NHS Royal Devon | Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists

Explore this role:

Working with us
Career routes
What does a career pathway look like?
Training
Next steps
Preceptorship
Experienced physio
Case study
What can I expect to get paid?
Video

Physiotherapists transform people’s quality of life by improving mobility, reducing pain and helping them regain independence. Joining the team at the Royal Devon presents a whole host of opportunities, including the chance to work in different settings with a rotational work pattern.

It’s a brilliant way to glean exposure and experience. You’ll be making a difference every day, transforming the way our patients carry out day-to-day activities, improving their mobility and regaining their independence after illness, injury or trauma. Funding is available for continued professional development, so take your pick of the acute and community pathways that open up as you strive to progress.

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What is it like to work at the Royal Devon?

What can you expect from joining us? You can expect to be part of a team that is at the forefront of innovation and development, in both our services and our people. You can expect to be invested in, supported, and given the tools you need to succeed in your role and progress in your career.

Training and development opportunities are in high supply here, whether you are interested in clinical or leadership development, courses, secondments or placements. We’ll support you in finding the best way to grow.

The culture we have built has earned us a reputation within the Trust and our clear vision and plans instilled the belief and support required to access further financial investment. This allows us to improve patient pathways including early supported discharge in rehabilitation.

More about us

Becoming a Physiotherapist at the Royal Devon

How do I train to become a Physiotherapist?

The first step to becoming a Physiotherapist is to take a degree-level programme approved by the HCPC. This may be full-time or part-time if you are working in a relevant role. Once you have qualified, you will need to register with the HCPC, then you can start a Band 5 role.

Training and development

Other routes into Therapies

Another potential career route will see you grow from a Healthcare Support Worker, gaining relevant qualifications and experience along the way. We will support you on your journey, providing opportunities to achieve qualifications as you progress along your ideal career route.

Healthcare Support Worker Assistant Practitioner

Newly qualified Physiotherapist

To become a Registered Physiotherapist, you will need a relevant degree. This can be achieved via an apprenticeship when working as an Assistant Practitioner. Once qualified, you will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.

What does a career pathway look like?

There are so many ways to achieve a fulfilling and rewarding career as a Physiotherapist. You may be starting afresh and looking for a brand new role, or perhaps you have dedicated a few years to other goals and are looking to return to practice. If you are interested in developing your role, we have a wealth of opportunities you can harness too.

To help you on your way, we produced a brochure to kick start your career with us.

Download our brochure

Your bespoke learning journey

You’ll be supported to create your own personal development plan. This is used to identify your individual training needs, which can be met from the wide range of learning opportunities available such as clinical skills, management development, coaching and mentoring, IT skills and much more.

Learn with us

Advancing your career

Registered Physiotherapist

Joining the team at the Royal Devon presents a whole host of opportunities, including the chance to work in different settings with a rotational work pattern. It’s a brilliant way to glean exposure and experience. You’ll be making a difference every day, transforming the way our patients carry out day-to-day activities, improving their mobility and regaining their independence after illness, injury or trauma.

Funding is available for continued professional development, so take your pick of the acute and community pathways that open up as you strive to progress.

Training and development

Advanced Clinical Practitioners

Advanced Clinical Practitioners or Consultants (band 8s) are educated to Master’s level and have developed the skills and knowledge to allow them to take on expanded roles and scope of practice caring for patients. These roles will see you take on increased responsibility in your job roles as well as delivering expert clinical practice, professional leadership, education, training, research and evaluation.

You’ll need to complete a Master’s Degree Level 7 qualification in your chosen subject. You’ll receive lots of guidance and support whilst you do so. There is now a level seven (master’s level) apprenticeship in advanced clinical practice available, which can be funded through the apprenticeship levy. You can learn more about this on the Health Education England website.

Advanced and enhanced practice Advanced Practice toolkit

Preceptorship programme

Whether you are newly qualified, joining us from outside the UK, or returning to practice, our Preceptorship Programme will help you find your feet so you feel as confident and competent as possible.

The structured programme consists of a series of study days, after which you will apply theory to practice and hone the skills you have learned as you gain experience within your clinical area. These study days are spread over the course of a year.

Find out more

Experienced Physiotherapist

Welcome back

The Royal Devon can offer you fully-funded Return to Practice routes back into Physiotherapy. We’ll give you dedicated time to care, providing a bespoke support package to help you on your way. We'll guide you through the process of re-registering with the HCPC and empower you to achieve the required criteria.

Return to practice

Overseas

If you’re interested in bringing your skills to England, you’ve come to the right place. When you work with us, you’ll join our passionate team and enjoy job security, a competitive salary and flexible hours.

Overseas

Case study

Debbie Groves, Rehabilitation Practitioner in Neuro Rehab Service

I started my career in dentistry, but soon realised that I would prefer a more ‘hands on’ role and moved into domiciliary care with the elderly and disabled. A life event prevented me from pursuing a nursing career, but an opportunity arose to cover maternity leave in physiotherapy and I loved it!

I was not in the position to do my physiotherapy degree but I landed a permanent band 2 assistant post in 2005. Kicking off from here, I worked my way up to a band 4 role in the Stroke Early Supported Discharge team in 2010, where I got the chance to complete the FdSc Assistant Practitioners course.

In 2018 I was supported to further my education and completed my BA (Hons) Professional Development in Health and Social Care, where my dissertation focused on clinical awareness of Functional Neurological Disorders. Gaining my degree enabled me to achieve my non-registrant post.

Having been part of the award-winning Neuro rehab team at North Devon District Hospital over several years, I am proud to have seen the amazing journeys that many of our patients have travelled, with varying, but often life-changing results. Supporting the determined, motivated, and dedicated staff and those living with a variety of neurological conditions in North Devon is a pleasure.

I have always been very proud of my work and I have been encouraged no end by senior staff and management who openly value my skills and commitment, which has led me to be an advocate for support staff of whatever grade or profession.

What can I expect to get paid?

Agenda for change

Known as ‘Agenda for Change’, NHS pay is structured around different bandings for a fair and transparent pay structure. Levels of pay vary within each band according to experience. As your career develops, you can expect to earn more and move to the top of your pay banding before working your way up to the next one.

Healthcare Support Workers and Trainee Assistant Practitioners are usually within Bands 2 to 4
Registered Practitioners usually start within Band 5 or Band 6
Advanced Practitioners can advance all the way up to Band 7 and Band 8

Agenda for change

Watch

Watch: working as a Physiotherapist

Work flexibly

Choose your shifts to suit your needs, apply to join our Staff Bank.

We'll help you feel at home

We have a bespoke package of support, guidance and resources to help you get settled.