Job summary
The MSK Band 5 Physiotherapist within the Single Point of
Access (SPA) service plays a vital role in providing early assessment, triage,
and management of patients presenting with musculoskeletal conditions.
Operating as the first point of contact in the SPA team, you will work
collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to ensure patients receive timely
and appropriate care.
This role involves comprehensive patient assessment,
identification of urgent or complex cases requiring specialist intervention,
and delivery of evidence-based physiotherapy treatment and advice. The Band 5
MSK physiotherapist supports the streamlining of patient pathways by
facilitating direct access to appropriate services, reducing waiting times, and
promoting self-management strategies to improve patient outcomes and reduce
long-term disability.
Key responsibilities include clinical
decision-making, patient education, exercise prescription, and liaising with
other healthcare professionals to coordinate seamless care within the community
and secondary care settings.
Main duties of the job
As
an MSK Band 5 Physiotherapist in the Single Point of Access service, you will
assess patients with a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions, including
acute injuries, fracture clinic follow-ups, post-operative rehabilitation, GP
referrals, and patients requiring gym-based or hydrotherapy programs. You may
also support patients from plastics and other specialties. Using clinical
reasoning, you will deliver evidence-based treatments such as manual therapy
and tailored exercise programs, promoting self-management to optimise recovery.
Working closely within a multidisciplinary team, you will ensure timely,
coordinated care and facilitate referrals to specialist services. You will
maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to service improvement projects
and audits. This role offers a varied clinical caseload and opportunities for
professional development in a supportive environment committed to high
standards and excellent patient outcomes.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents
Over reliance on
AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of
success
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two years
of experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to consider
sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and
have a current visa expiring within 3 months)
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for the effective
organisation, prioritisation, and management of their own caseload within the
musculoskeletal specialism, ensuring the appropriate use of clinical judgement
to deliver timely and high-quality care. The post-holder will support and
supervise junior staff by assisting in prioritising caseloads and providing
clinical advice on appropriate interventions for both routine and complex
patient presentations on a daily basis.
This role requires the ability to undertake comprehensive
patient assessments, including those with diverse, complex, or
multi-pathological musculoskeletal conditions. The physiotherapist will apply
clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to accurately
diagnose patient conditions and formulate individualised, evidence-based
treatment programmes. These treatment plans will incorporate a range of
physiotherapeutic interventions such as manual therapy, exercise prescription,
and patient education to facilitate rehabilitation and optimise outcomes.
Comprehensive discharge planning will also be developed in alignment with
patient progress.
Effective communication is essential in this role,
encompassing the use of verbal and non-verbal methods to engage empathetically
with patients, some of whom may have difficulties with understanding or
communication and to collaborate efficiently with medical, nursing, and other
multidisciplinary team members. The post-holder will provide advice to
colleagues on patient management and participate actively in multidisciplinary
team meetings, representing the physiotherapy service as required.
The post holder is accountable for maintaining accurate,
comprehensive, and timely clinical records in accordance with professional,
legal, and organisational standards. They will contribute to service activity
data collection, clinical audits, and quality improvement projects to support
continuous service development and adherence to best practices.
The post-holder is expected to engage in ongoing
professional development to maintain and enhance clinical competencies, keeping
abreast of new developments and integrating evidence-based innovations into
practice. Participation in staff training, presentations, and reflective
practice is encouraged to promote a culture of learning within the team.
Additionally, the physiotherapist may deputise for senior
clinicians in managing issues that contribute to service planning and
development. They will liaise with senior colleagues to advise on physiotherapy
service delivery and disseminate clinical guidelines across the Trust to ensure
consistent, high standards of care.
All duties must be performed in compliance with
the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Conduct, as well as
Trust policies and procedures, ensuring professional accountability and the
delivery of safe, effective physiotherapy services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible for the effective
organisation, prioritisation, and management of their own caseload within the
musculoskeletal specialism, ensuring the appropriate use of clinical judgement
to deliver timely and high-quality care. The post-holder will support and
supervise junior staff by assisting in prioritising caseloads and providing
clinical advice on appropriate interventions for both routine and complex
patient presentations on a daily basis.
This role requires the ability to undertake comprehensive
patient assessments, including those with diverse, complex, or
multi-pathological musculoskeletal conditions. The physiotherapist will apply
clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to accurately
diagnose patient conditions and formulate individualised, evidence-based
treatment programmes. These treatment plans will incorporate a range of
physiotherapeutic interventions such as manual therapy, exercise prescription,
and patient education to facilitate rehabilitation and optimise outcomes.
Comprehensive discharge planning will also be developed in alignment with
patient progress.
Effective communication is essential in this role,
encompassing the use of verbal and non-verbal methods to engage empathetically
with patients, some of whom may have difficulties with understanding or
communication and to collaborate efficiently with medical, nursing, and other
multidisciplinary team members. The post-holder will provide advice to
colleagues on patient management and participate actively in multidisciplinary
team meetings, representing the physiotherapy service as required.
The post holder is accountable for maintaining accurate,
comprehensive, and timely clinical records in accordance with professional,
legal, and organisational standards. They will contribute to service activity
data collection, clinical audits, and quality improvement projects to support
continuous service development and adherence to best practices.
The post-holder is expected to engage in ongoing
professional development to maintain and enhance clinical competencies, keeping
abreast of new developments and integrating evidence-based innovations into
practice. Participation in staff training, presentations, and reflective
practice is encouraged to promote a culture of learning within the team.
Additionally, the physiotherapist may deputise for senior
clinicians in managing issues that contribute to service planning and
development. They will liaise with senior colleagues to advise on physiotherapy
service delivery and disseminate clinical guidelines across the Trust to ensure
consistent, high standards of care.
All duties must be performed in compliance with
the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Code of Conduct, as well as
Trust policies and procedures, ensuring professional accountability and the
delivery of safe, effective physiotherapy services.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential
Desirable
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of professional practice and new research relating to underpin best practive. Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers. Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession. Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
- Demonstrate organisational and prioritisation skills. Consolidated respiratory learning for respiratory on-call
Desirable
- Innovative approach to working life. Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery and patient care. Presentation skills. Competent IT skills.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of MDT working. Evidence of excellent communication skills within a wide variety of settings. Undergraduate experience including core placements and competencies within musculoskeletal, orthopaedics, neurology and respiratory care
Desirable
- Previous band 5 or NHS experience relevant to role.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent. HCPC Registration. Evidence of CPD - An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust values and how you adhere to them
Desirable
- Recognised relevant academic qualification. -Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Involvement in specific interest groups
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to carry out concurrent activities. A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with enthusiasm, flexibility, empathy and reliability. Must be able to participate in 7 day working, including bank holidays and overnight on call. Ability to independently travel across the Trust area to meet the requirements of the post.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
Essential
Desirable
Special Skills & Knowledge
Essential
- Up-to-date knowledge of professional practice and new research relating to underpin best practive. Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers. Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession. Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
- Demonstrate organisational and prioritisation skills. Consolidated respiratory learning for respiratory on-call
Desirable
- Innovative approach to working life. Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery and patient care. Presentation skills. Competent IT skills.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of MDT working. Evidence of excellent communication skills within a wide variety of settings. Undergraduate experience including core placements and competencies within musculoskeletal, orthopaedics, neurology and respiratory care
Desirable
- Previous band 5 or NHS experience relevant to role.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent. HCPC Registration. Evidence of CPD - An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust values and how you adhere to them
Desirable
- Recognised relevant academic qualification. -Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Involvement in specific interest groups
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to carry out concurrent activities. A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with enthusiasm, flexibility, empathy and reliability. Must be able to participate in 7 day working, including bank holidays and overnight on call. Ability to independently travel across the Trust area to meet the requirements of the post.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
