Clinical Physiotherapist Specialist - Rheumatology
NHS AfC: Band 7
Main area Rheumatology Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 361-7833991-A
Site Lister Hospital Town Stevenage Salary £47,810 - £54,710 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 03/06/2026 23:59
Job overview
We are recruiting for a Clinical Physiotherapist Specialist who share our vision to be trusted to provide consistently outstanding care and exemplary service to our patients. This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role within a dynamic Rheumatology Service, delivering highly specialist care while influencing service development and clinical excellence. In this advanced clinical role, you will provide expert assessment, diagnosis, and management for patients living with highly complex rheumatological conditions. Working across specialist outpatient clinics, you’ll apply advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice to deliver outstanding patient-centered care. This is more than a clinical role — it’s an opportunity to lead, innovate, and elevate the service.
Main duties of the job
* Independently assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients with complex rheumatological presentations
* Managing highly specialised caseloads within outpatient rheumatology clinics
* Applying advanced clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice to inform care plans
* Providing clinical leadership within the Rheumatology Service
* Contributing to service development, quality improvement, and innovation
* Supporting and mentoring colleagues to foster excellence in practice
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification applicant pack for further detailed information regarding this role.
Person specification
Qualifications / Training
* HCPC registration
* Degree (BSc) in Physiotherapy or equivalent
* Evidence of CPD in rheumatology, MSK or related areas
* Membership of CSP and relevant specialist interest groups
* Postgraduate Master’s level study or modules in rheumatology or MSK or equivalent experience
* Leadership/management training
* Soft tissue and Joint injection competence
Previous Experience
* Post-registration experience including rheumatology and/or advanced MSK roles
* Demonstrated leadership experience (formal or informal)
* Experience of supervising junior staff and students
* Evidence of teaching and training others
* Experience in audit, research or service evaluation
* Experience managing complex caseloads independently
* Participation in regional or national rheumatology networks
* Experience in service development or pathway redesign
* Previous Band 7 experience
Skills
* Advanced clinical reasoning and assessment skills
* Highly developed verbal, written and non-verbal communication
* Ability to lead, supervise and motivate staff
* Strong organisational skills with ability to prioritise
* Audit and basic research skills
* Ability to work under pressure & adapt to changing clinical environments
* Proactive, supportive team member with ability to use initiative
* Competent in IT (Word, Excel, EPR, PowerPoint)
* Communication (e.g., motivational interviewing, CBT-informed approaches)
Knowledge
* In-depth knowledge of rheumatology physiotherapy including inflammatory, degenerative, connective tissue and hypermobility conditions
* Knowledge of rheumatology guidelines, NICE pathways and national standards
* Strong understanding of MDT working and long-term condition management
* Awareness of safeguarding, equality and diversity legislation
* Understanding of NHS policy, AHP frameworks and service delivery models
* Critical appraisal and research methodology
* Knowledge of service transformation and pathway development
Other Requirements
* Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
* Role model our Trust values every day
* Ability to travel across sites
* Physically able to undertake clinical duties including patient handling
* Commitment to ongoing personal development
* Car owner/driver (unless exempt by Equality Act)
Committed to our Community
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion for all job applicants, staff, patients and the wider community. We want to create a workforce which represents the communities we serve. We are on a journey to become a more inclusive organisation and we welcome applications from everyone regardless of their background. In particular we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities, and candidates from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds who are currently under-represented in various parts of our workforce.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and achieved our status in 2019.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
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