Clinical Lead Physiotherapist with a special interest in Rheumatology
The closing date is 19 April 2026
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Are you a experienced physiotherapist with a passion for Rheumatology and musculoskeletal care? We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and skilled clinician to join our MSK therapy service as clinical lead in rheumatology.
We are seeking someone who is-
* Well organised and confident in communication and problem solving.
* Proven Experience in Rheumatology Conditions and Physiotherapy.
* Enthusiastic about improving service and supporting the growth of others.
The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across all of our sites.
To be eligible to apply for this role candidates must have undergraduate and or post graduate experience in the NHS as a Physiotherapist.
To have a specialist interest in Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders, advancing clinical practice in this area of work and taking a lead in evolving and embedding the evidence base into clinical practice.
To act as the Clinical Lead for the Out Patient Physiotherapy Service, in relation to musculoskeletal care of patients.
The post holder will have the skills and experience to manage patients with a long‑term condition, providing therapeutic care as well as education on all musculoskeletal conditions. They will be able to offer self‑management strategies appropriate for inflammatory conditions such as Spondyloarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, bone diseases such as Osteoporosis, connective tissue disorders and long‑term musculoskeletal problems such as hypermobility syndrome.
Main duties of the job
* Perform highly specialist assessment and treatment of all MSK patients, in particular those with Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders to facilitate a smooth, efficient and effective patient pathway.
* Determine a clinical diagnosis, develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide highly specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.
* Manage own highly specialist caseload in this area.
* Establish relationships with other stakeholders and services involved in the care of rheumatology and connective tissue disorder patients.
* Support and advise other services, eg Pain Clinic, on the delivery of the service.
* Educate and train Physiotherapists and qualified and non‑qualified healthcare / social services / education staff including medical staff.
* Work autonomously within Trust policies and standards of professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up‑to‑date records.
* Assist the Team Leader in the daily operational management of the Out‑Patient Physiotherapy Team.
About us
CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.
Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.
Job responsibilities
Clinical Duties
* Work within the Out‑Patient Physiotherapy Service leading, coordinating and developing effective clinical interventions for all msk patients and those within the speciality of, but not exclusive to, Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders, in order to advance clinical practice across the service in line with the current evidence base.
* Manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients/clients at a highly specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical records.
* Provide highly specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listed, including but not limited to:
o Physical rehabilitation through manual therapy.
o Physical rehabilitation through exercise and function.
o Physical rehabilitation through pain relief (e.g., acupuncture, injection therapy, electrotherapy).
o Complex bio‑psychosocial assessment of patients and carers.
o Assessment for assistive equipment, splinting and adaptations.
o Work with other agencies/patients to ensure an MDT approach.
o Cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person.
o Falls assessment.
* Apply evidence‑based knowledge within the highly specialist clinical area, acquired through in‑depth experience and academic study to a highly specialist postgraduate level.
* Act as a resource to provide advice for relevant members of staff about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients/clients who have Rheumatology, connective tissue disorders and/or complex psychosocial needs.
* Work collaboratively with other providers involved in the patients’ care including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care community and acute colleagues.
* Take a lead, and work with any appropriate member of staff to ensure effective care pathways and transfer of care/discharges.
* Proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of physiotherapy outpatient patients between care settings.
* Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner with any appropriate member of staff, debating the blurring of boundaries if appropriate.
* Develop highly specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention for physiotherapy patients, particularly those with Rheumatology pathologies, connective tissue disorders and any non‑rheumatology patients.
* Manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure effective delivery of the service.
* Participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students as required.
* Ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
* Provide highly specialist assessment and advice for the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
* Use networks locally, regionally and nationally where appropriate to share information and good practice.
Professional Duties
* Write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific, and provide feedback on policies when required.
* Participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Out‑Patient Physiotherapy team’s clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, clinical audit and service activity data and research and development.
* Ensure specialised treatments are based on the best available clinical evidence, keeping up to date with current literature and implementing research tools.
* Be responsible for the provision and safe use of equipment in your area of work, adhering to the appropriate service policies.
* Generate, collect, analyse and disseminate data for the service, both manually and computerised, in conjunction with the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner.
* Lead, develop and undertake clinical audit, including complex audits when appropriate.
* Support the physiotherapy and assistant team to meet their objectives and development needs.
* Assist the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner in managing the performance of the physiotherapy and assistant staff.
* Identify, develop and evaluate a training programme for out‑patient physiotherapy which addresses the needs of the physiotherapy service and the wider multi‑professional team.
* Organise, participate and lead in‑service training programmes, ensuring appropriate training is delivered.
* Undertake appropriate development opportunities identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans, incorporating acquired knowledge into practice.
* Maintain an up‑to‑date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and relevant training.
* Participate in the Trust appraisal process, complying with an agreed personal development plan.
* Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to patients/clients, carers, volunteers and other professionals to ensure good patient care.
* Supervise and educate student physiotherapists to graduation level as a clinical educator.
* Supervise and educate students from other professional groups (e.g., Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists) as required.
* Collaborate with Higher Education Institutions and influence undergraduate and postgraduate training within Out‑Patient Physiotherapy.
Managerial Duties
* Support and advise on the delivery of the Out‑Patient Physiotherapy service across the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
* Provide the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner with advice/information for planning and developing the service, identifying and evaluating potential areas for improvement.
* Ensure adequate staff cover in conjunction with the Team Leader by agreeing annual leave, study leave and reporting sickness absence.
* Assist the Out‑Patient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in achieving service objectives.
* Participate in the professional development programme of the Physiotherapy service.
* Assist in monitoring and implementing changes to professional, clinical and departmental standards.
* Comply with national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures.
* Participate in staff recruitment and retention.
* Maintain confidentiality of patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
* Initiate discussions with the Team Leader regarding circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff from fulfilling job requirements.
* Work in accordance with all Trust policies and procedures.
* Attend induction and regular update training on risk management policies and procedures.
* Identify risks within the department or community during service delivery.
* Provide incident reports and supporting documentation for unexpected events; assist the Team Leader in managing complaints and incidents.
* Support the Head of Therapies/Outpatient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in optimising staffing and financial resources within the wider team.
Interviews will be held in person on 5th May 2026.
Person Specification
Qualifications/ Training
* Registered with HCPC
* Evidence of relevant postgraduate training
* Clinical Educator Training
* Member of Professional Body
* Study to Masters level or equivalent
* Leadership Training
Knowledge, Experience & Expertise
* Experience of managing patients with rheumatological, connective tissue disorders & persistent pain conditions, including psychologically informed physiotherapy, and a good understanding of alternative approaches. Able to demonstrate mastery/fluency in at least one approach.
* Excellent communication skills including talking and listening as well as being aware of non‑verbal communication i.e., Motivational Interviewing and working with stakeholders.
* Able to demonstrate advanced decision making / clinical reasoning skill in MSK Physiotherapy through the analysis and interpretation of the clinical examination.
* Significant NHS experience as a senior physiotherapist.
* Ability to manage customer expectation e.g. dealing with complaints.
* Experience developing staff e.g. supervision, PDRs.
* Proven ability to case‑manage clients with complex needs.
* Ability to identify own learning needs and engage in self‑directed learning for CPD.
* Ability to identify learning needs of others.
* Demonstrate reflective practice and evidence of experiential learning.
* Knowledge of relevant guidelines and NHS policies.
* Teaching/presentation skills.
* Relevant and comprehensive experience of lifelong learning and postgraduate training, particularly relevant to rheumatology and connective tissue disorders.
* Extensive experience and reflective practice in physiotherapy, including substantial experience of treating complex conditions with an emphasis on rheumatology and connective tissue disorders.
* Current knowledge of evidence‑based practice relevant to the position.
* Knowledge and use of the bio‑psychosocial approach.
* Recent experience working at band 7 level.
* Experience in planning, allocating and delegating tasks.
Communication & Relationships
* Experience in contributing to service improvements.
* Critical appraisal skills.
* Demonstrates understanding of documentation requirements.
* Attendance of relevant SIGs.
* Demonstrates positive attitudes and behaviours.
* Proven clinical leadership skills.
* Ability to support and coach others in the management of complex cases.
* Self‑motivation and ability to work independently and influence others.
* Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands.
* Ability to recognise own limitations and willingness to share and learn skills from others.
* Ability to prioritise own and others caseloads.
* Ability to pay excellent attention to detail.
* Ability to recognise stress in self and others and develop effective coping strategies.
General
* Ability to work in various locations throughout the network of services provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
* Competent in use of computers.
* Willingness to work flexibly to meet service needs.
* Access to own transport insured for business use.
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.
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Bowling Mill Dean Clough
Bowling Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AQ
Bowling Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AQ
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