Health company Ascenti launches major recruitment drive for physiotherapists in the UK

A major healthcare company has reacted to a dramatic surge in demand for its musculoskeletal (MSK) services by unveiling plans to increase its physiotherapy workforce by almost half.

Ascenti, said to be the largest private employer of physios in the UK, has launched an unprecedented drive to recruit another 140 physiotherapists in the UK over the next 12 months.

According to the company, 300 Ascenti physiotherapists deliver more than 600,000 in-person and virtual appointments in the UK each year. But its physio workforce will aim to deliver about one million in-person and virtual appointments in 2022.

To attract more physiotherapists Ascenti is offering an enhanced benefits package, which includes:

flexible working

wellbeing support programmes

extended parental leave

paid leave to support charitable causes

In order to ensure we’re best placed to keep up with surging demand, we’re looking to recruit a further 140 forward-thinking physios across the country [Stephanie Dobrikova, Ascenti]

Stephanie Dobrikova, the company’s chief executive officer, said: ‘In order to ensure we’re best placed to keep up with surging demand, we’re looking to recruit a further 140 forward-thinking physios across the country to deliver a mix of both in-person and online musculoskeletal-focused services.

‘Employee wellbeing is a huge focus for us and we’re so proud of the caring, supportive and inclusive culture that exists at Ascenti, with many physios joining our team as a direct result of recommendations from existing employees.’

Continuing professional development

The company, which works in partnership with the NHS and 400 UK private businesses across the UK, is also expanding its support teams based in Bristol and Fareham. Its physio workforce already has access to an well-funded continuing professional development programme, ring-fenced paid education time every week, clinical mentoring and access to a fast-track career progression programme.

Digital pioneers

Ascenti was able to react swiftly to an increase demand for its services because it had invested in digitally-based solutions before the Covid-19 pandemic emerged.

Data collected from 27,000 online sessions showed they were as clinically effective as in-person treatment. Almost all (92 per cent) of patients were happy with the results, Ascenti found.

Patients are now being offered a choice of online or in-person appointments, helping to fuel further demand. 

Another factor is that private medical insurers and occupational health providers realise physiotherapy offers easy access to high-quality proactive and preventative healthcare, according to Ascenti.  Indeed, recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that the number of working days lost due to MSK conditions rose by 29 per cent during the pandemic – up from 6.9m days in 2018-19 to 8.9m in 2019-20.

To find out more about the new roles, visit: https://www.ascenti.co.uk/careers/

A free webinar on triple aortic aneurysms and how they present as low back pain takes place on 11 November, from 6-7pm. Visit: https://www.ascenti.co.uk/careers/physios/webinar-lbp

Members of the public who refers someone who goes on to secure a role with the company will receive £200 shopping voucher. Visit: https://www.ascenti.co.uk/careers/refer-a-friend

For more information about Ascenti, visit: www.ascenti.co.uk