound judgement and decision-making skills in complex situations and applies strategies to manage interpersonal stress effectively. Works flexibly to meet service needs, demonstrates competent IT skills, and maintains the physical ability and dexterity required for clinical duties, while remaining fluent in English communication.
Desirable
Advanced computer skills. Evidence of presentation at national level Poster or presentation published or presented at a peer review setting
Values and Behaviours Essential
oDemonstrable ability to meet Trust values and a positive attitude towards change.
Other Requirements Essential
Able to work flexibly according to the needs of the service Able to meet the requirements of the role with any reasonable adjustments
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.
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 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, with cross-site working across WLCH
London
SW10 9NH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)