Senior Physiotherapist B6 - MSK

Transformation Unit; Christchurch; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking Senior Physiotherapist (Band 6) to join our MSK out-patient rotation across three sites – Poole, Christchurch and Bournemouth. This permanent role offers in-house training and opportunities to advance within an expanding NHS foundation trust.

Successful candidates will provide clinically reasoned assessments and evidence-based treatments, supervise junior staff, and engage in a comprehensive development program to enhance MSK expertise.

Qualifications

• Honours BSc. or equivalent in Physiotherapy.
• HCPC Registration is essential.
• Post-graduate M-level study in a relevant clinical subject.

Responsibilities

• Assess and treat adults with musculoskeletal pathology using evidence-based approaches.
• Develop clinical skills and supervise junior staff, students and therapy technicians.
• Participate in in-service training and ongoing professional development.

Skills

Self-motivation

Reliability

Education

Honours BSc in Physiotherapy

HCPC Registration

Post-grad M-level study in a relevant clinical subject

Job description

Employer University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site University Hospitals Dorset - All Sites Town Dorset Salary £39,959 - £48,117 pa/pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 04/11/2026

Senior Physiotherapist B6 - MSK

Band 6

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with 'university hospital' status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you'll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we're also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

At University Hospitals Dorset, we take pride in investing in the professional growth of our Band 6 Physiotherapists. We are looking to recruit talented individuals into recently vacated Band 6 positions within our MSK out patient department in permanent rotational posts.
By joining our Band 6 rotation, you will gain access to our comprehensive in-house training and development programme, paving the way for your own career advancement. The rotations are spread across all three sites, Poole, Christchurch and Bournemouth with patients referred from orthopaedics, primary and secondary care as well as self-referral.

University Hospitals Dorset has been created following the merger of Poole, and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Trusts. As a large NHS foundation trust, we can offer a wide range of rotations to develop your skills. Our close affiliation with two local Higher Education Institutions is mutually beneficial and offers great opportunities to advance your career and inspire the next generation of physiotherapists.

Our Christchurch site has recently benefited from a million-pound refurbishment, providing two spacious physiotherapy gyms and consulting rooms.

Base Location: Christchurch or Poole Hospital or Bournemouth

Interview Date: November 4th

Main duties of the job

Successful candidates will be responsible for the clinically reasoned assessment and evidence-based treatment of patients presenting with musculoskeletal pathology. As a Senior Physiotherapist you will be encouraged to develop your clinical skills and to participate in the supervision of junior staff, students and therapy technicians. We have a comprehensive in-service training program and a highly skilled and experienced senior workforce who can support your development.

UHD is a major trauma centre and currently undergoing a transformation process as our two trusts merge. As such there are excellent opportunities to develop your skills in this area. Our more senior clinicians are well established in the fracture clinic, elective clinics, FCP and ED. We encourage our staff to upskill wherever possible and are always looking out for motivated team members to step into enhanced roles.

• Spinal/upper and lower limb
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Hand therapy
• Occupational Health
• In house work at local GP surgeries
• Hydrotherapy

Working for our organisation

We recognise the growing preference of maintaining an interest in a variety of clinical areas and support flexibility in roles, we promote the importance of a good work life balance and will consider requests provided the core needs of the service are met.

We are open to applications from both aspirational and established clinicians who are team players and passionate about delivering quality, patient centred services. These roles are open to job share and part time applicants. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more or visit us in person.

Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Successful candidates will be responsible for the clinically reasoned assessment and evidence-based treatment of patients presenting with musculoskeletal pathology. As a Senior Physiotherapist you will be encouraged to develop your clinical skills and to participate in the supervision of junior staff, students and therapy technicians. We have a comprehensive in-service training program and a highly skilled and experienced senior workforce who can support your development.

UHD is a major trauma centre and currently undergoing a transformation process as our two trusts merge. As such there are excellent opportunities to develop your skills in this area. Our more senior clinicans are well established in the fracture clinic, elective clinics, FCP and ED. We encourage our staff to upskill wherever possible and are always looking out for motivated team members to step into enhanced roles.

• Spinal/upper and lower limb
• Hand therapy
• In house work at local GP surgeries
• Hydrotherapy

We recognise the growing preference of maintaining an interest in a variety of clinical areas and support flexibility in roles, we promote the importance of a good work life balance and will consider requests provided the core needs of the service are met.

We are open to applications from both aspirational and established clinicians who are team players and passionate about delivering quality, patient centred services. These roles are open to job share and part time applicants. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more or visit us in person.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Honours BSc. or equivalent in Physiotherapy
• HCPC Registration
• Post-grad M-level study in a relevant clinical subject in addition to essential criteria

Experience

• Minimum 2 years of post-graduate experience that includes inpatient and outpatient working in NHS; all-round MSK spinal and peripheral experience.
• Recognised validated MSK specialist education and training eg. McKenzie Institute, MACP, SoMM.

Technical skills and competencies

• Proven experience and skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management of a caseload of adults with MSK pathology
• Familiarity with patient pathways and management options within the NHS
• Proven team-working aptitudes and experience
• Proven initiative and prioritisation of working in the clinical environment
• Demonstrable ability to work in a busy environment and withstand pressure
• To be competent to deal calmly and professionally with patients, relative and colleagues
• Trained/educated in clinical skills associated with extended scope of practice in MSK Therapy such as IR(ME)R acupuncture, Xray interpretation et cetera.
• Experience in the formulation and delivery of clinical and information governance systems, clinical operational procedural documentation as would be necessary in a specific healthcare setting eg. a GP practice

Knowledge

• Demonstrable familiarity with the NHS MSK pathways, the MSK Multidisciplinary team, Primary and secondary healthcare interfaces, technical terms, policies and legislative procedures as they apply to the management of patients referred to your service for further management
• Ability to work independently when supervision is scheduled rather that constantly available for reference.

Personal attributes

• Self-motivation and reliability
• Ability to respond positively to change.

Language

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

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 Pete Webster Job title MSK Operational Lead - Christchurch Site, UHD Email address [email protected] Telephone number 0300 019 4418