Locum physiotherapy roles offer flexibility, variety, and the ability to take control of your career. If you're newly qualified or want a change, working as a locum with Your World Healthcare can help. It offers many clinical settings, with or without a long-term commitment.
Article Breakdown
What Is Locum Physiotherapy?
Why Physiotherapists Choose Locum Work
Your World Healthcare Registration Process
What Kind of Work Can You Expect?
Support Every Step of the Way
Start Your Locum Career
What Is Locum Physiotherapy?
A locum physiotherapist works on fixed-term or short-notice contracts, covering gaps in staffing due to leave, recruitment delays, or service expansion. These roles can be in NHS hospitals, community services, private clinics, or care homes. As a locum, you're expected to hit the ground running; often stepping into high-demand environments where experienced, flexible clinicians make an immediate impact.
Working as a locum doesn’t mean settling for less. In fact, it’s often the opposite. Locums enjoy broader clinical exposure, and the freedom to shape their own working schedules.
“Locum physios are the backbone of continuity in many healthcare services.” says James Catt, Lead Executive for Physiotherapy at Your World Healthcare. “They step in fast, adapt quickly, and keep care moving.”
Why Physiotherapists Choose Locum Work
Locum roles suit a wide range of professionals. Those early in their careers who are looking to build experience, mid-career clinicians seeking flexibility, and senior physios interested in short-term projects or work-life balance.
James Catt explains: “We’ve seen physiotherapists regain their passion for the profession by going locum. The variety keeps things fresh, and the flexibility gives them breathing space, professionally and personally.”
Locum rates can also be appealing, especially in areas where demand is high or specialisms are scarce. If you’re willing to travel or work outside of core hours, the earning potential increases.
The real value lies in the experience. Each placement exposes you to different patient populations, treatment approaches, and multidisciplinary teams. You don’t just build skills, you build professional range and confidence.
Your World Healthcare Registration Process
Registering with Your World Healthcare is simple and efficient. We work closely with physiotherapists to streamline compliance and match them with roles that fit their clinical interests and availability.
To get started, you’ll need:
- HCPC registration
- Proof of right to work in the UK
- An up-to-date enhanced DBS (we can help organise this if needed)
- Relevant qualifications and recent references
Additional certifications such as postgraduate training in respiratory care or neuro rehab are appealing for certain roles. Your World, however, recruit across all levels of experience and support physiotherapists at every stage of their career.
“Our job is to take care of the admin so you can focus on the clinical work,” says James. “Alongside our dedicated Compliance team, we handle the paperwork, the placements, and the support, before, during, and after every assignment.”
What Kind of Work Can You Expect?
Locum physiotherapy is available across multiple settings and specialisms, including:
- Acute inpatient wards
- Outpatient MSK services
- Stroke and neurological rehab
- Community and domiciliary care
- Respiratory and ICU support
- Care homes and re-ablement teams
- Paediatrics and SEND schools
You might be working as part of a tight-knit NHS team for three months, then move to a private neuro rehab unit. Or you could fill a maternity cover post in a community trust while waiting for a permanent paeds role to open. The choice is always in the locums hands.
Support Every Step of the Way
At Your World, you’re part of a national workforce of professionals who rely on us for opportunities, guidance, and continuity.
You’ll be assigned a dedicated consultant who understands the physiotherapy sector, not just recruitment. They’ll get to know your preferences, clinical background, and long-term goals to work with you to secure placements that fit.
We also provide access to resources, timesheet support, and help with ongoing compliance. This is including revalidations and updates to mandatory training.
“We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all recruitment,” James says. “We build real relationships with our physios. That’s why so many come back to us contract after their current contract ends.”
Start Your Locum Career
Whether you're looking for short-term contracts, long-term placements, or just a new challenge, we’re ready to help you take the next step.
