Senior Physiotherapist – Acute Paediatrics MSK

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Luton; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Job summary

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Senior Physiotherapist in Acute Paediatrics MSK to join our dynamic therapies team. You will deliver high quality paediatric MSK care, conduct advanced assessments, and develop patient-centred treatment programs in an outpatient setting.

The role offers opportunities for clinical leadership, supervision of students, and involvement in audits and service development within a supportive Band 6 framework at the Luton site.

Qualifications

• Registered physiotherapist with HCPC.
• Experience in paediatric MSK preferred.
• Experience in NHS settings is advantageous.
• Commitment to CPD and service development.

Responsibilities

• Provide a high standard physiotherapy service within Acute Paediatrics MSK Outpatients.
• Perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment and formulate an individualised treatment plan.
• Work autonomously with access to supervision when needed.
• Supervise, educate and assess physiotherapy students on placement.
• Contribute to development and delivery of education for other health professionals.
• Engage in audits and service development to improve patient care.

Skills

Paediatric MSK

Advanced assessment

Autonomous practice

Clinical supervision

Education

Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

CPD portfolio

Clinical interest group membership

Job description

Senior Physiotherapist – Acute Paediatrics MSK

NHS AfC: Band 6

Main area Therapies Grade NHS AfC: Band 6 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Secondment cover) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 418-DTO4575-KA

Site Luton and Dunstable Hospital Town Luton Salary £39,959 - £48,117 PA Salary period Yearly Closing 24/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 07/10/2026

Job overview

Our Acute Paediatric MSK team are looking for a friendly and enthusiastic physiotherapist to join our dynamic team. Applications are invited from suitably motivated and innovative individuals to join an energetic and evolving Team within a reputable Trust. The post holders are required to be enthusiastic and passionate about the field of paediatric MSK physiotherapy and have suitable knowledge of the specialist area.

This is an exciting opportunity to provide assessment and management of children presenting with a wide range of MSK conditions including acute and chronic MSK presentations, developmental and orthopaedic conditions within an outpatient setting

This post will allow you to work autonomously whilst being supported by an experienced team. With opportunities to develop a wide range of clinical, managerial, teaching and supervision skills. You will play an active role in audits and service development. We offer a well-established supervision and appraisal structure. We encourage individual progression within the Band 6 role and have a firm commitment to in-service training and CPD.

We are looking for a clinician with excellent communication and clinical reasoning skills, a passion for paediatric MSK physiotherapy and a commitment to delivering patient centred, evidence based care.

Our Therapy Department is a friendly, forward thinking and innovative department with a well- established Clinical Governance programme and a focus on developing staff.

Main duties of the job

To provide a high standard physiotherapy service within the field of Acute Paediatrics MSK Outpatients.

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to determine a diagnosis, formulate and deliver an appropriate, effective individualised treatment programme

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To supervise, educate and assess physiotherapy students on placement within the Acute Paediatric therapy team. Work closely with the university and comply with all standards required for the degree level qualification.

To participate in the development and delivery of education and training for other health professionals caring for patients with Acute Paediatric conditions

To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for patients with physiotherapy problems within the MSK service. You will be working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a more senior physiotherapist is available if required. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a Band 7 clinician, but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed

Supported by the Band 7 Acute Paediatric physiotherapy lead, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice and improve service delivery.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Objectives & Purpose of the post

1. To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to determine a diagnosis and formulate and deliver an appropriate, effective individualised treatment programme

2. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

3. To plan, supervise, educate and assess physiotherapy students on placement within the Acute Paediatric therapy team. Work closely with the university and comply with all standards required for the degree level qualification.

4. To participate in the development and delivery of education and training for other health professionals caring for patients with Acute Paediatric conditions.

5. To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for patients with physiotherapy problems within the Paediatric Musculoskeletal service. You will be working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a more senior physiotherapist is available if required. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a Band 7 clinician, but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed.

6. Supported by the Band 7 Acute Paediatric Physiotherapy Lead, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to further own and team’s clinical practice and improve service delivery. Make recommendations and occasionally implement changes to practice or service protocols, as agreed with the Band 7 lead.

7. To deputise for the band 7 Acute Paediatric team leader as required.

Please ensure you speak to your Line Manager before applying for this secondment opportunity and visit the Trust's Secondment Policy.

Person specification

Knowledge and skills

• Knowledge of physiotherapy related to working within the paediatric MSK environment
• Knowledge of a broad range of injuries and conditions relevant to the speciality
• Knowledge of a broad range of physiotherapy assessment and treatment techniques relating to the speciality
• Able to work in a fast paced environment and maintain judgement and work under pressure
• Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills

Qualifications

• Diploma/degree in physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendances at recent post graduate courses/ in-service trainings relevant to the speciality
• Membership of relevant clinical interest group

Experience

• Substantive broad based postgraduate experience to include B5 rotations in a variety of areas
• Substantive experience within Paediatrics
• MSK experience
• Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Experience of supervision of staff or students including staff appraisal
• Teaching/training groups or individuals
• Decision making involving complex facts/situations
• Rotations completed in paediatrics, respiratory, orthopaedics, musculoskeletal outpatients and elderly rehabilitation including neurology
• Experience within the NHS
• Involvement in service improvement and evaluation via project management or clinical audit

communication

• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication
• Ability to disseminate complex information to others
• Be able to communicate where there may be barriers to understanding
• Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner

It is an exciting time to join Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first six months in post.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Nicola Shaw Job title B8a Paediatric Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01582 497350

If you have problems applying, contact

Address Luton & Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust
Lewsey Road
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU4 0DZ
Telephone [phone]