Physiotherapy assistant

[josefine]

Hi!
I'm final year (last semester) physiotherapy student from Sweden. I would like to move to England after graduation and work as a physio assistant. Is it easy to get an assistant job in England with an Bsc degree in Physiotherapy?

Best Josefine

[David- Maldon]

Hi Josefine

Currently there is a chronic shortage of work places for newly qualified physiotherapists here in the UK; some are forced to taking on assistant roles as there are so few jobs, other open up private practices instead and end up "competing" with existing practitioners, including osteopaths, acupuncturists and sports therapists.

The shortage of work, as I understand it, is created as experienced phyios working in PCT's etc are reluctant to take up more senior roles, as this often takes them away from the "shop floor" and more into management roles. Couple this with state funded degrees which over supply the market with newly qualified physios, you end up with a "bottle neck" and fierce competition for jobs.

There are jobs around, but there are too few for the amount of graduates entering the workplace each year.

[josefine]

Thank you for your information! I can imagine beeing a foreigner dosen't make it easier to get a job in the UK. I guess I have to do some volonteering and try to get my foot in the door...
Im doing my elective placement abroad (in Latvia). I hope that can make me stand out from the crowd.

[biggazfromlincoln]

Originally Posted by David- Maldon

Hi Josefine

Currently there is a chronic shortage of work places for newly qualified physiotherapists here in the UK; some are forced to taking on assistant roles as there are so few jobs, other open up private practices instead and end up "competing" with existing practitioners, including osteopaths, acupuncturists and sports therapists.

The shortage of work, as I understand it, is created as experienced phyios working in PCT's etc are reluctant to take up more senior roles, as this often takes them away from the "shop floor" and more into management roles. Couple this with state funded degrees which over supply the market with newly qualified physios, you end up with a "bottle neck" and fierce competition for jobs.

There are jobs around, but there are too few for the amount of graduates entering the workplace each year.

My local PCT has shed upto 70% of its physio posts in some locations, in favour of physio assistants on 14K per year with mainly sports therapists or newly qualified physios being employed at present.

Newly qualified physios are not permitted to work in private practice until they have completed an NHS rotation of 3 years
regards
BGFL