Physiotherapist ¿ Mental Health Inpatient Services

Job summary

Are you a passionate Physiotherapist looking to combine your physical health expertise with a truly holistic approach to patient care? Join Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and help shape a specialist physiotherapy service that supports adults and older adults receiving inpatient mental health care across our Taunton and Yeovil sites.

In this rewarding role, you will play a vital part in improving mobility, independence, physical wellbeing, and quality of life for people experiencing severe and complex mental health difficulties. Working as an integral member of a supportive multidisciplinary team, you will help patients overcome the physical challenges that can accompany mental illness, promoting recovery and enabling safer, more successful discharge from hospital.

This is a unique opportunity to work across a diverse inpatient service where no two days are the same. You'll have the autonomy to manage a varied caseload, contribute to innovative service development, support colleagues and learners, and help strengthen the physical health agenda within mental health services. If you're motivated by making a genuine difference and enjoy working collaboratively in a specialist environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As our Band 6 Physiotherapist, you will:

• Deliver specialist physiotherapy assessments, treatment and rehabilitation for adults and older adults receiving mental health inpatient care.
• Support patients with mobility difficulties, falls prevention, balance and gait problems, deconditioning, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal presentations, and long-term physical health needs.
• Develop personalised treatment programmes that promote physical activity, functional independence, rehabilitation, and overall wellbeing.
• Work closely with nurses, doctors, occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals to provide joined-up, recovery-focused care.
• Contribute to care planning, risk management, discharge planning, and physical health initiatives across inpatient services.
• Deliver individual and group interventions tailored to patients' needs and goals.
• Support students, assistants and junior colleagues through supervision, teaching and development opportunities.
• Participate in quality improvement projects, audits and service development activities that help shape the future of physiotherapy within mental health services.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities

This specialist Band 6 position sits within our Mental Health and Learning Disabilities services and provides physiotherapy support across adult and older adult inpatient mental health wards. You will work with people experiencing acute and enduring mental health conditions, helping to optimise their physical health, mobility and recovery throughout their inpatient journey.

You'll undertake comprehensive assessments and deliver evidence-based treatment plans for patients with often complex and overlapping physical, psychological and social needs. This requires strong clinical reasoning, adaptability and a patient-centred approach, enabling you to tailor interventions that support recovery and maximise independence.

Working autonomously while being fully supported by the wider multidisciplinary team, you will contribute to ward rounds, team discussions, discharge planning and risk management processes. You'll help ensure patients receive seamless care and have access to the physical health support they need throughout their admission.

We're looking for a qualified Physiotherapist with HCPC registration and experience working with adult patients, ideally within NHS or comparable healthcare settings. You'll bring sound knowledge across musculoskeletal, neurological and rehabilitation physiotherapy, excellent communication skills, and confidence in managing complex clinical presentations. Experience within mental health, inpatient, secure or rehabilitation services would be welcomed but is not essential.

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, you'll be encouraged to continue developing your skills through supervision, continuing professional development, collaborative learning and involvement in service improvement initiatives. You'll also have opportunities to contribute to teaching, support students and assistants, and influence the development of physiotherapy pathways within mental health services.

We are proud of our values of kindness, respect and teamwork, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences who share our commitment to delivering outstanding care. If you're ready to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people using mental health services while developing your own specialist expertise, we encourage you to apply.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy or equivalent; HCPC registration

Desirable

• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Postgraduate training in mental health or relevant fields

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience as a physiotherapist in NHS or equivalent setting; experience working with adults

Desirable

• Experience working in acute mental health inpatient wards, secure settings or PICU
• Falls and Frailty management experience

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Recovery-focused practice

Desirable

• Knowledge of physical health promotion within mental health care