Rotational MSK Physiotherapist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Tees Valley is seeking a Rotational MSK Physiotherapist to deliver early assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions. You will work in a multidisciplinary team and provide tailored evidence-based treatments, ensuring timely care. Ideal candidates will have a degree in Physiotherapy and HCPC registration along with skills in clinical reasoning and communication.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• HCPC registration is required.
• Experience in MDT working is essential.
• Evidence of CPD and understanding of trust values.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
• Deliver evidence-based treatments and facilitate referrals.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and manage your caseload.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Communication skills

Exercise prescription

Manual therapy

Team collaboration

Education

BSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent

Membership of CSP

Job description

Rotational MSK Physiotherapist

The closing date is 14 October 2025

The MSK Band 5 Physiotherapist within the Single Point of Access (SPA) service plays a vital role in providing early assessment, triage, and management of patients presenting with musculoskeletal conditions. Operating as the first point of contact in the SPA team, you will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate care.

This role involves comprehensive patient assessment, identification of urgent or complex cases requiring specialist intervention, and delivery of evidence-based physiotherapy treatment and advice. The Band 5 MSK physiotherapist supports the streamlining of patient pathways by facilitating direct access to appropriate services, reducing waiting times, and promoting self-management strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term disability.

Key responsibilities include clinical decision-making, patient education, exercise prescription, and liaising with other healthcare professionals to coordinate seamless care within the community and secondary care settings.

Main duties of the job

As an MSK Band 5 Physiotherapist in the Single Point of Access service, you will assess patients with a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions, including acute injuries, fracture clinic follow-ups, post-operative rehabilitation, GP referrals, and patients requiring gym-based or hydrotherapy programs. You may also support patients from plastics and other specialties. Using clinical reasoning, you will deliver evidence-based treatments such as manual therapy and tailored exercise programs, promoting self-management to optimise recovery. Working closely within a multidisciplinary team, you will ensure timely, coordinated care and facilitate referrals to specialist services. You will maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service improvement projects and audits. This role offers a varied clinical caseload and opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment committed to high standards and excellent patient outcomes.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients\' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months)

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for the effective organisation, prioritisation, and management of their own caseload within the musculoskeletal specialism, ensuring the appropriate use of clinical judgement to deliver timely and high-quality care. The post-holder will support and supervise junior staff by assisting in prioritising caseloads and providing clinical advice on appropriate interventions for both routine and complex patient presentations on a daily basis.

This role requires the ability to undertake comprehensive patient assessments, including those with diverse, complex, or multi-pathological musculoskeletal conditions. The physiotherapist will apply clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to accurately diagnose patient conditions and formulate individualised, evidence-based treatment programmes. These treatment plans will incorporate a range of physiotherapeutic interventions such as manual therapy, exercise prescription, and patient education to facilitate rehabilitation and optimise outcomes. Comprehensive discharge planning will also be developed in alignment with patient progress.

Effective communication is essential in this role, encompassing the use of verbal and non-verbal methods to engage empathetically with patients, some of whom may have difficulties with understanding or communication and to collaborate efficiently with medical, nursing, and other multidisciplinary team members. The post-holder will provide advice to colleagues on patient management and participate actively in multidisciplinary team meetings, representing the physiotherapy service as required.

The post holder is accountable for maintaining accurate, comprehensive, and timely clinical records in accordance with professional, legal, and organisational standards. They will contribute to service activity data collection, clinical audits, and quality improvement projects to support continuous service development and adherence to best practices.

The post-holder is expected to engage in ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance clinical competencies, keeping abreast of new developments and integrating evidence-based innovations into practice. Participation in staff training, presentations, and reflective practice is encouraged to promote a culture of learning within the team.

Additionally, the physiotherapist may deputise for senior clinicians in managing issues that contribute to service planning and development. They will liaise with senior colleagues to advise on physiotherapy service delivery and disseminate clinical guidelines across the Trust to ensure consistent, high standards of care.

All duties must be performed in compliance with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Conduct, as well as Trust policies and procedures, ensuring professional accountability and the delivery of safe, effective physiotherapy services.

Person Specification

Statutory Registration

• HCPC registration
• Member of CSP

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Up-to-date knowledge of professional practice and new research relating to underpin best practice. Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers. Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession. Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
• Demonstrate organisational and prioritisation skills. Consolidated respiratory learning for respiratory on-call
• Innovative approach to working life. Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery and patient care. Presentation skills. Competent IT skills.

Experience

• Experience of MDT working. Evidence of excellent communication skills within a wide variety of settings. Undergraduate experience including core placements and competencies within musculoskeletal, orthopaedics, neurology and respiratory care
• Previous band 5 or NHS experience relevant to role.

Qualifications

• BSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent. HCPC Registration. Evidence of CPD - An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust values and how you adhere to them
• Recognised relevant academic qualification. -Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Involvement in specific interest groups

Special Requirements

• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to carry out concurrent activities. A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with enthusiasm, flexibility, empathy and reliability. Must be able to participate in 7 day working, including bank holidays and overnight on call. Ability to independently travel across the Trust area to meet the requirements of the post.

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£31,049 to £37,796 a year, per annum, pro rata