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8/7/2019 Physio first

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Finding and preparing for your first physiotherapy jobYour job hunt begins in earnest when you have your examination results but inthe meantime, talk to your lecturer or personal tutor. They may well have soundadvice and suggestions to help you in your job search.

Where to look Job ads in Front line, the CSPs fortnightly publication, The CSP website NHS Trusts circulars, which are often sent to schools and colleges Therapy Weeklys special edition for newly qualif ied students.Or you could try writing speculative letters to prospective employers andscanning local newspapers.Junior rotationsThe CSP recommends that newly qualif ied physiotherapists undertake astructured range of junior rotations. The Society considers that it is importantthat newly qualified physiotherapists should have an opportunity for thestructured development of their clinical skills, with direct and easy access to anexperienced practitioner who is acting as a mentor. For this reason, it advisesthat new members should not practise independently.The Society does not encourage newly qualified practitioners to move into worksettings where there is limited professional support, such as agency work orwork with animals.

Where to workNHS TrustsAlmost all NHS employees now work in Trusts. The first Trusts were establishedin 1991. Trusts are able to set their own terms and conditions, establish theirown grading system and introduce local pay rates and pay systems. Trusts haveto compete in the internal market.Stewards News also contains information about Trusts developments.Primary Care TrustsIn 1997 the newly elected government launched a ten-year modernisation

programme for the health service based around the principles of primary careand health promotion. This has included the launch of new Primary Care Trustsfrom April 2000. The Employment Relations and Union Services functioncontinues to ensure that members are properly represented in these PCTs.Foundation TrustsAnother aim of the modernisation programme is to develop a less centralisedhealth service that can be more responsive to the needs of local people and NHSstaff. As part of the process of modernising the NHS in England, acute andspecialist trusts are being given the opportunity to apply for foundation truststatus.


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Foundation trusts are public benefit corporations with the purpose of providinghealthcare to the NHS. The Governments primary aim for foundation trusts is todeliver services that better reflect the needs and priorities of their localcommunities. This will be achieved through being: Locally owned and accountable

Independent from the Department of Health & Secretary of State. Thusable to determine own priorities with respect to the delivery of local NHSservices.

Having greater financial freedom to manage their own budgets throughretaining proceeds from the disposal of non-essential assets and retainingand reinvesting operating surpluses. Furthermore they are able to borrowcapital (within limits set by an independent regulator) from public and/orprivate sources to finance a wider range of healthcare delivery projects.

At this time only acute and specialist NHS trusts will be eligible to apply for thefoundation trust status and must also have been awarded a three-starperformance rating. They also need to demonstrate that they have appropriatefinancial and governance arrangements in place and have the support of theirlocal community and workforce.In order to be granted foundation status, foundation trusts must implement theAgenda for Change agreement on pay modernisation. The CSP along withother NHS unions are working to ensure that employees of all future foundationtrusts have this right.Although foundation trusts will have some scope to improve on the Agenda for

Change package by, for example, increasing recruitment and retention premia,they are also obliged to ensure that their staff receive the UK-wide standard orminimum entit lements due to them under these proposals.Private practiceYou should have a minimum of two years, preferably more, good all roundexperience and as much post-qualifying education as possible before youembark on private practice. But when you feel you have reached the right stagein your career and are ready to take on the challenge and responsibility ofprivate practice, you should read CSP information paper PA7 Thinking of privatepractice and contact the Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private

Practice (OCPPP):Cedar House, Bell Plantation, Watling Street, Towcester, Northants NN12 6HNTelephone: 01327 354 441, Fax: 01327 354 476,Email: [email protected] SectorsThere has been a growth in physiotherapy posts in the following sectors:Independent Hospitals, Sports Clubs, Education, Ministry of Defence, andVoluntary/Charitable organisations in recent years. Pay, Terms and Conditionsvary across the sectors. Once again the Employment Relations and UnionServices function works hard to ensure that members are properly represented inthese settings.


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Registration with the HPCTo be called a physiotherapist or a physical therapist you need to be registeredwith the Health Professions Council. Registration must be renewed bi-annually.Your University should keep a stock of registration forms, or you can contact theHPC directly.

For further information contact:Health Professions Council (HPC)Park House184 Kennington Park RoadLondon SE11 4BUTelephone: 020 7582 0866email: [email protected] where to apply toYou should consider the issues raised in the CSPs Information paper: CPD2Guidelines for new Entrants to Physiotherapy: when selecting a Trust in whichyou wish to work.It is not necessarily an advantage to look for a job in the largest Trusts smallerones can offer a good range of experience. This is the most important factorduring the first two years of work when you need to consolidate and extendyour skills.

Check that there are enough senior people to ensure there will be adequatesupport and teaching in the different clinical areas. Physiotherapy managers haveto give patient care top priority but make sure you find out how much in-serviceeducation is provided and how it is organised. The clinical rotations are animportant element of your personal development. Objectives on dif ferent blocksand a formal appraisal system will help you develop your skills.Make an informal visit to the Trust. Talk to as many staff as possible. The CSPsteward is a good source of information. Or talk to students who have been tothe Trust on placement.

What about the attitude of the people you would be working with? Are theyforward thinking and progressive? Whats the atmosphere like? Do peopleappear friendly and supportive?Find out about: The type of rotations available Terms and conditions of employment (not necessarily the same in eachTrust) The staff ing and resource levels Any specialit ies in the Trust Attitudes and opportunities for continuing professional development(CPD)


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Funding for CPD Policies of the Trust, for example, equal opportunities Medical library facilit ies How many other people are in the running for the job you want Whether pre-qualifying students attend clinical placements.

Job applicationsPhoning for a jobSome advertisements invite you to telephone for more details or for an informalchat about the post. This may be so the employer can ask a few generalquestions and, on the basis of your responses, tell whether it will be worth yourwhile making a formal application.Be prepared with pen and paper and your Curriculum Vitae (CV) for reference.Have dates in mind when you could go for an informal interview.Writing a letterLetters of application are not normally necessary where an application form hasbeen provided but if you are asked to submit a CV for a job, you should usuallyattach a letter of application. Letters enquiring about informal visits ofconfirmation to attend an interview should also be laid out properly and neatly.

1 Student StreetHigh RoadNewtownTel: 0111 112233Dr. DobsonOld Building Hospital TrustLow RoadNewtown

19/08/99Ref: ABC123Dear Dr DobsonI am writing to apply for the Junior Physiotherapist post advertised in the mostrecent issue of the CSPs Frontline magazine.Having graduated this summer with a 2.1 BSc Hons Degree from NewtownUniversity I have pre-registration experience of Respiratory Care, xx and xx.During my time at University I played an active role in the student membership ofthe Chartered Society of Physiotherapys serving as a delegate for my yeargroup. The training I received and the conferences I attended allowed me to


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further develop transferable skills such as communication, working in teams andnegotiation.This post I believe is an excellent opportunity for myself to practice the skillsgained during my time at Newtown University. I am already aware of the high

standards set for patient care within the Physiotherapy Department having spenta six week placement there at the start of my final year. The supervision andsupport I received was excellent. I would very much like to start my professionalcareer with your Trust.Should you wish me to come for an interview or for an informal discussionregarding the post then I would be delighted to do so.Yours sincerely(Signature)Print your name neatly underneath1 your address and phone number in the top left hand corner.2 the name of the person, their title and address in the top left hand

corner.3 put the date and any reference number underneath the name & addressof the person to whom you are writing.

4 begin the letter by stating your reason for writ ing, e.g. to apply for thepost of physiotherapist advertised in the November issue of Frontline,then give brief relevant details as to why you are suited to the post. If youare familiar with the hospital or department, mention why you areespecially interested in working for them.

5 be concise. Your letter should not be more than one side of A4 sizepaper.6 towards the end of your letter express your willingness to come for an

interview or informal visit as appropriate.7 when signing off use the correct method, for example:Dear Sir or Madam with Yours faithfullyDear Mr Smith with Yours sincerelyPrint your name legibly under your signature.Compiling a CV


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The way in which information is organised in a CV could mean the differencebetween rejection and being offered an interview. Research carried out by theChartered Institute of Personnel and Development concluded that, on average,an employer takes just four seconds to decide in which pile a CV is placed.There are many schools of thought as to how a CV should be organised. Much

depends on the individual and the job you are seeking, but some of thesegeneral points may be useful: Use good quality, unlined A4 size paper Type the information, spacing sections well, so it doesnt look cluttered Check spelling Keep your CV to no more than two sides of A4 Personal details: full name, address, phone number, date of birth and age Education & training: list in date order the schools and colleges you have

attended since age 11. Academic Qualifications: list the, examinationspassed with their grades

Clinical Education: list the placements you have undertaken for example,respiratory care (Royal Marsden). You should also list, under the titlePositions held, any positions of responsibility for example, Prefect, CSPDelegate etc

Work experience: include details of any vacation, part-t ime or voluntarywork undertaken, briefly mentioning your duties and what the jobinvolved. Mature students should detail any previous full timeemployment

Interests & achievements: consider what impression it is you want tocreate before completing this section. List any special skills or hobbies andgive details. Include any special courses you have attended

References: provide names and addresses of two people who are willingto be contacted by the prospective employer with a view to commentingon your experience and personal qualities. At the outset of yourprofessional career most employers will require a reference from yourschool or college.

In the case of references for a first post you should ask your course leader andanother lecturer or possibly someone who has been an employer or involved inoutside clinical work. Ask their permission before using their names, and try toensure that your chosen referees are available at short notice.

Completing application formsMany Trusts will send you a standard job application form and prefer thismethod to sifting through CVs. Find out whether the Trust will accept a CV aswell as the application form, or just the application form alone.Departments that receive many applications will usually use the application formas the first stage of their selection process and draw up a short list of people toinvite for interview. It is therefore essential to take time and care whencompleting an application form.Dont start filling in the form until youve read all the details and anyaccompanying literature fully. Sometimes a separate set of guidelines will beprovided. Study these carefully. Read through all the information and make


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notes. For example, you might be asked to fill in certain sections in BLOCKCAPITALS or use black ink or type.Before completing the application form, map out your answers to any detailedsections in rough. If possible photocopy the form and practice filling it in to

ensure everything fits. Remember presentation is very important so try to type ifat all possible. If not, hand write as clearly as possible. Make plenty of copies ofthe form beforehand in case you mess the first few up.Photocopy your completed application form, especially a statement in support ofapplication so you dont forget what you said on the form at interview!Be precise about your work/placement experience: give clear dates, locationsand job summaries.Preparing for Interview

Divide your preparation into 3 main areas:1. Identify why you will be able to do the job, with specific reference to the

job description and person specification. Think of at least three examplesof what you have actually done in relation to each of the areas of the jobdescription and person specification. If you have not had directexperience, think about what you may have done in other areas of yourlife (domestic, voluntary, student rep roles etc), which may have given youtransferable skills and experience. Think about your successes, big orsmall, and also the lessons you have learnt from where things haventgone as well as you had hoped

2. Research the employer and the physiotherapy department via theinternet, personal contact, the organisations annual report etc

3. If applying to the NHS, get yourself up-to-date with key governmentpolicies for the NHS and the contribution that physiotherapists can make,now and in the future. Write yourself notes under these 3 headings, thencondense your notes into key bullet points, that you can go over thenight before the interview

Think of answers to the obvious opening questions: Why do you want towork here and/or the NHS? What can you bring to the job? What areyour strengths and weaknesses? Do you have any particular development

needs?

Think of a few intelligent questions to ask the interviews at the end of theinterview. Use the supporting statement to address all aspects of theperson specification, using a separate heading for each part of the personspecification, and giving concrete examples to illustrate relevantexperience or skills.

Sometimes students claim that they havent had placements in all core areas andthis hinders their job applications. However nowadays students are getting lots

of experience in transferable skills and at interviews they should highlight these


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rather than just simply core placements. It is important to stress that people canalso adapt with theory even without having the practice.The CSP remain concerned to ensure that there is adequate planning within theNHS to ensure that all new graduates are able to find a job in the NHS. It is

worth noting though that this may not mean that all new graduates will be ableto find a job in the particular hospital or location that they have as their firstchoice. Some may have to look a lit tle further afield than they would ideally like.Attending an interviewBeforePrepare! Make sure you know how to get there, so that you allow enough time aim to arrive slightly before the allocated interview time. Find out as much asyou can about the particular Trust and/or department, which will enable you toprepare some questions to ask at the interview.Plan what to wear interviews should normally be treated fairly formally, sodress smartly so it looks like you have made an effort but also in something youfeel comfortable in. Re-read your application form, so that you remember whatyou said and can be prepared if the interviewers ask you any specific questionsabout your form. They may, for example, ask about any gaps in yourcareer/education history.If you have any particular needs for the interview (e.g. if you are visuallyimpaired, hard of hearing, use a wheelchair etc), let them know. Interview

panels should provide support/access for candidates where required.Drink plenty of water immediately before the interview, but not hot drinks, asthey tend to dry the throat.DuringEstablish rapport: smile, relax, and address interviewers by name. A panel of atleast two people normally conducts interviews.Make eye contact with the interview panel, especially the person asking thequestion, but dont hold it too long so that the person if forced to look away tobreak the contact.Try not to fiddle with pens, your hands etc. or shift around in your chair too

much as this is distracting to interviewersInterviewers will normally write notes during the interview dont be put off bythis, it is so that they have a record of the interview to refer to at the end it isnot a sign that you have said anything particularly good or bad!Good interviewers will ask open questions i.e. questions that dont elicit a one-word answer. They tend to begin with How.. , Tell me about , What , Why. etcTake time to think about the question you have been asked its better to dothis than to rush in and realise afterwards that you could have given a betterresponse.If your mind goes blank in response to a particular question, be honest aboutthis and ask if you can return to the subject later in the interview.


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Show humour during the interview, but dont overdo it.Speak clearly, and try not to rush. Be alert to verbal/non-verbal prompts from thepanel, which may indicate that you need to either give more information, orhave already given enough. Dont talk too much! If the panel do want you to

expand further, they will use prompts asking open, probing questions.Concentrate on your achievements, experience and strengths. Give examples inyour answers wherever you can. If you are asked about your weaknesses, try toturn this into a strength, e.g. I can sometimes be overly critical of myself if Imake a mistake but Im conscious of this, and on the positive side it means Ialways work to as high a standard as possible.Use every opportunity to show that you are interested in this particular job/Trust.Remember a good panel will do their best to put you at your ease, to ensureyou present yourself as well as possible. They want to find the best candidate forthe job, so there should be no trick questions or attempts to make thingsdifficult for you. Try to relax!At the endThe panel may ask you if you have any questions for them. Have one or twoprepared about the job or place of work as this demonstrates your interest inthe post. But there is unlikely to be time for a long list of questions. This couldalso be an opportunity for you to tell the panel anything important which youthink you have missed or didnt have an opportunity to say during theirquestions.The panel will normally tell you when you are likely to be given the result if

they dont, it is perfectly acceptable to ask.AfterAnalyse what you did well.Note down anything you were not prepared for, and think about how you mightanswer dif ferently in the future.If you arent successful, ask for feedback.

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