Principal Physiotherapist - Inpatient Mental Health ServiceNHS

Job summary

Are you an experienced Physiotherapist ready to shape the future of Physiotherapy inpatient services across Sussex? We are seeking an exceptional Principal Physiotherapist (Band 8a) to provide strategic, clinical, and professional leadership within our service. In this influential role, you will combine expert clinical practice with service development, workforce leadership, and innovation to deliver outstanding outcomes for people with mental health conditions across SPFT inpatient sites.

Working closely with the Consultant Physiotherapist, operational leaders, and multidisciplinary teams, you will champion evidence-based practice, drive quality improvement, and help develop services that truly make a difference. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader who is passionate about advancing Physiotherapy, supporting colleagues to thrive, and shaping the future of healthcare delivery.

Main duties of the job

As the Principal Physiotherapist, you will manage a specialist caseload while providing expert advice and guidance on complex clinical issues. You will lead and inspire Physiotherapy staff through supervision, mentorship, training, and professional development, ensuring the highest standards of care are consistently achieved.

You will play a pivotal role in service transformation, leading quality improvement projects, audits, research activities, and the development of innovative pathways. You will take the lead on Falls Prevention work for the Trust. Working collaboratively across disciplines and partner organisations, you will influence strategic decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure Physiotherapy remains at the forefront of evidence-based, person-centred care.

Job description

1. The post-holder will be responsible for assessing and managing their own specialist caseload of patients/clients across the service.

2. They will act as the Physiotherapy clinical lead providing expert clinical advice and input for clients with highly complex needs, where there may be barriers to understanding.

3. In addition, the post-holder will lead on the development of their specialist service, playing a key role in shaping new service initiatives and strategic plans in conjunction with the Consultant Physiotherapist. They will provide professional leadership, clinical supervision, and mentorship for staff within the service, ensuring that high-quality care is maintained in line with professional, national, and local standards.

4. The post-holder will also take a leading role in clinical audits and may undertake research to support service development and innovation. As well as being responsible for developing and delivering training in their specialist area as required

About us

Join Sussex Partnership and you'll be part of an NHS trust that allows you to thrive and, in turn, thrives because of you. We believe in the vibrancy of our fantastic people. And how that leads to even better support for the people who use our services.

When you join us, you'll be able to take advantage of our wide range of rewards and benefits. Here are some of the perks that make working at Sussex Partnership a great choice:

• Flexible Working
• Generous Pension and Holiday Entitlement
• Training and Development Opportunities
• Discounts and Savings
• Access to Staff Networks
• Access to Staff Wellbeing Support
• Free Parking