A Physiotherapist is an Allied Health Professional who works with service users who have experienced an injury, illness or disability to improve mobility and regain independence.
Physiotherapists specialise in the human body’s structure and movement and can help with a wide range of physical problems including musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions, respiratory conditions and cardiovascular conditions.
Physiotherapy can also improve a service uses physical activity while helping them prevent further injury.
Working life
Working as a Physiotherapist will mean that you’ll take part in a variety of different tasks during your working day. These can include:
- Creating a safe environment for each service user
- Provide general advice about things that can affect service users’ daily lives such as posture, and correct lifting or carrying techniques to help prevent injury
- Provide tailored exercise and physical activity advice
- Provide manual therapy to help relieve a service user’s pain and stiffness and to encourage better movement of the body
- Use high-tech ultrasound equipment or hydrotherapy pools depending on the service users need
Physiotherapists work in a variety of settings including:
- Acute hospitals
- Community settings
- GP Surgeries
- For a sports team or club
- At a charity
- Private Practice
Physiotherapists can work with service users on a one-to-one basis, in small groups or in larger groups depending on the clients specific need and some Physiotherapists offer home visits where this is required.
Physiotherapists work alongside other Allied Health Professionals, medical staff and healthcare staff to support the wellbeing of a service user and help them overcome the barriers they are experiencing.
Requirements
Becoming a Physiotherapist requires an undergraduate degree in physiotherapy. A full-time degree can take three years and a part-time course will take six years. A two-year accelerated Masters course is also an option if you already have a relevant degree. Once you achieve your degree, you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and practice as a qualified Physiotherapist.
Entry requirements for an undergraduate course are usually:
- Two or three A levels, including a biological science and/or PE.
- Five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language, maths and at least one science.
Or equivalent qualifications:
- BTEC, HND or HNC, including biological science
- A relevant T level
- A relevant NVQ
- A science-based access course
- Equivalent Scottish or Irish qualifications
Each university sets its own entry requirements, so it’s important to check with them directly which qualifications they will accept for entry. In most cases, the results of an interview and other selection processes are considered as well as academic qualifications. It’s also a good idea to spend some time with a registered physiotherapist to get some firsthand experience of what the role’s really like before you apply.
Working as a Physiotherapist will provide further opportunities to develop your career through apprenticeships and internal training in the future.
Degree apprenticeship route
For those interested in becoming a Physiotherapist through an apprenticeship route, there are degree apprenticeship routes available.
Opportunities to access these apprenticeships are currently limited and you would need to apply for an apprentice post at a healthcare employer willing to support the programme initially.
Other routes to becoming a registered Physiotherapist include working in a therapy assistant role for an employer before stepping onto the apprenticeship pathway to physiotherapy.
Personal characteristics
To work successfully as a Physiotherapist, you need to consider your own personal characteristics. You would need to have the following attributes or similar:
- Be resilient and open to new ways of working
- Be supportive of service users who have experienced trauma or difficulties
- Be able to reflect on your own emotions
- Have a non-judgemental and supportive attitude
- Be able to work with a variety of different people from differing backgrounds and experiences
- Be creative and resourceful
- Be able to work as part of a team but also be able to use your own initiative
- Be reassuring and supportive when dealing with service users or their families
Skills required
To work successfully as a Physiotherapist, you need to consider the skills that you have. You would need to demonstrate the following:
- Be well organised and able to plan your time
- Be able to communicate with a variety of people using different methods
- Be able to put service users at ease quickly
- Be patient
- Be enthusiastic
- Be able to explain complex treatment plans and advice in a way that is understood
- Be physically and mentally fit as physiotherapy can be strenuous
Training and development opportunities
Once qualified and registered as an Allied Health Professional Physiotherapist, you can continue to develop your career over time. You’ll have access to a yearly continuing professional development (CPD) check-in where you can discuss any additional training needs or qualifications you would like to achieve.
You will also be encouraged to join The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists who offer further development opportunities, email updates and networking opportunities so that you are able to continue to learn from others who work in the same role as you.
You could specialise in working with a particular client group such as the elderly, children or cancer patients. You could also specialise in a particular area such as sports injuries or critical care. Other development opportunities within Physiotherapy include becoming a senior or consultant Physiotherapist who manages the work of a team of therapists. Or you could become the head of a Physiotherapy department who would be coordinating the work of therapists in a larger team.
Pay and benefits
Physiotherapists in the NHS usually work 37.5 hours a week and you would be required to work flexibly over 7 days, you could be required to work shifts, evenings and weekends as part of your rota.
Physiotherapists are paid using the Agenda for Change (AfC) system and will typically start their career on AfC band 5 but with experience, further training and additional qualifications, can progress further up the pay scale.
Physiotherapists working for Social Care settings will be paid according to the employer they work for and the remuneration for the role should always be shown on their job advert. Other benefits of working as a Physiotherapist include access to a pension scheme, health service discounts such as a Blue Light Card and 27 days of annual leave in addition to bank holidays.