DD feeling despondent about getting physio job

[KeeepWalking]

Anyone else in similar position? DD is graduating this summer with BSc Physiotherapy. They (and other HCP students) have been told there is an NHS recruitment freeze. Barely any jobs come up. She applied to the only one that came up recently (Band 5, so suitable for a new grad) and was unsuccessful, but with no feedback on her application. A physio friend who graduated last year did 6 months voluntary work as a physio assistant in a hospital before getting a job.

It just seems bonkers and frustrating that unis are still churning out hundreds of HCP graduates when the jobs aren't there. And the NHS gives them all £5000 a year learning support.... 🤯

She would definitely be well supported across any of the independent providers and access to courses etc is available. Had she gone back to Nuffield where she did her placement and dropped a email to her contact there saying she’s looking for a position? Many of the senior clinical leads I work with have a physio background so development and progression is available. Wishing her lots of luck in securing a place

She's thinking of New Zealand..

@Villanellesproudmum as a long term band 6 I would not advise any band 5 to take a first job without very structured and accessible supervision and training available. That can certainly be with private providers though.

I've written to our Labour MP (who I voted for)... Wondering if the government is even aware of the impact on new grads.

There are currently 19 b5 jobs for physiotherapy - including rotations and specialisms.

If she's newly qualified, is she free to move for a job? Or is she restricted due to children/other commitments?

If she is particularly taken by a particular field, she could try reading more scientific literature about it and going beyond her education and training - it could give her more to talk about in job applications and at interview.

Our local private physio has posted this week about their two new graduate hires so it’s not impossible!
also check NHS Scotland

I'm a different health professional, and qualified 100yrs ago, so appreciate these might not be options. I also needed a year's experience before agencies would take me as band 5, but they did take people as band 4 to get the experience and worth asking about.

-https://www.pulsejobs.com/specialisms/allied-health-professionals/physiotherapy-jobs/#jobs
-Summer camps, especially for children with special needs
-Health camps/spas/sports clubs for adults
-Gyms
-I used to attend pilates classes and the teacher was a physio who taught pilates as a sideline. She also did guided, local walks. One would always be a flat walk so those with sticks/walkers/wheelchairs could do along and a faster, fitter group.

Have they considered osteopathy? I used to attend a clinic which was connected to an osteopathy school. Nearly every student was older and came from a range of backgrounds. Police officer, PE teacher, sports science etc. The course is full or part time and once qualified, you could rent a room and set your hours.

The lack of NHS funfing started way before this government.

It is quite a tough time of year to be applying as everyone else is. As a recruiter to AHP posts, it is harder to recruit from Sept to Jan as the next year's qualifiers are not yet thinking about jobs. Although it is more difficult generally to find work at the moment as there seem to suddenly be more qualifiers than posts. I wonder, with the advent of Apprentices whether this will remain challenging for non apprentices as Trusts are growing their own and then expected to find them a job before advertising externally.

I know it's dispiriting but as an AHP who has been in the NHS for almost 20 years, it goes in cycles and there are periods like this. As her friend did, and other suggested applying for band 4 and other assistant jobs, or even volunteering in a clinical voluntary position will give her the experience to put her ahead of her peers to get the jobs that do come up. If she is flexible about relocating for work this will also help.

My DD is graduating in sports therapy this year and was planning on doing physio masters. She acknowledges the recruitment freeze tho. Her plans are:

1. Defer the masters for a year to get industry experience first.
2. Do the masters then move to Australia (which is her main plan, I think)

Same for paramedics and nurses too. It’s awful. What are they supposed to do?

Thank you everyone for your replies and ideas - really helpful. I shall pass them all on to her. She is very willing to do work experience, and is also happy to take a job in any location.

Prof Lead Physio here.
Yes there’s a recruitment crisis in physio and the other AHPs but the students I’ve supported do get there in the end,
It’s just so disheartening after a tough degree.
We don’t have a recruitment freeze in my trust but we don’t have any B5 jobs as people are staying in jobs due to the freeze in other trusts (no where to go) and we also have apprentices internally who would apply if we did have a B5 vacancy.
Advice - try to get something in healthcare in the meantime, therapy assistant, HCA, support worker as it will strengthen her application. I’ve got a therapy assistant post about to go live and I’m fully expecting newly qualified PTs to apply.
Read the JD for each B5 and answer every single essential criteria (and as many desirable) or you won’t get shortlisted.
Don’t use AI. They all look the same and you want to stand out for the right reasons.
Also make sure you don’t use the exact same application for each job. We can tell if applicants do this and it doesn’t make a good impression.
Be prepared to move. We’ve had B5s from all over the country in the past.
Some private practices will take and support a newly qualified but it’s not recommended for people to set up on their own for many reasons, and internships don’t really exist due to issues with supervision and insurance.
The physios in our trust have more or less back to back students without having to support newly qualified people who usually need at least as much support as a student unfortunately.
Finally, just hang in there. I know it’s tough but I’ve been involved in both student education and recruiting physios for over 15 years, and all the newly qualified physios who really wanted a job got one in the end. It just takes longer.
Good luck x

If she can specialise in something by doing an additional course that will give her an edge. I’m currently looking for a jaw physio specialist and there are so few. This means people, like me, pay a lot of money for a private physio. I honestly don’t care how much experience she has so long as she’s qualified.

@Twinklewonderkins Thank you!! So helpful.

Would she not go work in private practice for a while and continue interviewing as jobs come up. Sports teams, clubs all use physios and have an interesting and varied work load possibly even more interesting that some NHS jobs. It would put her in a good place for NHS jobs too.

I was going to say this too regarding the new financial year.
hopefully she will get a job soon. Is there scope for her to join the BHS trust bank to do some bank shifts if they come up? Or as people have said - she could offer her services In the nhs or privately as a volunteer to get some experience perhaps?

I agree that she should definitely explore private practice, gyms, or just set up on her own.

I don’t think working in the NHS is the key to getting a private job. I would see her! Wouldn’t put me off at all just because she’s a new grad.

You’re welcome. If you have anything I can help with please DM me .

All I can say is that as an HCP I wouldn’t pay to see a band 5 unless they were being properly supervised by a senior, and tbh I find it slightly scary that others don’t see what can go wrong in that situation, both most importantly for you but also for the therapist. That absolutely does include decent private centres of course.

I’m also a physio who’s been qualified plus twenty years and was going to post exactly this. The job market for physio always seems to run in 3ish year cycles of over and under supply.

She is highly likely to get a job (especially if interested in acute respiratory) but may need to wait a bit unfortunately. In the meantime look for any opportunities to bolster experience so that her applications stand out. Volunteering or related jobs in hospitals, hospices, gyms, health related activities. Look up any social enterprises nearby. Also ask at her university if there may be an option to support any lectures (eg to come in to talk about the course/placements to first years). Put all these experiences in her applications.

She will get there.

My friends dd is in her final year and since year 2 has been volunteering at a rugby and football club. She also paid herself to do some sort of extra sports massage course. I think the jobs market is pretty tough but she has a job lined up. I’m sure the volunteering and going the extra mile helped.