Orthopaedic Optimization Project Lead

NHS; Greater London; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious healthcare institution in Greater London seeks an Orthopaedic Optimization Project Lead. This role offers a blend of clinical and project responsibilities, leading MSK physiotherapy advancements. Candidates should have significant experience in MSK practice, a BSc in Physiotherapy, and an MSc in Advanced Physiotherapy or equivalent. The position allows for professional development within a supportive clinical team and offers competitive compensation. Opportunities are available for both part-time and full-time work.

Qualifications

• Significant Band 7 level experience in MSK Physiotherapy.
• Experience of leading clinical governance including risk management.
• Advanced Practice experience in MSK with requesting radiological tests.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced level clinical practice and management for MSK service.
• Support Consultant Physiotherapists in clinical research and governance.
• Lead the operational management of the iMSK Physiotherapy service.

Skills

Expert skills in musculoskeletal physiotherapy

Highly developed communication skills

Ability to integrate latest evidence-based practice

Excellent time management and organisational skills

Advanced Physiotherapy skills (e.g., Joint injection)

Education

BSc degree/PGdip in Physiotherapy

MSc degree in Advanced Physiotherapy / ACP or equivalent

Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration

Job description

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Orthopaedic Optimization Project Lead

The closing date is 07 January 2026

An opportunity has arisen for an Advanced Physiotherapy MSK Practitioner to participate in our Orthopaedic Optimisation project at Guys and St Thomas' NHS Trust, who is interested in further developing their skills in this dynamic and forward looking advanced practice MSK team. The role is diverse providing both project work and clinical, which is shared amongst the Advanced Practice team. You will provide leadership in expanding FCP clinics in primary care, working in MCATTs clinics in the Trust and as a clinical specialist in the Guys and St Thomas' musculoskeletal outpatient department. You will get the opportunity to work closely in PCNs within the MCATs team across Guys and St Thomas sites and actively contribute to the continued evaluation of the service and dissemination of work by publication and at conferences. We have a well-established orthopaedic practitioner service within the organisation as well as MCATTs offering injection and POCUS intervention within the service. You will be part of a highly skilled clinical team with diverse extended clinical experience who can help develop your capabilities, provide peer support and professional development. An MSc or equivalent, and previous experience of advanced MSK practice/ clinical specialist is required, but a full induction package will be undertaken.

There are both permanent and temporary positions available. This can be discussed at interview. We can offer both part time and full time.

Main duties of the job

• Advanced practice clinical including MCAT clinics, FCP and Orthopaedic practitioner clinics
• Teaching on iMSK inservice training program and wider KHP and requests across the organisation
• QI including audit and research are strongly encouraged

About us

Working for your organisation Guy's and St Thomas' is one of the UK's busiest and most successful foundation trusts, with a long history of clinical excellence and high quality care. The Trust comprises two of London's oldest and best known teaching hospitals. It also includes Evelina London Children's Hospital and both adult and children's community services in Lambeth and Southwark and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals We are part of King's Health Partners, one of only six academic health sciences centres in the UK.

The Integrated Musculoskeletal physiotherapy service iMSK is within the Surgery and Therapies directorate within the Cancer and Surgery clinical group. The iMSK department has over 80 staff and provides MCATTS assessment and physiotherapy to patients within the Trust and in local community clinics. Musculoskeletal physiotherapy offers services on both acute sites (Guys and St Thomas'), in community at Pulross Intermediate Care Centre and Gracefield Gardens, at GP practices as part of the First Contact Practitioner (FCP) provision and, at local gyms in the Lambeth and Southwark Boroughs

Job responsibilities

Provides an advanced level of clinical practice exercising autonomy of decision making in a context of complexity, uncertainty and varying levels of risk, holding accountability for their decisions.

Responsible for the operational management of the Integrated Musculoskeletal (iMSK) Physiotherapy service in conjunction with the Consultant Physiotherapist in iMSK and Clinical Lead and the Head of Physiotherapy and contributes to departmental management and Trust initiatives in strategic planning and development of the iMSK Physiotherapy service across the whole organisation.

Uses expert clinical reasoning skills to provide highly specialist support and advice to the physiotherapy team and other medical staff, whilst maintaining a clinical caseload of highly complex patients

Professional and clinical leadership in the development and implementation of a comprehensive training and personal development plan for all designated physiotherapy staff and, in conjunction with the management team, strives to ensure excellence of training across the whole organisation.

Supports the Consultant Physiotherapists/Clinical Lead to identify and implement clinical research, audit and data collection priorities within the area of MSK expertise to inform departmental clinical development strategy

Responsible for maintaining and improving all aspects of clinical governance, evidence based practice and quality assurance in designated area.

Qualifications

• BSc degree/ PGdip in Physiotherapy
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• MSc degree in Advanced Physiotherapy / ACP or equivalent
• Injection therapy trained
• FCP roadmap in-process
• Completed or working towards a non-medical prescribing qualification
• FCP supervisor training

Experience

• Significant Band 7 level experience of working in MSK Physiotherapy in both inpatient and outpatient environments, including management of highly complex patients
• Experience of leading clinical governance in clinical area, including risk management, patient experience and audit.
• Previous experience of staff and student supervision and clinical education
• Advanced Practice experience in MSK with extension of practice to include requesting relevant radiological and blood tests and acting on the results
• Experience of research methodology
• Experience in physiotherapy team management,
• Previous published in recognised journal
• Previous experience working in a Clinical Specialist role
• Previous experience in FCP role

Skills

• Expert skills in musculoskeletal physiotherapy and multisystems differential diagnosis
• Highly developed communication skills with ability to deal with highly sensitive, emotional, conflicting and contentious matters.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex/ often incomplete information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues
• Ability to integrate latest evidence-based practice into services and ability to use to lead change across a pathway/range of providers.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills
• Ability to lead and manage change across own service and wider MDT team/services.
• Advanced Physiotherapy skills e.g. Requesting and interpretation of investigations Joint injection NMP POCUS
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders/providing leadership within the MSK pathway
• Experience of working within a primary care setting
• Experience of senior level decision making and delivery in a changing environment
• Evidence of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
• Exceptional team building and team working skills

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.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

£64,156 to £71,148 a yearp.a. inclusive of HCA