Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Adult Critical Care

Cambridge University Hospitals; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Cambridge is seeking a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Adult Critical Care. This full-time Band 7 role involves planning and evaluating critical care physiotherapy services, supervising staff, and delivering high-quality care. The successful candidate will have a relevant degree and substantial postgraduate experience, with strong interpersonal and organisational skills. The role supports ongoing professional development and operates in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Subsidised on-site parking

Reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel

Qualifications

• Must have substantial postgraduate experience, including acute respiratory and neurological conditions.
• Demonstrate supervisory skills and team leadership.
• Competency to work on weekends and on-call.

Responsibilities

• Plan and evaluate the adult critical care physiotherapy service.
• Supervise staff and provide high standard service to patients.
• Coordinate workloads and mentor physiotherapy staff.

Skills

Ability to work independently

Excellent interpersonal skills

Strong organisational skills

Empathy

Communication skills

Education

Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy with State Registration

Evidence of relevant post-graduate courses / CPD

Job description

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Adult Critical Care

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area: Physiotherapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 - Fixed term contract for 12 months (Maternity Leave Cover).

• Full time
• Part time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full Time or Part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered). Job ref 180-B-253196.

Employer: Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Employer type: NHS Site. Town: Cambridge.

Salary: £47,810 - £54,710 per year (pro rata). Closing date: 28/12/2025 23:59. Interview date: 09/01/2026.

Job overview

A permanent or fixed-term/secondment opportunity has arisen for an experienced individual to join our Critical Care team within the trust’s Adult Critical Care areas. You will work within a large team of physiotherapists led by a Consultant physiotherapist to support the respiratory care, weaning and rehabilitation of a wide range of critically ill patients.

We are a large multi-speciality hospital supporting both the local population and wider tertiary populations. You will have the opportunity to work in all of our perioperative specialities – John Farnam Intensive Care unit, and Neuroscience Critical Care Unit, both large multi-speciality and tertiary ICUs.

You would be supported in learning new skills and gaining additional training to support your work within these large multi-speciality intensive care units.

Main duties of the job

As a Clinical Specialist Practitioner you will have responsibilities that include:

• Planning, delivery and evaluation of the adult critical care physiotherapy service.
• Supervision of staff and students.
• Providing a high standard physiotherapy service to patients in a perioperative bed (John Farman ICU, IDA, Neuro Critical Care Unit). Occasionally treating patients in a level one surgical bed.
• Undertaking management roles including coordinating workloads, delegating duties, appraising and mentoring physiotherapists, and participating in recruitment and selection.
• Maintaining specialist respiratory physiotherapy competency to participate in the out of hour's respiratory physiotherapy service and to assist in the training of Physiotherapy staff to a level of agreed competency.
• Acting independently without supervision.

Working for our organisation

Our Trust

Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) NHS Foundation Trust comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. With over 13,000 staff and over 1100 beds, the priority is a quality service that is all about people – patients, staff and partners. Recognised as providing ‘outstanding’ care to our patients and rated ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commissioner, CUH evidence is testament to the skill and dedication of the people who work here. CUH’s values – Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent – sit at the heart of patient care, defining how all staff work and behave.

CUH is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves. We value our differences and fully advocate and support an inclusive working environment where every individual can fulfil their potential. We welcome applications for all positions irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, race, nationality, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy, maternity status or socioeconomic background.

Benefits to you:

• Development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse, and day nur.
• Reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site, free Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites, and free routes to and from Cambridge train station and hospitals.
• Subsidised on-site parking for eligible staff.
• On-site hot food available 24/7 at a reduced cost.
• Staff pod break spaces with free tea, coffee, and private outdoor area.
• Flexible arrangements may include part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy with State Registration.
• Evidence of relevant post‑graduate courses / CPD.
• Ability to work to MSc standard.
• Relevant validated clinical courses.
• Involvement in special interest groups such as ICT or BTS.

Experience

• Substantial postgraduate experience (e.g. band 6), providing a broad range of experience including acute respiratory, surgical, neurological, DME and MSK conditions.
• Collaborating with community and intermediate care services.
• Supervisory skills of Band 5 Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy Assistants and students.
• Experience working as part of a physiotherapy team and/or MDT.
• Contributing to clinical education of less experienced staff or students or assistants.
• Competency to participate in weekend and on-call work (including NCCU, ITU, PICU).
• Experience at Band 7 level.
• Team leadership.
• Significant participation on evidence based project work.
• Experience in conducting formal presentations.

Knowledge

• Substantial knowledge of inpatient physiotherapy.
• Able to pass on skills / knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
• Knowledge of workings of community and primary care such as RSSC at Papworth.

Skills

• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Able to communicate and demonstrate empathy, to motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive abilities or physical senses.
• Able to work collaboratively within MDT.
• Committed to personal and team development.
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure.
• Evidence of participation in research/audit and presentation skills.

Additional Requirements

• Understand and behave at all times towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of Safe, Kind, Excellent.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Contact: Allyson Wood, Senior Clinical Specialist in Adult Critical Care

Email: [e-mail]

Telephone: [phone]