Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in MSK Rheumatology Rehabilitation

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 12 May 2025

Job summary

Do you have a passion and special interest in Rheumatology and Physiotherapy Rehabilitation? Would you like to lead on the development and provision of services related to the physiotherapy management of patients with complex rheumatological disorders?

We have developed a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic, dynamic and suitably qualified physiotherapist to have a pivotal role within the Musculoskeletal (MSK) Outpatient Therapy Service at University College Hospital (UCH). As the Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Rheumatology, you will manage a caseload consisting of patients referred by UCLH Consultants with new and existing inflammatory arthritides and connective tissues diseases such as Axial Spondyloarthropathy, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder. You will have a key role in disease education, flare up management and formulating rehabilitation plans including access to a hydrotherapy pool and gym. You may see some orthopaedic, neurosurgery and sports medicine patients.

We may be able to consider a developmental Band 7 post for appropriate candidateswho don't yet display the competencies for the band 8aroleat interview and show potential to work at a Band 8a level in the near future.

Main duties of the job

You will have the chance to work alongside the wider Rheumatology multi-disciplinary team to help contribute to and shape the delivery of a high quality, efficient and effective Rheumatology Rehab Outpatient Physiotherapy Service.

You will be working alongside other senior clinicians to help deliver, co-ordinate and evaluate the MSK Physiotherapy service with opportunities to advance and progress service development. You will work to the highest standards to facilitate evidence-informed patient care, playing a key role in supporting and sharing knowledge with other staff members to facilitate and develop physiotherapy best practice in line with local and national guidelines.

Allied to your clinical work will be managerial and administrative duties. You will have responsibility for supervising and appraising junior staff and for mentoring student physiotherapists.

You will be well supported in all your roles by fellow Clinical Specialist Physiotherapists, Consultant Physiotherapists, Senior Physiotherapists and Heads of Department. We also offer support for on-going personal development, clinical excellence and leadership skills training.

About us

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.

We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:

  • University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)

  • National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery

  • Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals

  • University College Hospital Grafton Way Building

  • Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine

  • University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre

  • The Hospital for Tropical Diseases

  • University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street

We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.

We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6223

Job locations

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

You will be required to have significant previous MSK outpatient experience at Band 7 level including Rheumatology and orthopaedic patient management. Ideal candidates will have a range of manual, communication, clinical reasoning and rehabilitative skills appropriate to the caseload and will be expected to provide an accountable, autonomous and high-quality physiotherapy service.

You should demonstrate evidence of ongoing CPD, including that to a Masters level or equivalent; have knowledge of current legislation, good interpersonal, communication and clinical skills and be able to work in a flexible manner. As an expert clinician and leader, you will be able to prove your ability to assist in the education, training and supervision of less experienced physiotherapy staff as well as other allied health and medical colleagues.

We are a thriving department in the centre of London that boasts fantastic development and educational opportunities. We have good links with our medical and surgical colleagues, community facilities and run a variety of well-established rehabilitation classes.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.

You will be required to have significant previous MSK outpatient experience at Band 7 level including Rheumatology and orthopaedic patient management. Ideal candidates will have a range of manual, communication, clinical reasoning and rehabilitative skills appropriate to the caseload and will be expected to provide an accountable, autonomous and high-quality physiotherapy service.

You should demonstrate evidence of ongoing CPD, including that to a Masters level or equivalent; have knowledge of current legislation, good interpersonal, communication and clinical skills and be able to work in a flexible manner. As an expert clinician and leader, you will be able to prove your ability to assist in the education, training and supervision of less experienced physiotherapy staff as well as other allied health and medical colleagues.

We are a thriving department in the centre of London that boasts fantastic development and educational opportunities. We have good links with our medical and surgical colleagues, community facilities and run a variety of well-established rehabilitation classes.

Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! : University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

*In the most recent NHS staff survey UCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the second year in a row.

UCLH top trust to work at in England for the second year running! University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Once again, UCLH has received the highest score of all general acute and acute/community NHS trusts in England for staff that would recommend us as a place to work.

To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit: Why Choose UCLH?

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Good written/spoken English
  • Physiotherapy degree/or equivalent
  • Physiotherapy HPC Registration
  • Level 7 academic achievement (eg MSc modules) in Physiotherapy or in relevant subject
  • Significant post qualification experience working with musculoskeletal patients in the National Health Service (NHS).
  • Experience at Band 7 level in Musculoskeletal outpatients
  • Experience of management of patients with complex Rheumatological disorders
  • Evidence of commitment to advanced clinical and non-clinical continued professional development within musculoskeletal outpatients, e.g. post registration training, management competencies and evidence of a detailed personal development portfolio.
  • Awareness of current evidence pertaining to Musculoskeletal Rheumatology Physiotherapy and application to clinical practice, using advanced clinical reasoning skills.
  • Previous experience of supervision and clinical education of a broad range of clinicians and students.
  • Teaching experience to uni and multi-disciplinary groups with evidence of ability to deliver high quality presentations to senior staff.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the research process

Desirable

  • Experience at clinical specialist level

Managerial

Essential

  • Experience of managing a team including supervision and appraisal
  • Proven clinical and managerial leadership ability.
  • Active participation in Clinical Audit and Policy/Guideline development.

Communication

Essential

  • Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
  • Competent IT skills
Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Good written/spoken English
  • Physiotherapy degree/or equivalent
  • Physiotherapy HPC Registration
  • Level 7 academic achievement (eg MSc modules) in Physiotherapy or in relevant subject
  • Significant post qualification experience working with musculoskeletal patients in the National Health Service (NHS).
  • Experience at Band 7 level in Musculoskeletal outpatients
  • Experience of management of patients with complex Rheumatological disorders
  • Evidence of commitment to advanced clinical and non-clinical continued professional development within musculoskeletal outpatients, e.g. post registration training, management competencies and evidence of a detailed personal development portfolio.
  • Awareness of current evidence pertaining to Musculoskeletal Rheumatology Physiotherapy and application to clinical practice, using advanced clinical reasoning skills.
  • Previous experience of supervision and clinical education of a broad range of clinicians and students.
  • Teaching experience to uni and multi-disciplinary groups with evidence of ability to deliver high quality presentations to senior staff.
  • Knowledge and understanding of the research process

Desirable

  • Experience at clinical specialist level

Managerial

Essential

  • Experience of managing a team including supervision and appraisal
  • Proven clinical and managerial leadership ability.
  • Active participation in Clinical Audit and Policy/Guideline development.

Communication

Essential

  • Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
  • Competent IT skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Employer's website

https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Head of MSK OP Therapies

Bethan Lloyd

bethan.lloyd@nhs.net

Date posted

28 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£61,927 to £68,676 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS, pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

309-UCLH-6223

Job locations

UCLH

235 Euston Road

London

NW1 2BU


Supporting documents

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