Extended Scope Physiotherapy Practitioner - Paediatric Orthopaedics

NHS; Huddersfield; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking an Extended Scope Physiotherapy Practitioner specializing in Paediatric Orthopaedics. This role involves conducting advanced assessments and managing children with musculoskeletal conditions, particularly congenital foot deformities. The successful candidate will utilize extensive clinical expertise, work autonomously, and lead a team while ensuring high standards of care. This position offers a dynamic work environment within a supportive multi-professional team, emphasizing patient-centered care and continuous professional development. If you're passionate about making a difference in children's health, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent required.
• Attendance on relevant specialist accredited postgraduate course to master's level.

Responsibilities

• Carry out advanced assessment of children in the paediatric orthopaedic service.
• Manage patients with congenital foot deformities independently.
• Provide training and support to staff and students.

Skills

Musculoskeletal Assessment

Clinical Leadership

Communication Skills

Advanced Knowledge of Clinical Specialty

Teaching Skills

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Postgraduate Course to Master's Level

HPC Registration

Job description

Go back Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Extended Scope Physiotherapy Practitioner - Paediatric Orthopaedics

The closing date is 11 May 2025

To carry out advanced assessment of children referred to the paediatric orthopaedic out-patient service. As a member of the paediatric orthopaedic team, the post holder will use extensive clinical knowledge and expertise to carry out musculoskeletal assessment, refer for appropriate testing, facilitate diagnosis, and enable treatment planning. The post holder will also manage patients with congenital foot deformities, including but not limited to clubfoot, vertical talus, and calcaneovalgus foot deformity, with relevant casting techniques (Ponseti method, reverse Ponseti method) independently.

Main duties of the job

The postholder:

• Will be responsible for managing their own caseload within the paediatric orthopaedic service but will not carry a clinical caseload within the paediatric physiotherapy service.
• Responsibility for ensuring requested diagnostic tests are reported on and actioned will lie with the post holder.
• Will work with administrative colleagues to ensure that access targets are met.

About us

We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, as well as in community sites, health centres, and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.

We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care, medical, surgical, maternity, gynaecology, critical care, children's and young people's services, end of life care, and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.

We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres such as Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.

We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS, yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members — patients, staff, and the local community.

Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in changes to meet local community needs, strive to be the best, and put patients first.

Job responsibilities

To carry out advanced assessment of children referred to the paediatric orthopaedic out-patient service. As a member of the paediatric orthopaedic team, the post holder will use extensive clinical knowledge and expertise to carry out musculoskeletal assessment, refer for appropriate testing, facilitate diagnosis, and enable treatment planning. The post holder will also manage patients with congenital foot deformities, including but not limited to clubfoot, vertical talus, and calcaneovalgus foot deformity, with relevant casting techniques (Ponseti method, reverse Ponseti method) independently.

The post holder will work within time pressures dictated by the outpatient setting, seeking guidance from medical colleagues where appropriate. The post holder will communicate effectively with service users, referrers, and the wider MDT, maintaining records as an autonomous practitioner. The job may involve participation in research projects and audits.

As lead clinician for the paediatric musculoskeletal physiotherapy service, the post holder will provide training, support, supervision, and clinical expertise to qualified and unqualified staff and students.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
• Attendance on relevant specialist accredited postgraduate course to master's level or equivalent
• HPC Registration

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

• Significant experience working at a senior level in this clinical field
• Research, clinical audit, and standard setting experience
• Experience working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing, therapy, and management colleagues
• Extensive experience diagnosing and managing children with MSK conditions
• Practical experience treating congenital foot deformities with relevant casting techniques (Ponseti and reverse Ponseti methods)
• Advanced knowledge of clinical specialty
• Understanding of current professional issues and NHS influences
• Adherence to professional standards

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

• Effective communication within multi-professional teams
• Ability to prioritise and organise
• Ability to teach qualified and unqualified staff and students
• Clinical leadership skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A disclosure check will be required to ensure suitability for the role.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust