Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist, Orthopaedics

North Island - Waikato; Waikato; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist to deliver specialised orthopaedic MSK assessments within the National Orthopaedic MSK Pathway. This full-time role focuses on first specialist appointments and advanced assessment with autonomy, contributing to patient outcomes.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team, applying evidence-based practices, maintaining APC, and ensuring high-quality care across Waikato’s hospital services.

Qualifications

• Must be registered in General Scope of Practice: Physiotherapist.
• Annual Practising Certificate (APC) required.
• Experience in orthopaedics/MSK and advanced practice fields is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Providing expert-level clinical assessments with high autonomy, requesting investigations and formulating differential diagnoses.
• Identifying serious, urgent, or emergent pathologies and escalating care as needed.
• Utilising evidence-based practices to guide management recommendations for surgical and non-surgical options.
• Promoting and demonstrating quality in clinical practice and service delivery through continuous quality improvement.

Skills

Orthopaedics

MSK

Clinical assessment

Communication

Education

General Scope of Practice registration

Job description

Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist, Orthopaedics

• Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist, Orthopaedics for the National Orthopaedic MSK Pathway
• Full time (80 hours per fortnight)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As an Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist, you will play a pivotal role in delivering specialised physiotherapy services to patients on the MSK pathway. You will work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to develop and implement individualised treatment plans, utilising advanced clinical skills and evidence-based practices. Your expertise will contribute to improving patient outcomes and enhancing overall quality of care.

This role will be focused on delivering first specialist appointments as part of the Orthopaedic MSK pathway. This is a perfect opportunity for an experienced physiotherapist to gain experience of this pathway.

The Advanced Clinician Physiotherapist is responsible for the clinical assessment, diagnostic workup, and identification of appropriate management pathways for patients referred to the Hospital Specialist Services Orthopaedic department via the Orthopaedic or Orthopaedic Triage Service referral pathways, both of which fall under planned care services. This is a non-interventional role focused on assessment and management.

Key responsibilities

• Providing expert-level clinical assessments with high autonomy, requesting investigations and formulating differential diagnoses.
• Identifying serious, urgent, or emergent pathologies and escalating care as needed.
• Utilising evidence-based practices to guide management recommendations for surgical and non-surgical options.
• Promoting and demonstrating quality in clinical practice and service delivery through continuous quality improvement.

About the Service

The Physiotherapy service has over 100 staff including Physiotherapists, assistants and administrators that work across the large geographical area that is Waikato region. We have staff based at Waikato Hospital and at our other rural hospitals: Thames, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa and Taumarunui. We also have staff located at our many community bases throughout the Waikato District.

Our vision is to provide quality physiotherapy care to promote, encourage and enable health, wellbeing and independence for the patients and whānau in the communities we serve. Our mission is to ensure that patients receive excellence of care, that our staff are supported and trained to work and maintain levels of evidence-based practice, and that our service is equitable, efficient and effective in order to meet the needs of our patients and their whānau. We pride ourselves on being a friendly, supportive team who are keen to grow and develop our staff.

About Hamilton

Waikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton and is a leading tertiary teaching hospital located in Hamilton, New Zealand, serving as the regional hub for the Midland area, which includes the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, and Taranaki districts. With around 722 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres, and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre, Waikato Hospital provides comprehensive hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. As a major teaching hospital with affiliations to the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Wintec, it offers a dynamic learning environment and access to research opportunities. The hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities located on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus, with both road and air ambulance support.

Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.

About you

You are an experienced physiotherapist with strong experience in orthopaedics and MSK. You are a clear communicator and confident collaborator, with the interpersonal skills to work collaboratively amongst a multidisciplinary team.

Physiotherapists in New Zealand can obtain registration under three scopes of practice

• General Scope of Practice: Physiotherapist
• Advanced Practice Physiotherapist Scope of Practice: Physiotherapist
• Specialist Scope of Practice Physiotherapist

For this role you should be registered in General Scope of Practice: Physiotherapist. This does not necessitate that you are registered as Advanced Practice with the Physiotherapy Board. You will be working at an advanced practice level within a defined field standard of Orthopaedics. This is an emerging field of practice in Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and is equivalent to advanced clinical practice roles internationally.

All Physiotherapists are expected to hold a current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) at all times, meet the expectations outlined in the Physiotherapy Standards Framework and comply with the Recertification Programme and Audit requirements of the Physiotherapy Board of New Zealand (PBNZ).

You are also required to have a current valid full New Zealand drivers licence.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: WAI32713

Location:

North Island - Waikato - All values

Job type:

Job type: Permanent Full time

Expertise:

Clinical - Allied Health - Physiotherapist