Physiotherapist/ Specialist Physiotherapist

Our Physiotherapist plays a pivotal role in supporting young people with learning disabilities to overcome barriers, develop essential life skills, and participate fully in college life. Working collaboratively with students, families, educators, and multidisciplinary teams, they help create opportunities for movement, communication, self-expression, and personal growth.

This is a role where every achievement matters. Whether helping a student improve their mobility, increase their confidence in everyday activities, or take an important step towards adulthood, you will make a meaningful and lasting impact. Every day brings the opportunity to support young people on their unique journey, enabling them to achieve their goals, embrace new possibilities, and build a more independent and fulfilling future.

Key Responsibilities

• To use a person centered approach to promote choice, independence, and inclusion, reflecting the key principals of Valuing People (DOH 2002), Valuing People Now and the Human Rights Act and working towards the Preparing for Adulthood Agenda, in order to enable the student to achieve his/her academic, social and employment potential.
• To provide clinical physiotherapy, mobility and postural assessment and intervention to students in the service
• To independently assess, clinically reason, advise and order specialist equipment for mobility/postural control both static and dynamic, being aware of financial implications and restrictions. Liaise with social services/external agencies/parents/carers regarding the provision and use of such equipment.
• To ensure effective joint working practice between Multi-therapy team and education, health, social services, voluntary sectors and student's families where necessary to overcome limitations students may encounter.
• To set up and run aquatic therapy sessions and complete relevant risk assessments and clinically effective programs.
• To keep up to date with current and new manual handling techniques thus designing appropriate moving and handling guidelines for learners who have significant physical disabilities in addition to their learning disability, using a range of techniques and equipment, ensuring safe practice.
• To prepare and submit written reports including contributions to the interdisciplinary team reports and EHCPs

Key Requirements

• Recognized physiotherapy degree qualification or equivalent.
• UK Health and Care Professions Council – License to Practice.
• Evidence of other formal study leading to a relevant qualification.
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team of therapy, medical, educational and care colleagues.
• Experience with students over 16 who have severe/profound and multiple learning disabilities and mental health needs.

Orchard Hill College is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits

(Make sure this is up to date, using this link Employee Benefits - Home)

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident

About Disability Confident

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.