Feature Profile Physiotherapists | UK Prospects Network (2023)

Physiotherapists help patients with physical problems due to disease, injury, disability, or aging to restore and maximize their exercise capacity and reduce the risk of further problems in the future

As a physical therapist, you talk to patients to identify their physical problems/conditions. Once diagnosed, you will design and evaluate appropriate treatment options using a range of techniques, including manual therapy, therapeutic exercises and electrotherapy.

In addition to treating patients, you will promote their health and well-being and provide education and advice on how to prevent injury and self-manage long-term conditions.

Patients can include children, the elderly, people with sports injuries, intensive care units requiring chest physiotherapy, and stroke patients.

Types of Physical Therapists

There are many clinical specialties and subspecialties within physical therapy, which have developed over time. These include:

• Cardiovascular- Includes chronic heart disease and recovery after a heart attack
• Geriatrics- Focus on older people
• Men's and Women's Health- Includes conditions related to the reproductive system, childbirth, antenatal and postpartum care
• Neurology- Includes patients with multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and stroke
• neuromusculoskeletal- Includes arthritis, back pain, sports injuries and whiplash
• Pediatrics- Treatment of infants, children and adolescents
• airway- Includes asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis.

Other areas include learning disabilities, mental health, oncology and palliative care.

Generalist roles may also be employed in situations where physical therapists treat patients with multiple co-existing long-term conditions and complex needs.

responsibility

As a physical therapist, you must:

• Work with patients with a range of conditions, including neurological, neuromusculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory, sometimes over a period of weeks or months
• Conduct clinical assessments and diagnoses to treat their physical problems/conditions
• Design and review clinical treatment plans that encourage exercise and movement using a range of techniques, including specialty rehabilitation, lifestyle medicine, long-term strategies, and clinical techniques
• Involve parents and carers in the treatment, assessment and recovery of patients
• Educate patients and their caregivers to prevent and/or improve condition
• Empower patients through education and counseling so they can take control of their own care
• Write notes and reports on patient cases and collect statistical data
• Liaise with other health professionals such as GPs, counselors, occupational therapists and social workers to share information on the patient's background and progress, and to refer patients in need of other medical care.
• Stay abreast of new technologies available to treat patients
• Mentor of students and junior physical therapists and physical therapy assistants
• legally responsible
• Be caring, compassionate and professional at all times
• Manage clinical risk.

to pay

• Jobs in the NHS are made up of nine pay scales, usually byAgenda for Change (AfC) lønsatser.The starting salary for a qualified physiotherapist (Band 5) ranges from £27,055 to £32,934. Advanced physiotherapists earn between £33,706 and £40,588 (Branch 6).
• As a Clinical Specialist/Team Leader you can earn between £41,659 and £47,672 (Track 7).
• Salaries for advanced clinical practice, extended scope or lead clinical physiotherapists range from around £48,526 to £54,619 (level 8a), rising to £56,164 to £65,262 for consultant physiotherapist roles (level 8b).
• Salaries for management positions such as service supervisors can exceed £67,064 (Band 8c). People working in the London area can receive an area allowance of 5% to 20% of the base salary.

Salaries and conditions outside the NHS vary, although the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) recommends that all physiotherapists be paid at least the same salary and benefits as those in the NHS. However, this may not be possible in all circumstances, although you should use the NHS pay scale as a guide when negotiating pay.

Salary in private practice depends on your requirements and how successful you are. Factors that affect how much you can charge include your location, experience and reputation, as well as any specialized skills you may have. You should also consider factors such as the time and expense involved in setting up a clinic.

It is also possible to combine NHS work with private work. Experienced physiotherapists can combine clinical work, university lectures and research.

Revenue figures are for reference only. Check AfC payment rates for the latest NHS payment information.

operating hours

Physiotherapists typically work 37.5 hours per week, including evenings, nights, and weekends.

As a sports physiotherapist you may work weekends, while in private practice your hours will reflect the needs of your clients.

There are also alternative and part-time work options.

what can you expect

• In busy cases, the job can be physically demanding. While a patient's problems can be complex, physical therapy can be a very rewarding assignment.
• As a physical therapist, you have a contractual obligation to maintain confidentiality for your patients.
• If you are employed by the NHS, you may be employed by a hospital, health centre, clinic or GP. Physiotherapists working in the community may need to visit patients in their homes. If you work in the community, you may need to travel between appointments.
• Self-employment and private practice are common.
• There may be opportunities to work abroad to add to your experience. Do your research and check that the registration is valid in the country where you want to work.

qualifications

To become a licensed physical therapist, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). To do this, you must have successfully completed an HCPC-approved undergraduate or graduate accelerated physical therapy program. All courses also lastChartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)certified.

For a full-time three-year Bachelor's degree (four years in Scotland), you will normally need two or three good A-levels (or equivalent), including Biology (Biology or Human Biology) and/or PE . You must also have at least five GCSE grades at Grade 4/C or above, including Maths, English Language and Science.

Some universities offer part-time programs, although some programs are aimed at physiotherapists who are already working in healthcare settings and wish to become physiotherapists. Programs usually last four to six years.

You can also take courses for HCPC certification, which combine work-based learning modules and specialist training. Find available internship opportunities with healthcare providerslooking for an internshipexistNHS jobswebsite.

To enter the two-year accelerated graduate program, you typically need a 2:1 or higher degree in a discipline such as biological sciences, psychology, physiology, exercise science, exercise therapy, or rehabilitation and nursing. Both tracks contain a combination of theory and practice.

View a list of accredited undergraduate, postgraduate and postgraduate programsCSP Physiotherapy Degree.Entry requirements vary by course, so please contact the course provider for details.

You will also need to complete a work environment health check and a criminal record.

All eligible pre-registered undergraduate and postgraduate physiotherapy students studying in England can receive financial aid of at least £5,000 per annum. You don't have to pay it back and can still get student loans and repair loans from student loan companies. For more information, seehealthcare industry.

For more information on financial aid available to students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, see:

• Student Awards Scotland Office (SAAS)
• Student Award Service (Wales)
• Northern Ireland Direct Public Service

Skill

You will have:

• Good written and oral communication skills
• Interpersonal skills to connect with patients and their families
• Ability to easily explain treatments to patients and their families
• Teamwork skills for working with other health professionals such as doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and social workers
• Good manual skills and ability to move equipment
• Ability to solve problems
• Tolerant, patient, sensitive and resourceful
• organizational and administrative skills
• Firm but encouraging and empathetic attitude
• Ability to motivate others to involve them in their own care
• Genuine concern for the well-being and health of patients
• Genuine interest in anatomy and physiology
• Ability to work under pressure and manage time effectively
• IT skills
• A flexible way of working.

If you work in private practice, you will also need business skills.

work experience

Employers want to see that you have researched the topic and have a good understanding of the position. Try visiting your local physical therapy department and ask to follow a physical therapist to find out what the job is like and if it might be right for you.

It is also helpful to gain some voluntary or paid experience in a health or nursing setting to demonstrate your interest in the field and your ability to communicate with different people. There may be opportunities in private physiotherapy clinics, sports clinics, football clubs, special schools and departments, and nursing homes.

Volunteering for charities such as the British Red Cross, St John's Ambulance or the MS Society can also be valuable when looking for work.

work togetherPhysical Therapy AssistantProvide valuable insight into the role and show your commitment.

Read more about the different typesWork Experience and Internshipsusable.

employer

You can work in a variety of environments, including:

• Public sector - public services and companies such as the NHS
• view sector
• Third sector - includes charities, voluntary groups and local groups.

The NHS is the largest employer of physiotherapists. Your skills are in demand in most sectors, such as:

• elderly care
• ICU
• Mental Health
• working environment
• orthopedics
• outpatient clinic
• Pediatrics
• Stroke Services
• women's health.

You can also work in the community, local authority or the private sector:

• Private Hospitals and Clinics
• GPs and Health Centers
• Schools and Childcare Centers
• Nursing and nursing homes and day centers for the elderly
• Charities and voluntary organizations, especially those working for people with disabilities
• Sports clinics, professional sports clubs, fitness centers and recreation centers
• prison
• armed forces.

Some physical therapists work in many different settings. For example, you could work part-time in a sports injury clinic and have another part-time job in the NHS or a private hospital.

When your experience is enough, you can also start your own practice.

Search job openings by:

• Healthcare jobs in the UK
• jobsnet- Health and social care jobs in Northern Ireland.
• NHS jobs- Job vacancies in England and Wales.
• I am NHSScotland
• physiotherapy work

specialized recruitment agencies such asmaximumexistYour World HealthcareAlso post job vacancies.

professional development

Once qualified, you may receive on-the-job clinical supervision and mentoring support. We encourage you to develop your knowledge and skills through briefings, short courses and reflective practical programmes. This helps with your Continuing Professional Development (CPD), which is a requirement for continued registration with HCPC.

In Scotland, newly qualified physiotherapists can enterFlight start GGZ.The program supports your first year of study as a trainee with NHS Scotland.

Membership in CSP provides opportunities for advice and professional development, as well as opportunities to network with colleagues. CSP show detailsContinuing Educationexistevent.The courses range from short day courses to advanced postgraduate certificates, diplomas and MSc qualifications in fields such as physiotherapy, manual therapy and exercise therapy.

You can also follow the CSP if you have at least two years experience and are in a management role or opportunityLeadership Development ProgramHelp develop your leadership skills.

You can become a member if you work in a private practicephysics first, offering a range of events, resources and business advice.

With experience, further training is possible in areas such as injectable therapy and additional or stand-alone prescribing. To prescribe, you must have completed an HCPC-approved prescribing training program and have an endorsement (mark) on your entry on the HCPC Registry. You can then prescribe all registered medications that fall within the scope of your physical therapy prescribing practice. For more information, seeCSP - Substance Use in Physical Therapy Practice.

As you gain experience, through clinical practice and continuing education, you may be able to advance to advanced practice roles. Experienced clinicians can also take aAdvanced Clinical Practitioner Training(UK), which combines work with a master's degree in advanced clinical practice. Once you become an Advanced Physical Therapist, you can join the CSP Advanced Practice Physical Therapy Network (APPN).

career prospects

If you work in an NHS hospital, there is a clear career structure. You can start in a changing role and work in different departments to gain more experience in different specialties, such as outpatient clinics and orthopedics.

After gaining initial clinical experience, you may choose to specialize in a specific practice area, such as neurology, sports injuries or intensive care, or specialize in a specific type of patient, such as the elderly, children or cancer patients.

As you gain experience, you will have the opportunity to progress to positions such as Senior Physiotherapist and Clinical Specialist/Team Leader.

With further clinical experience and training, you can move into advanced clinical practice and consultancy roles with a high degree of autonomy. You will often work in a specialist consultancy clinic where you will assess, manage and list patients for surgical/medical procedures on behalf of an Orthopedic Consultant, Spine Consultant, Rheumatology Consultant or Medical Consultant (if Department). For a consultant role, you will need extensive clinical and management experience.

There are also opportunities to grow into management positions in physical therapy, responsible for strategy, budget and personnel, or general care management. Other career development opportunities include education, training or research.