Obtaining your first physiotherapy post

CHAPTER FOUR Obtaining your first physiotherapy post



Jamie Mackler


After graduation, there may be opportunities for work within the National Health Service in hospitals and also within the community, in the private sector, professional sport, industry or overseas. There are also ever-increasing opportunities for postgraduate study and research. Most graduates start their careers in the NHS, although more and more are beginning to look outside this area of employment. Physiotherapy is at a very exciting point in its development and the profession is well placed to take advantage of increasing opportunities that are being presented. The role of Consultant Therapist has been established and rehabilitation teams are being developed in intermediate care and in the community, with therapists taking the lead role in many instances.


While studying you will most likely have benefited from an interprofessional approach to learning in which some modules were shared with other students from nursing, social work, midwifery and occupational therapy. This type of learning will help to prepare you for work in the current dynamic nature of the health care environment.


Your job hunt begins in earnest when you have your examination results. You may need to be flexible when looking for your first physiotherapy post but no matter what the job situation, the hints and tips contained within this chapter should help you to get to the front of the job queue.



Registration with the health professions council (HPC)


In order to practise as a physiotherapist in any capacity in the UK, you need to be registered with the HPC. Registration must be renewed every 2 years and you must meet CPD standards.


For further information visit www.hpc-uk.org



Chartered society of physiotherapy (CSP) membership


In order to call yourself a Chartered Physiotherapist rather than simply a physiotherapist, you must join the CSP. They are the UK’s only trade union, professional body and educational organisation for people working in, or studying physiotherapy.


Some of the benefits of CSP membership include:


image Supporting members through: a comprehensive professional liability insurance; workplace representation; professional and practice advice; negotiating the best possible pay and conditions; representing your interests to the government, NHS and private sector employers; free legal advice and representation

image Developing learning through clinical advice, CPD and qualifying education

image Helping you stay in touch through Interactive CSP, specialist interest groups, events such as Congress and newsletters

image Keeping you informed through the Physiotherapy Journal, Frontline magazine, fact sheets and resource materials

image Promoting the profession and influencing for change by talking regularly to ministers and key decision makers as well as boosting the professions profile in national, regional and international media.

Visit the societies website www.csp.org.uk for further information.



Where to look for your first post



image The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) jobs website: http://www.jobescalator.com/

image www.healthjobsuk.com/jobs is a useful site, as it tends to have the jobs that are advertised on individual trust websites and not the NHS site.

image http://www.physiobob.com

image Job ads in Frontline, the CSP’s fortnightly publication.

image There are web-based NHS job sites in all four countries where vacant posts are advertised:
• England: www.jobs.nhs.uk/for/juniorphysiotherapists

• Scotland: www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk

• Wales: www.wales.nhs.uk/jobs/index.cfm

• Northern Ireland: www.n-i.nhs.uk which has a link on the home page to the job vacancies section

image At times of job shortages the CSP often offers managers a free service whereby they can send in details of vacant posts suitable for new graduates. All graduates will then automatically be sent details of these posts until they inform the CSP they have secured a post.

image NHS Trusts’ circulars, which are sometimes sent to schools and colleges Trust websites (many Trusts have a ‘job shop’ on their website).

image Write speculative letters to every hospital within the area you wish to work, requesting any information on Open Days.

image It’s important to also look away from the large acute trusts as many primary care trusts are organising new physio posts in community settings.

image Private hospitals (including BUPA) have also started recruiting newly qualified physiotherapists.

image Contact past placements? Maybe you could visit/volunteer or shadow perhaps (if you can afford to). Also see CSP’s guidelines on volunteering.


Choosing where to apply to


You should consider the issues raised in the CSP’s information paper ‘CPD2 The New Chartered Physiotherapist: Guidelines of good practice for new entrants to physiotherapy’ when selecting a Trust in which you wish to work:


image It is not necessarily an advantage to look for a job in a large acute Trust – smaller Trusts, and primary care Trusts, can offer a good range of experience and, increasingly, therapy managers are being encouraged to combine junior rotational posts across both sectors.

image Check there are enough senior people to ensure there will be adequate support and teaching in the different clinical areas. Remember even static, temporary or part-time positions still provide valuable experience if a rotation is not available.

image Make an informal visit to the Trust. Talk to as many staff as possible. The CSP steward is a good source of information, or talk to students who have been to the Trust on placement. What about the attitude of the people you would be working with? Are they forward thinking and progressive? What’s the atmosphere like? Do people appear friendly and supportive?

Find out about:


image the type of rotations available

image terms and conditions of employment, e.g. are they implementing the Agenda for Change band 5 to 6 run through (not necessarily the same in each Trust)

image the staffing and resource levels

image any specialties in the Trust

image attitudes and opportunities for continuing professional development (CPD)

image policies of the Trust, for example, equal opportunities

image medical library facilities

image whether pre-qualifying students attend clinical placements

image Open Days—if they are being organised make sure you attend

image what the managers recommend you do in order to make your application as attractive as possible

image the DH Allied Health Professions Bulletins on the Department of Health website, where you can look for up to date initiatives as well as on the CSP website.


Junior rotations


The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy firmly believes that physiotherapists from the beginning of their career can be employed across the whole of the health, social, educational, voluntary and independent sectors given the appropriate support. The CSP identifies the kind of supervision and considerations that are necessary in developing new graduate posts and rotations within a range of health care settings (CSP PA52 2006). You should also look at the CSP guidance on developing and supporting new graduates in the community and other non-traditional settings.



Private practice


In the past, private practice is generally not something that the CSP have encouraged for newly qualified physiotherapists due to, amongst other things, their lack of clinical experience, the potential lack of senior support or access to a structured CPD programme and a potentially limited career development pathway.


However, as a result of the expanding scope of physiotherapy and since some graduates have struggled to find jobs within the NHS, it is clear that some people were starting to look at beginning their careers outside traditional employment, which includes private practice.


Given appropriate mentorship; access to immediate help and advice when required; a structured training programme, including business and clinical training days; peer support and a clear understanding about working within their scope of practice, it is something that cannot be dismissed out of hand.


With the backing of senior colleagues willing to mentor and share their knowledge, regular meetings with peers and structured CPD training, there is a possibility of newly qualified physios developing in the same way that they would in a junior role within the NHS.


If you feel you are ready to take on the challenge and responsibility of private practice, it may be helpful to contact Physio First on: Telephone: 01327 354 441 Email: towcester@physiofirst.org.uk



Job applications


The easy bit is locating where to apply; the hard bit is actually managing to secure a post.



Phoning for a job


Some advertisements invite you to telephone for more details or for an informal chat about the post. This may be so the employer can ask a few general questions and, on the basis of your responses, tell whether it will be worth your while making a formal application.



Hints and tips on application forms


Departments that receive many applications will usually use the application form as the first stage of their selection process and draw up a shortlist of people to invite for interview. It is therefore essential to take time and care when completing an application form and complete it electronically if possible.


image Always read the job description and person specification carefully, and address in your application how you meet all aspects of the person specification.

image Photocopy your completed application form so you don’t forget what you said on the form at interview.

image Be precise about your work/placement experience.

image It is particularly important to make sure you can demonstrate learning experiences from a wide variety of conditions/areas of practice. For example, if you were unable to have a neurology placement during your degree, you are strongly advised to record evidence of learning from treating patients with neurological problems in other placements, e.g. community paediatric.

image When discussing your outside interests, be specific and don’t make them up. It’s possible that you could get asked about them in an interview. Think about how they are related to physiotherapy, how they will make you a better physiotherapist and what you have learned from them.

image Mention some specific reasons why you want to work for the place you are applying to.

image Demonstrate how you have acquired the necessary skills for the job. For example, communication, team working, problem solving, clinical reasoning, analytical, etc., and remember to give examples.


Cover letters



image The cover letter is just as important as the CV as its purpose is to give an overview of your skills and qualities that make you perfect for the position.

image One side of A4 with 3–4 paragraphs is suitable and should be tailored to every job.

image Begin by introducing yourself and explain what you are currently doing.

image Explain why you are interested in working for this employer by researching them and providing specific reasons.

image Pull out the key points from your CV and give relevant examples to show how you are ideal for the job.

image Explain how everything mentioned in your CV is relevant in physiotherapy and also to the job description for the post you are applying to.

Related posts:

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Mar 17, 2017 | Posted by in PHYSICAL MEDICINE & REHABILITATION | Comments Off on Obtaining your first physiotherapy post

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