Senior Physiotherapist (Band 6) - Palliative CareNHS

Job summary

We are looking for a Physiotherapist with a range of experience in to join our Palliative Care Therapy team based at St Michaels Hospice. We provide Palliative Rehabilitation for patients with life limiting illness in the Hospice, Outpatients, and in the Community (for patients with specialist palliative care needs). The team is led by a Physiotherapist and includes Occupational Therapists and a Therapy Assistant.

We are looking for a Physiotherapist with experience of working with people with long term conditions such as frailty, chronic lung conditions and cancer. You will be joining a forward thinking and progressive team who constantly strive to provide excellent Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy to our patients and develop the service considering available evidence and national guidance.

Closing date - 02 December 2026

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work autonomously as part of a multi - disciplinary team providing specialist physiotherapy assessment, intervention and rehabilitation for people with progressive and life-limiting illness across inpatient, outpatients and community settings. The postholder will use specialist clinical reasoning and a rehabilitative palliative care approach to maximise function, independence, comfort, confidence and quality of life according to what matters to the patient.

There are opportunities to contribute to service development, including education, audit and continuous quality improvement. There are both internal and external training opportunities relevant to the role and the team networks with other Therapists working in Palliative Care.

St. Michaels Hospice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo relevant background checks, including a DBS check and provide satisfactory reference before starting the role.

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Sarah Garratt, Therapy Team Lead on 01256 844863.

Job description

The Therapy team is an integral part of multidisciplinary team working in specialist palliative care providing high quality care to patients with life limiting illnesses in the North Hampshire area. The role of the Therapy team within the hospice is to support patients to optimise their function to maximize their quality of life. As a member of the therapy team, this role will provide specialist knowledge to multidisciplinary colleagues in the inpatient unit, living well services, outpatients and community settings.

Responsibilities

The role includes clinical, consultative, teaching, leadership and research, to ensure the delivery of a high standard of service to all levels of professionals, patients, families and carers.

To be a core member of the specialist multi-disciplinary palliative care team.

As a member of the Therapy team, you will need to contribute to the effective provision of rehabilitation and therapy support within St. Michael's Hospice.

Undertake holistic physiotherapy assessment as an autonomous practitioner for patients with complex needs.

Provide physiotherapy input to in-patients at the Hospice, The Living Well service, Out-patients and patients within the community setting who have specialist palliative care needs.

Clinical Practice

Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and implementation of therapy intervention for patients with progressive and life-threatening diseases. This includes using analytical skills, clinical reasoning and appropriate outcome measures.

Tailor therapy assessment and treatment with attention to individual patient needs and preferences.

Be responsible for managing own case load across inpatient, outpatient, Living Well Service and community settings.

Maintain focus on optimising patients' functional abilities through appropriate physiotherapy intervention.

Constantly assess the ongoing physiotherapy needs of the patient, adapting therapy input as their condition changes.

Be a source of Physiotherapy expertise across the multidisciplinary team, providing advice on managing patients' functional ability.

Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to maximise patients' potential. To ensure a consistent approach for patient care and be responsible for assessing and ordering standard equipment.

To work closely alongside Therapy colleagues at St. Michaels Hospice.

Organisation

To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet the service and patient priorities.

Adjusting plans as situations change/arise.

Effectively prioritise caseload as the need arises.

Maintain accurate and up to date documentation for all patients that is consistent with the standards of the organisation.

To be aware of and implement the visions and values of St. Michaels Hospice.

Work within the Hospice and Departmental policies and procedures and maintain compliance with professional guidelines.

In discussion with the Therapy Lead undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Communication

Develop effective communication with patients in emotionally challenging situations using empathy and compassion.

Be responsible for and proactively initiate effective communication with other members of the Therapy team.

To facilitate and support patients and their families to enable them to engage in therapeutic interventions.

Communicate effectively with formal/informal carers, external agencies, both statutory and voluntary, to ensure effective patient care, continuity and safe discharge planning.

Attend team meetings, MDT meetings, case meetings, and family meetings as appropriate To participate fully in the interdisciplinary approach to patient care.

To attend Therapy team meetings as arranged.

Professional

Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in palliative care and incorporate these appropriately into clinical practice.

Attend regular supervision with your line manager and attend regular clinical supervision sessions.

To supervise junior members of staff within the therapy team.

Direct line management responsibility.

Be an active member of the in-service training and assist in teaching colleagues, and the wider multidisciplinary team, including student therapists.

Participate in St. Michael's appraisal system as an appraiser and appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies.

Maintain a portfolio which reflects personal and professional development.

To maintain registration and abide by the code of conduct with Health and Care Professional Council.

Contribute and participate in audit and clinical governance to support quality improvement projects.

Administrative

Be responsible for the accurate and timely input of physiotherapy related patient data into the relevant patient recording system.

Other

To be confident and competent in the safe use of equipment whilst conducting physiotherapy duties.

To be responsible for reporting any hazards or defects of equipment requiring repair through the appropriate channels.

Undertake and keep up to date with mandatory statutory training as required by the hospice.

To undertake any other duties as may be reasonably required by the line manager or any other senior colleague.

General Responsibilities

Work to maintain the values, vision and aims of St. Michaels Hospice.

Additional duties In discussion with the line manager to undertake work, as and when required, in support of St. Michaels Hospice as an organisation.

Public Relations To represent St. Michaels Hospice in the community and public domain, including social media, appropriately.

Undertake all statutory and mandatory training, as required.

To be conversant with and adhere to all St. Michaels Hospice Policies and Procedures.

Be responsible for upholding and promoting St. Michaels Hospice safeguarding policies, ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals, and promptly reporting any concerns or incidents in accordance with established procedures.

This is an outline job description and may be subject to change, according to the needs of the service, in consultation with the post holder.

Take responsibility for own personal safety and of others whilst at work. You will take appropriate action or report any concerns to address any health and safety issues that you or members of your team may be aware of.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

About us

St. Michaels Hospice is a registered charity providing specialist palliative and end of life care services since 1992, for the people of North Hampshire. We are dedicated to providing care to people throughout North Hampshire who are affected by life limiting illness to attain the highest possible quality of life by providing a choice of specialist care and support.

As a charity, we depend on the kindness and support of our local community to continue offering our services free of charge. This care is made possible by supporters donating, taking part in fundraising events and activities, playing our lottery, shopping in our retail outlets, leaving gifts in their Wills or giving freely of their time to volunteer.