Job summary
The post holder will deliver a weekend Physiotherapy service for the Islington Urgent Community response team (UCRT) and will be expected to work autonomously, managing their clinical workload and responding appropriately to urgent referrals and changing clinical priorities. The post holder will support Islington UCRT in providing rapid community-based assessment and intervention, with the aim of preventing avoidable hospital admission, and facilitating timely discharge from acute services.
Main duties of the job
This is a 15-hour-per-week Band 6 Physiotherapist post based at Hornsey Rise Health Centre. The post holder will enable continuity of the Urgent response service across the weekend period. During induction, the post holder will be expected to work outside their usual weekend hours for a defined period for training purposes. Following this, the post holder will primarily work independently during their weekend hours, although approximately 2 of the contracted hours will be worked on a Friday or Monday, as required, to facilitate handover, clinical supervision and liaison with the wider team.
This will ensure they are fully integrated into the UCRT service and equipped to work safely and effectively as an autonomous weekend practitioner.
Details
- Date posted: 27 October 2026
- Closing date: 09 November 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 6
- Salary: £47,951 to £56,863 a year Per Annum (Pro Rata) Including HCAS
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Part-time
- Reference number: 220-WHT-8357259
- Job locations: Hornsey Rise Health centre, Islington, N19 3YU, United Kingdom
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Clinical- Provide a high-quality, autonomous physiotherapy service within the Islington Urgent Community Response Team (UCRT), delivering timely assessment, intervention and clinical decision-making for adults experiencing acute deterioration, functional decline, falls, mobility problems, frailty and other urgent rehabilitation needs.
- Independently assess and manage a complex, varied caseload across patients homes and community settings, working primarily as a sole practitioner.
- Develop, deliver and review individualised, evidence-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation programmes to maximise patients function, independence and safety.
- Work collaboratively with patients and carers to promote self-management, rehabilitation and prevention of further deterioration.
- Identify and manage clinical risks, prioritise competing demands and make appropriate decisions regarding treatment, escalation and onward referral.
- Recognise when patients needs exceed own competence or authority and seek appropriate clinical advice or escalate concerns to the relevant UCRT team member.
- Work closely with the Urgent Response Nursing Team, Lead Physiotherapist and wider multidisciplinary team to support safe patient management, prevent avoidable hospital admissions, facilitate timely discharge and reduce unnecessary hospital stays.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary discussions about patient care, progress, rehabilitation, discharge planning and onward referrals, ensuring clear and timely handovers.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous clinical records and provide appropriate progress updates, discharge summaries and onward referral information in accordance with professional, legal, Trust and departmental requirements.
- Work flexibly and responsively according to weekend service requirements and patients changing clinical needs.
- Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and carers, adapting approaches to individual needs and overcoming barriers such as confusion, anxiety, cognitive impairment or communication difficulties.
- Communicate complex clinical information clearly with multidisciplinary colleagues and other health and social care professionals.
- Provide clear verbal and written handovers, communicating relevant clinical information, identified risks, treatment plans and escalation requirements.
- Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with UCRT colleagues and other community, health and social care services.
- Communicate sensitively with patients and families about rehabilitation goals, functional outcomes, risks, discharge plans and ongoing care needs.
- Attend relevant team meetings and contribute to case discussions to support coordinated, person-centred care.
- Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills relevant to urgent community response, rehabilitation, frailty, falls and complex patient management.
- Participate in continuing professional development and maintain appropriate records in accordance with HCPC and Trust requirements.
- Contribute to the education and development of colleagues, students, patients, families and carers, as appropriate.
- Support clinical supervision, teaching and knowledge sharing within the UCRT team, including physiotherapy assessment, rehabilitation and clinical decision-making.
- Participate in induction, supervision and training to support safe, autonomous weekend working.
- Independently plan, organise and prioritise clinical workloads, responding appropriately to urgent referrals, changing priorities and competing demands.
- Manage time effectively to ensure timely patient assessment, intervention, documentation, communication and follow-up.
- Work autonomously while maintaining appropriate communication with the Lead Physiotherapist and wider UCRT team.
- Follow agreed arrangements for clinical escalation, supervision and handover when working independently at weekends.
- Contribute ideas to improve the quality, effectiveness and responsiveness of the weekend UCRT physiotherapy service.
- Work flexibly outside normal weekend hours for a defined induction period and, where required, for handover and clinical supervision. This includes approximately two hours on a Friday or Monday, by agreement with the service.
- Remain professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own practice, adhering to HCPC and CSP standards and relevant Trust policies and procedures.
- Maintain high standards of evidence-based clinical practice, ensuring assessments and treatments meet patients individual needs.
- Identify, manage and report clinical risks, incidents, near misses and safeguarding concerns in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.
- Participate in clinical audits, service evaluations and quality improvement activities as appropriate.
- Ensure patient information is recorded accurately and securely, maintaining confidentiality and complying with information governance requirements.
- Follow infection prevention and control, health and safety, manual handling and safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Use patient care equipment safely and appropriately, reporting defects or concerns promptly.
- Participate in professional supervision and appraisal, and maintain an appropriate personal development plan.
- Contribute to a safe, effective, responsive and person-centred UCRT service.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Holds a recognized degree or diploma in Physiotherapy
- Current HCPC registration
- IELTS Level 7.00 or above (overseas candidates only)
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrable ability to work autonomously and make appropriate clinical decisions within professional scope of practice
- Strong clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills in the assessment and management of patients with complex or changing presentations
- Ability to undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and formulate, implement and review individualised treatment and rehabilitation plans
- Ability to independently prioritise a clinical workload, respond to changing priorities and manage time effectively
- Ability to recognise and manage clinical risk and appropriately escalate concerns
- Ability to communicate complex information clearly to a variety of professionals and to patients and their families, overcoming barriers to communication including language, confusion, and anxiety.
- Understanding of safeguarding, information governance, confidentiality and clinical risk management within clinical practice
- Ability to provide clear verbal and written handover to colleagues to ensure safe continuity of care between weekend and weekday service
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Experience working as an autonomous Physiotherapist, managing a clinical caseload and making independent clinical decisions within professional scope of practice
- Experience of lone working in patients' homes
- Experience of managing patients with complex and/or changing clinical presentations
Desirable
- Experience managing an urgent or unpredictable caseload
- Experience of service improvement, including productivity and patient experience.
- Previous experience of weekend or extended-hours community services
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Self-motivated, personally, and professionally responsible.
- Flexibility and ability to handle change positively
Other
Essential
- Ability to safely undertake patient assessment, treatment and manual handling in accordance with Trust guidelines, and travel independently to patients' homes and community settings
- Understanding of working with diversity and how to incorporate this into own practice.
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).
About us
Islington Urgent Community Response Team service offers a friendly, supportive and welcoming working environment. The team works closely with nursing colleagues, encouraging collaboration, sharing knowledge and supporting one another to provide the best possible patient care. This is a rewarding role in which you will help patients to maintain their independence, recover safely and remain in the comfort of their own homes. There are opportunities for regular clinical supervision, learning and professional development. We value a positive attitude, a strong work ethic, flexibility and a compassionate approach to patient care.
Employer details
- Employer name: Whittington Hospital NHS Trust
- Address: Hornsey Rise Health centre, Islington, N19 3YU, United Kingdom
- Employer's website: https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/