Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Surgery Care Group at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for an Upper Limb Advanced Practice Physiotherapist to join our dynamic Musculoskeletal (MSK) Service.
This Band 8a role is also open to a physiotherapist looking to train and develop into an advanced practice role, initially at a band 7 level with a mapped competency pathway to band 8a practice.
The successful candidate will work across all Trust sites, delivering high-quality clinical care while also contributing to leadership, education, and research as part of a progressive multidisciplinary team.
Working autonomously, you will assess and manage patients with complex upper limb presentations, using advanced clinical reasoning, diagnostic imaging, and evidence-based practice to guide management plans. Your expert knowledge of both conservative and surgical options will support shared decision-making with patients. As a clinical leader, you will mentor colleagues, contribute to service development, lead audits, and engage with ongoing research.
This role requires a highly experienced MSK practitioner who shares our Trust values of kindness, openness, and excellence, and who is committed to continuous professional development across all four pillars of practice.
Main duties of the job
1. Work autonomously at an expert level of triage, clinical assessment, treatment, and management for patients referred to the musculoskeletal service.
2. Provide highly specialist musculoskeletal assessments to patients with complex upper limb presentations, formulating clinical diagnoses and management plans.
3. Utilise best available evidence to inform treatment and management options, discussing benefits, burdens, outcomes, and uncertainties with service users.
4. Act as a clinical leader, providing support, supervision, and mentorship to colleagues and peers.
5. Engage with and lead workstream activities, including audit, service evaluation, and research programmes.
6. Undertake regular CPD, clinical and managerial supervision, and build an annual portfolio of evidence to support assurance, appraisal, and continued development.
Working for our organisation
Our benefits
We offer a range of benefits to support our staff including:
7. Access to the NHS Pension Scheme, providing generous benefits upon retirement, as well as a lump sum and pension for dependants
8. 27 days holiday rising to 33 days (depending on NHS Trust service)
9. A variety of different types of paid and unpaid leave covering emergency and planned leave
10. Confidential advice and support on personal, work, family and relationship issues, 24/7, from our Employee Assistance Programme
11. NHS Car Lease scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
12. An extensive range of learning and development opportunities
13. Discounts on restaurants, getaways, shopping, motoring, cinema and finance from a range of providers
For further information on the fantastic range of benefits we offer please visit the Trust's dedicated Staff Benefits pages.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Trust Information Pack:
A full description of the role is available in the attachment: job description.
Please note that if a high number of applications are received this advert may close early. You are advised to submit your application at the earliest opportunity.
Working for the Trust
Across our organisation, people are guided by values that were co-developed with staff: we are kind; we are open; and we pursue excellence.
Our values play into our ambition to develop a more diverse workforce, truly representative of our communities. We welcome applications from everyone, while working with our Staff Networks - including our Race Equality, LGBTQ+, Disability and Carers Networks - to increase the number of applications we receive from different backgrounds. If there is anything we can do to make our application process more accessible to you, please contact: .
As part of seeking to become more inclusive, we will consider requests for flexible working from the start of your employment. It may not be suitable for every role, but we will try and be supportive where we can. We would encourage you to speak to the recruiting manager named within this advert to discuss any requirements you may have.
Armed Forces Friendly Employer
We are holders of the Gold Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we have made a statement of intent to support all Defence personnel, including with applications for employment.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
14. HCPC registered physiotherapist
15. Professional Physiotherapy qualification (i.e BSc or MSc)
16. Level 7 qualification in Advanced Practice
17. Evidence of relevant structured CPD activities
18. Evidence of CPD activities across all 4 pillars of practice
Desirable criteria
19. Completion of an accredited injection therapy training course
20. IR(ME)R authorisation: Completion of IRMER training
21. Musculoskeletal image interpretation course (level 7)
22. Evidence of own contribution to research activity in musculoskeletal health
23. Evidence of having led and presented own research or audit activity
24. Evidence of planned career progression through appropriate CPD, learning activity, and career development awards
25. Ability to transport self between sites within the MSK service footprint
Experience and Knowledge
Essential criteria
26. Significant post qualification experience as an expert musculoskeletal practitioner at either enhanced or advanced practice level (Band 7 or Band 8a)
27. Expert specialist knowledge of musculoskeletal pathology, diagnostics, treatment, and management for upper limb conditions
28. Experience of leadership, change management, service/policy improvement within the musculoskeletal field for example in the development of clinical pathways, research and audit projects, peer education etc
29. Experience of supporting others including mentorship and supervision with both pre and post registration colleagues
30. Experience of research and audit methodology and delivery
31. In depth understanding of relevant current issues in health care including Advanced practice, and scope of practice