Overview of Ability West
Ability West provides a wide range of high-quality community-based services for people with intellectual disabilities and autism throughout Galway City and County. The services provided are day services, residential, short break respite services, supported self-directed living programmes, outreach services, community supports, educational, rehabilitative training and multi-disciplinary supports. The ethos of service provision is underpinned by our Vision, Mission, Core Values and Strategic Plan, which is to enable people with an intellectual disability to reach their full potential, take their rightful place in society and realise their dreams and ambitions.
Job Title and Grade
Senior Physiotherapist (Specific Purpose Contract 4 hours/week).
Senior Physiotherapist required to join a dynamic interdisciplinary team for Adults with disabilities on the Move and Nourish Pilot Project, working in close partnership with the Senior Dietitian appointed to the same pilot.
This is a part-time specific purpose post for 4 hours per week.
Location of the Post
Tuam, County Galway.
Details of Service
The person appointed to this post will work as a Senior Physiotherapist, taking a lead role in the delivery of a quality physiotherapy service within the Move and Nourish Pilot Project in the East Region of Ability West.
The post holder will work as part of an interdisciplinary team supporting adults with intellectual disabilities, with a particular focus on healthy weight management, mobility, physical activity, function, falls prevention, health promotion and outcome measurement.
The Senior Physiotherapist and Senior Dietitian will work together as the core clinicians on the Move and Nourish Pilot Project, contributing jointly to assessment, intervention planning, goal setting, staff education, service-user support, data collection and evaluation of outcomes.
Purpose of the Post
To be responsible for the provision of a high-quality Physiotherapy service in accordance with standards of professional practice.
To work in conjunction with other team members in co-ordinating and developing the service to meet the needs of the population it serves in line with the objectives of the organisation.
To work with the Clinical Lead East Region / Physiotherapy Manager and the Senior Dietitian in ensuring the co-ordination, development and delivery of a quality, client-centred physiotherapy contribution to the Move and Nourish Pilot Project.
To carry out clinical, educational, health-promotion and evaluation duties as required.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Professional / Clinical
Communicate and work in co-operation with the Clinical Lead East Region / Physiotherapy Manager, the Senior Dietitian and the wider multidisciplinary team in providing an integrated quality service, taking the lead role as required.
Work closely with the Senior Dietitian in the planning, delivery and review of the Move and Nourish Pilot Project for adults with intellectual disabilities.
Be a lead clinician in assigned clinical areas of responsibility and carry a clinical caseload appropriate to the post.
Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment, develop and implement individualised, person-centred intervention plans, and review progress in line with best practice.
Focus on areas relevant to the project including mobility, physical activity, exercise prescription, function, falls prevention, frailty awareness, independence and overall health and wellbeing.
Set goals in partnership with service users, family, carers and other team members as appropriate.
Provide practical advice, instruction, guidance and support to staff teams, service users and families / carers in relation to physical activity, mobility and healthy lifestyle approaches.
Contribute to service development and health-promotion initiatives relevant to the role, including healthier living, activity participation and improved physical wellbeing.
Document service-user records in accordance with professional standards and organisational policy.
Provide a service in varied locations in line with Ability West policy / guidelines and within appropriate time allocation.
Participate and be a lead clinician as appropriate in review meetings, case conferences and multidisciplinary meetings.
Work within own scope of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct, clinical governance and CORU requirements.
Seek advice of relevant personnel when appropriate / as required.
Education & Training
Participate in mandatory training programmes.
Take responsibility for, and keep up to date with, physiotherapy practice by participating in continuing professional development such as reflective practice, in-service training, self-directed learning, research, clinical audit and quality improvement.
Provide expertise in physical activity, mobility, exercise and healthy lifestyle promotion to colleagues and staff teams.
Develop and deliver evidence-based education and health-promotion resources relevant to the Move and Nourish Pilot Project.
Participate within the professional and clinical supervision structure and engage in personal development planning and performance review for self and others as required.
Support practice education, mentoring and training opportunities as relevant to the role.
Quality, Safety & Risk
Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of a quality service in line with best practice and professional standards.
Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.
Assess and manage risk within assigned areas of responsibility and take appropriate timely action to manage incidents or near misses.
Collect and evaluate pilot data, outcomes and activity information as identified in service plans, and demonstrate achievement of the objectives of the Move and Nourish Pilot Project.
Support audit, research and quality improvement activity relevant to physiotherapy, health promotion, mobility and service-user outcomes.
Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role and comply with associated Ability West / HSE protocols as appropriate.
Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
Administrative
Contribute to the service planning process for the Move and Nourish Pilot Project.
Assist the Clinical Lead East Region / Physiotherapy Manager and relevant others in service development, including policy development, implementation and evaluation.
Review and evaluate the physiotherapy aspect of the service regularly, identifying changing needs and opportunities to improve services.
Maintain accurate records, statistics and reports in line with best practice and organisational requirements.
Represent the department / pilot project at meetings and conferences as appropriate.
Promote a culture that values diversity, equality and respect in the workplace.
Keep up to date with Ability West organisational developments within the Irish Health Service.
Engage in IT developments as they apply to service users and service administration.
Perform such other duties appropriate to the role as may be assigned by the Clinical Lead East Region / Physiotherapy Manager.
As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA and to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.
The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria - Qualifications And / Or Experience
Candidates must have at the latest date of application:
Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, Etc.
Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU.
Have three years full-time post qualification clinical experience.
Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.
On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU.
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Post Specific Requirements
A high level of clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities in the area of physiotherapy for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities.
Minimum 3-5 years clinical experience, preferably including Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, community disability services, health promotion, obesity management, falls prevention or related service areas.
Experience in quality improvement, outcome measurement and interdisciplinary working is desirable.
Access to appropriate transport in order to fulfil the requirements of the role.
Skills, Competencies and / or Knowledge
Demonstrate a high level of clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice.
Demonstrate the ability to effectively evaluate information and make appropriate decisions.
Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver care in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person-centred care.
Demonstrate an ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment.
Demonstrate a commitment to assuring high standards and strive for a user-centred service in line with best practice and professional standards.
Display effective communication and strong interpersonal skills including the ability to build and maintain relationships and be an effective multidisciplinary team member.
Display awareness and appreciation of the service users and the ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect.
Demonstrate initiative, flexibility and openness to change.
Demonstrate ability to utilise supervision effectively.
Demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development.
Demonstrate sufficient command of the English language (verbal and written) to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
Demonstrate a willingness to develop IT skills relevant to the role.
Informal Enquiries
Renjith Joseph, Clinical Lead East Region / Physiotherapy Manager
Email: Renjith.Joseph@abilitywest.ie
Closing Date: April 10th 2026
INAW
