Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist

NHS; Oswestry; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading orthopaedic hospital in Oswestry seeks an Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist for its Spinal Disorders team. The ideal candidate will manage a clinical caseload, provide expert assessments and treatments, and contribute to continuous professional development. This role offers excellent career progression and access to cutting-edge facilities. Candidates should have a minimum of seven years in musculoskeletal care and demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills.

Benefits

Outstanding professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities

Regular team training sessions

Qualifications

• Minimum seven years postgraduate experience in musculoskeletal care.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge in the field.
• Leadership courses and supervisory management training.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage patient caseloads including assessments and treatment plans.
• Provide expert diagnosis and treatment for spinal disorders.
• Lead service development projects in a multidisciplinary team setting.

Skills

Advanced clinical knowledge

Excellent communication skills

Leadership ability

Audit involvement

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Masters Level qualification

Job description

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist

The closing date is 13 February 2026

An exciting opportunity is available at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital for an Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist to join our Spinal Disorders team. We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate professional to deliver high-quality patient care as part of our multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will provide direct clinical care, including assessment, treatment, and management of undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions. A proactive attitude and willingness to learn are essential.

Our Spinal Disorders team is committed to achieving the best outcomes for our patients and is recognised for its quality of service, professional development, postgraduate training, and collaborative culture. This role offers excellent opportunities for career progression.

Please note: The vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Pay banding subject to NHS terms and conditions job evaluation

Main duties of the job

Referral Triage and Pathway Management

• Independently triages Spinal referrals, evaluating and identifying those suitable.
• Directs other referrals appropriately, following established protocols.

First Point of Contact and Clinical Assessment

• Acts as the initial contact for patients referred to Orthopaedic Spine clinic.
• Manages a clinical caseload, performing assessments, formulating diagnoses, and managing patients within an extended scope of practice.

Advanced Clinical Practice

• Provides independent expert assessment, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and advice for a range of spinal disorders.
• Utilises medical investigations and specialist clinical reasoning and decision-making skills that exceed standard physiotherapy practice.
• Undertakes medical diagnostic tasks and specialist investigations.

Communication and Expertise Sharing

• Communicates complex clinical information to patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals.
• Serves as a source of advanced clinical knowledge for physiotherapists and other health professionals.

Audit and Service Evaluation

• Participates as a member of a MDT to develop and maintain an audit trail.

Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Collaboration

• Works within an MDT under the supervision of the Spinal Disorders team, regularly discussing cases and decisions.
• Presents cases to the spinal MDT and gains exposure to spinal injection techniques, with the aim of developing these skills for future practice.

About us

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust (RJAH) is one of the leading orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with high levels of staff and patient satisfaction, and a strong reputation for research and innovation.

In the National Staff Survey, 74% of our staff would recommend the Trust as a place to work and 92% would recommend the hospital to a friend or relative for treatment.

Joining RJAH is more than just a job - we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role. We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you'll have access to outstanding professional development opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities - including our recently-opened £6 million Headley Court Veterans' Orthopaedic Centre (the first unit of its kind in the UK). RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham. The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry in Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line. We are based in North Shropshire, close to the border with North and Mid Wales. It is one of the most attractive parts of the country, with a rich historic culture and excellent transport links. It offers outstanding opportunities for anyone who enjoys an outdoor lifestyle or is looking to raise a family.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Autonomy & Expertise:

• Independently manage patient caseloads, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for spinal disorders and complex pathologies.
• Utilise advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making to formulate individualised treatment plans and request/interpret medical investigations (e.g., radiographs, CT, MRI, pathology tests, MSK ultrasound).

Advanced Treatment & Leadership:

• Deliver expert treatment programs using manual therapy, exercise, education, and injection/interventional procedures.
• Provide clinical leadership and specialist advice to therapy teams, and develop advanced skills in radiology, pathology, pharmacology, and joint injection.
• Effectively communicate complex patient information and management plans with multidisciplinary teams, patients, carers, and consultants.
• Overcome communication barriers and ensure patient understanding and consent; network with extended scope physiotherapists and collaborate with external providers.

Professional Standards & Development:

• Maintain competence through continuous professional development, reflective practice, and adherence to professional and legal standards (e.g., CSP, Health and Safety Act).
• Keep accurate patient records and participate in performance reviews and personal development planning.

Education, Research & Audit:

• Educate team members, participate in research, develop evidence-based guidelines, and implement clinical audits to improve service quality.
• Stay updated with advances in orthopaedic spinal care and national/local standards.

Organisational & Leadership Skills:

• Coordinate multidisciplinary interventions, plan efficient use of time, and lead service development projects.
• Benchmark services nationally and locally, and contribute to strategic and operational planning.

Essential Experience & Attributes:

• Minimum seven years postgraduate experience in musculoskeletal care, with at least three years at senior level.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical knowledge, communication, leadership, audit involvement, and the ability to work independently under pressure.

Person Specification

Skills

• Ability to demonstrate a broad understanding of possible patient pathways within the musculoskeletal field
• Demonstrate sound clinical knowledge of the disease process and management of pathology affecting the musculoskeletal system with detailed knowledge of anatomy and advanced assessment and treatment skills
• Possess good verbal and written communications skills to communicate with staff at all levels in the organisation and to communicate with patients who will have varied levels of understanding.
• Demonstrate previous involvement in the audit process.

Experience

• Proven postgraduate experience in the musculoskeletal field,
• Evidence of training/experience in ordering relevant investigations

Qualifications

• Degree/Honours/Diploma in Physiotherapy, Podiatry, Occupational Therapy Registered with HCPC
• Evidence of further study/training or experience to the equivalent of Masters Level e.g., MSc, MACP
• Ability to demonstrate Continued Professional Development including reflective practice and advanced practice qualification /portfolio
• Non-clinical, Clinical leadership courses, supervisory management course, coaching & mentoring qualification.
• Evidence of radiology training/experience
• Independent/supplementary Prescriber

Knowledge

• Highly developed specialised knowledge acquired through degree level study, underpinned by training and experience to masters level.

Values

• Demonstrates commitment to the Trust's published values

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust