Job summary
- Main area
- MSK Community Specialist Services
- Grade
- Band 8a
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed Term start date will be determined once all employment checks have been completed.)
- Hours
- Part time - 22.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 371-CHS1279
- Employer
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Finchampstead Surgery, 474 Finchampstead Road
- Town
- Wokingham
- Salary
- £59,798 - £67,020 per annum, pro-rata (Inc. of HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 15/07/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 28/07/2026
Employer heading
Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner
Band 8a
Job overview
This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to take on an Advance Practice Physiotherapist (APP) Lower limb role Band 7 or 8a within the Musculoskeletal Community Specialist Service (MSK CSS). We would consider applications from someone working with either hips/knee or knee/Foot.
We are looking for someone to join our team who is already working at a Band 8a level, or that we can support in working towards advanced practice under competencies and regular support from the team.
The Musculoskeletal Community Specialist Service (MSK CSS) will provide triage and assessment for peripheral joint musculoskeletal conditions that have not responded to first line conservative treatment/management.
The team of Advanced Practice Physiotherapists work independently and are trained beyond the traditional role of Physiotherapy in their area of expertise. They work closely with Medical Consultants and other community services.
Clinics will run across the West of Berkshire in a variety of settings including GP clinics and Community Hospitals. The service prides itself on delivering innovative and collaborative best practice to ensure high-quality patient care.
Main duties of the job
• Your role within the service will involve triage and the assessment of Lower limb musculoskeletal conditions.
• You will have the opportunity to work alongside orthopaedic consultants and other APPs in both MSK CSS and the Integrated Pain and Spinal Service (IPASS).
• You will be required to travel across West Berkshire
• You will be acting as a specialist resource providing advice and education to patients, physiotherapists, and other healthcare professionals.
Working for our organisation
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- ‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The “must haves” for this role:
• You will need to be a dynamic and enthusiastic person with excellent communication skills, who has experience of collaborative working.
• You should have a broad range of musculoskeletal outpatient postgraduate experience as a senior musculoskeletal physiotherapist preferably within a lower limb specialism and should also be able to demonstrate an advanced level of clinical skill and reasoning.
• Appropriate CPD activity and demonstrated commitment to continuing education is essential. You will be supported with appropriate training to allow you to function at the required level.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Laura Franklin on 07920087859 or email: [email protected] who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential criteria
- Degree or equivalent in Physiotherapy
- Member of HCPC
- To have undertaken accredited courses which enable work to be performed at Advanced Practitioner level
- Significant Post-graduate training in the relevant specialist field: Highly developed specialist knowledge and skills underpinned by experience
Desirable criteria
- MSc or formal post-graduate qualification in relevant to specialist field or equivalent
- Additional training in the ordering and interpretation of radiology and haematological investigations
- Post-graduate management / Leadership course
- Member of the CSP
- Member of a specialist interest group i.e. Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner Network (APPN)
Continuous Professional Development
Desirable criteria
- Proven track record of CPD in specialist area
- Exposure Regulations (IRMER) training
Previous Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate clinical leadership within the Physiotherapy Department, including direct supervision and training of senior staff
- Ability to demonstrate substantial relevant experience working as a senior and highly specialist physiotherapist in the areas of musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and pain management
- Demonstrate a very high level of clinical reasoning skills and specialist knowledge
- Experience of complex case management
- Experience of instigating and interpreting investigations and initiating appropriate plans of care for patients
- Experience of formal and informal teaching to colleagues in the Physiotherapy Departments, other AHPs and GPs/Registrars
- Develop guidelines, pathways and policies relating to specialist field
Desirable criteria
- Experience working directly alongside Consultants and GPs
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
- Understanding of relevant National policies and guidelines relevant to the area
- Evidence of own self development through PDP
- Evidence of appraising staff
- Knowledge of critical appraisal
- Ability to work in isolation independently and autonomously
- Knowledge and evidence of Audit and Research
- Excellent Presentation Skills
- Appropriate IT skills
- Ability to develop others via CPD/PDP/In-Service training/presentations
- Excellent verbal communications skills relating to complex patient needs including those with multiple comorbidities and in high emotional states
- Highly effective written and verbal communication skills to a range of professionals and patients with varying degrees of understanding
- Exceptional time management, prioritisation and organisation skills
- Ability to lead a team
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Laura Franklin
- Job title
- MSK Community Specialist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07920087859
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