Senior Orthopaedic Physiotherapist

Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Oswestry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading orthopaedic hospital in the UK is seeking a Senior Orthopaedic Physiotherapist to provide high-quality physiotherapy services, manage complex patients, and supervise junior staff. This role offers extensive professional development opportunities in a supportive environment, with a focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities

Strong links with universities

Qualifications

• Proven rotational experience in orthopaedics, respiratory, musculo-skeletal, and neurology.
• Evidence of post-graduate learning in clinical skills.
• Strong knowledge of a range of orthopaedic conditions.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced physiotherapeutic assessments and management.
• Plan and deliver high-quality treatment programmes.
• Supervise and support less experienced staff.

Skills

Communication

Advanced physiotherapy assessments

Team management

Clinical governance understanding

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Valid HCPC Registration

Job description

Senior Orthopaedic Physiotherapist

The closing date is 08 December 2025

To assist in the provision of a high quality physiotherapy service to the Orthopaedic unit. To undertake comprehensive assessment of patients and to devise and deliver individual or group treatment programmes for these patients.

Main duties of the job

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessments and management of patients with complex physical and /or chronic presentation and subsequently plan and deliver high quality treatment programmes.

To hold responsibility for own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, working without direct supervision. (Access to advice and support from a senior physiotherapist is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated.)

Be involved in audits, surveys and evidence-based projects to further own and teams clinical practice. To make recommendations to the clinical leader of service and be involved in the implementation of any associated changes to practice by the team.

To supervise less experienced Rotational Physiotherapists, Therapy Support Workers and students working on the unit.

To deputise for the Team Leader when necessary, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

About us

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

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

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise.

To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills tailored and specific to formulate individualised treatment plans, using evidence based practice, advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills/options.

To accept clinical responsibility, as an autonomous practitioner, for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.

To assist the Team Leader in presenting and explaining the latest advances in orthopaedic procedures and rehabilitation to rotational / on-call staff, to ensure their competence in carrying out weekend duties.

Assess the patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain their valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

To reassess/evaluate patient progress and alter treatment programmes as required.

To represent the physiotherapy service and / or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings or ward rounds, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the overall treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient diagnosis, progress, appropriate referrals for further interventions and involvement in discharge planning.

To communicate effectively with patients and their carers, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure their understanding of their condition. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating; for example patients who are deaf, blind, illiterate, dysphasic, experiencing difficulties accepting their diagnosis, and for those who may not speak English or it is their second language.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date treatment records for your patients, in line with legal (CSP Standards of Physiotherapy practice) and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports or letters when appropriate.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all gym equipment and patient aids / appliances.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

To be responsible for maintaining your own manual dexterity and competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. Keep abreast of developments in the profession and encourage others to do likewise. To be aware of professional clinical interest groups and other professional development activities.

To set high personal and professional standards of work within the CSP/Trusts clinical guidelines, National Service Frameworks (NSF) and NICE guidance and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.

To be responsible for complying with your own agreed personal development plan (PDP) identified at appraisal, to develop knowledge and competencies further.

Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence based practice, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types.

Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and/or delivery of presentations at staff meetings, tutorials, shared learning sessions, external courses and peer review.

Attend annual statutory training days and be responsible for applying the learnt principles to everyday practice e.g. departmental fire evacuations, response to a hydrotherapy pool emergency situation and correct evacuation technique, safe manual handling techniques; thereby providing a Safe working environment for patients and peers.

To take on the optional responsibility of link training for Health and Safety, Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or Manual handling, or some other additional training duty within the department as requested.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of walking aids, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, gym and other therapeutic equipment by patients, carers and other Healthcare professionals, through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To be responsible for teaching student physiotherapists to graduate level in physiotherapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.

To provide guidance and supervision, to rotational physiotherapists, Therapy Support Workers and assistants working in the area.

To be responsible for organising and planning own work caseload to meet service and patient priorities, realising the need to be flexible and being able to adjust plans as situations arise.

To deputise for the Team Leader in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the service in the respective area, organising the workload to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data or statistics for use in service audit and research projects. To undertake audit/research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and / or physiotherapy department research initiatives.

To attend departmental meetings and contribute ideas for the progress and planning of the service provided.

To comply with departmental and organisational policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Training

• Degree in Physiotherapy or Grad. Dip. Phys.(or equivalent)
• Valid HCPC Registration

Experience

• Proven rotational experience as a Junior especially orthopaedics, respiratory, musculo-skeletal, neurology
• CPD portfolio with evidence of IST and reflective learning
• Evidence of post graduate learning in clinical skills

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of range of orthopaedic conditions
• Able to present information, written and orally in a clear and logical manner
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implications eg quality, audit

Interests

• To demonstrate self confidence and maturity in work and other activities
• Committed to personal and team development

Circumstances

• Must be able to take part in the on call rota

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