MSK Clinical and Operational Manager

Nhs View All Jobs; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS is seeking an experienced leader to direct the MSK triage and outpatient service, working with the ESP and Physiotherapy teams. The role requires advanced clinical expertise, leadership, and the ability to manage across multiple sites.

Candidates should have a recognized Physiotherapy degree, HCPC registration, and a master’s level qualification or equivalent. Desirable: Injection Therapy with Sonography and Independent Prescribing.

Qualifications

• Recognized Physiotherapy degree and membership of professional society.
• HCPC registration in good standing.
• Master's degree in advanced clinical education, or equivalent Level 7 qualification.
• Post registration management training desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership of the MSK outpatient service across sites.
• Ensure safe, effective, and high-performing service delivery.
• Manage patient flow, access, triage, waiting lists and capacity.
• Deliver KPIs including RTT pathways, productivity, and activity targets.
• Oversee governance, quality, and patient safety frameworks.
• Lead governance, audits and service evaluation to embed evidence-based practice.
• Line manage senior clinicians, clinical leads, and MDT staff.
• Oversee recruitment, workforce planning and performance reviews.
• Budget management and cost improvement initiatives.
• Support service redesign and transformation programmes.
• Promote staff wellbeing and a positive inclusive culture.

Skills

Leadership

MSK service management

Triage and patient flow

Policy and governance

Data analysis

People management

Communication

Education

Physiotherapy degree

HCPC registration

Master's in advanced clinical education (or Level 7)

Job description

We are seeking an individual, who is an excellent leader, that can help dmanage the MSK triage service, working alongside the existing Advanced Physiotherapy (ESP) team and the Physiotherapy team. This person must be self-motivated and able to keep an up-to-date knowledge base. As well as leadership qualities, there would be an expectation of an advanced level skill set, including Injection Therapy, with Sonography and Independent Prescribing desirable. An ability to work under pressure and to be able to respond and adapt to changes is a must in the current NHS landscape.,

• Overall operational leadership of the MSK outpatient service across sites/localities
• Ensuring safe, effective, efficient, and high-performing service delivery
• Managing patient flow, access, triage, waiting lists, and capacity
• Delivering KPIs including RTT pathways, productivity, and activity targets
• Coordinating service planning and demand/capacity modelling
• Ensuring robust administrative systems for referrals, appointments, and data capture
• Advising senior leadership on operational pressures and risks
• Line management of senior clinicians, clinical leads, ATPs, psychologists, and wider MDT staff
• Recruitment, retention, workforce planning, and vacancy management
• Managing appraisals, supervision, probation, and performance reviews
• Oversight of sickness absence, disciplinary, grievance, and capability processes
• Developing workforce capability, succession planning, and staff wellbeing
• Supporting role redesign and workforce transformation
• Creating a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture
• Leading governance, quality, and patient safety frameworks
• Managing incidents, complaints, risks, and learning actions
• Ensuring compliance with:
• Trust policies
• CQC standards
• NICE guidance
• Infection prevention and safeguarding requirements
• Leading audits, quality improvement, and service evaluation
• Embedding evidence-based practice and outcome measures
• Leading service redesign and transformation programmes
• Developing and implementing MSK service strategies
• Supporting integration across:
• Primary Care Networks
• Community services
• Acute trusts
• ICB/system partners
• Leading working groups and policy development
• Supporting prevention of hospital admissions and community-based care pathways
• Identifying service gaps and implementing improvement initiatives
• Managing delegated budgets alongside finance teams
• Monitoring expenditure and contributing to balanced budget delivery
• Supporting Cost Improvement Programmes (CIPs) and recovery plans
• Oversight of equipment purchasing, stock control, and resource allocation
• Assessing financial viability of service developments
• Supporting business cases and capital bids
• Monitoring service performance dashboards and trends
• Analysing data relating to:
• waiting times
• demand
• outcomes
• staffing
• productivity
• Producing governance and contract reports
• Escalating risks and implementing recovery actions where needed
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives
• Leading training programmes and CPD across the MSK workforce
• Providing expert specialist advice across teams
• Supporting students, junior staff, assistants, and MDT colleagues
• Ensuring clinical supervision structures are robust
• Promoting advanced practice and evidence-based care
• Influencing professional standards and clinical strategy
  Recognized Physiotherapy degree and membership of professional society.
• HCPC registration
• Master's degree in advanced clinical education, or equivalent level 7 education or training relevant to role
• Desirable
• Member of specialist interest group
• Post registration training in management/relevant clinical areas
• Knowledge and Skills Essential
• Awareness of developments in the NHS and service delivery
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and its implementation.
• Understanding of professional issues impacting on therapies within the Trust and the healthcare sector
• Understands the implications of Equal opportunities in practice
• Understanding of the importance of data collection and analysis.
• Able to work independently with excellent organizational and time management skills
• Experience Essential
• Substantial post-registration experience in MSK services, including experience in a relevant senior role.
• Evidence of previous service development innovations introduced into the service and evaluation of developments
• Experience of working in Multidisciplinary team, workforce development and skill mix
• Experience of People management i.e. recruitment, supervision, appraisal, annual leave etc.
• Experience of developing and delivering training
• Experience of managing a team and supervising junior staff and students
• Experience of clinical audit / research or quality issues
• Desirable
• Budget management and business planning
  Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.