Job vacancy: Spinal Extended Scope Practitioner, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol

Job summary

Main area: Spines
Grade: 8a
Contract: 12 months (Fixed term)
Hours: Part time - 24.75 hours per week
Job ref: 339-NMSK0235-LGG

Employer: North Bristol NHS Trust
Employer type: NHS
Site: Southmead Hospital
Town: Bristol
Salary: £55,690 - £62,682 per annum, pro rata
Salary period: Yearly
Closing: 22/08/2025 08:00
Interview date: 28/08/2025

Spinal Extended Scope Practitioner

8a

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy! We highly recommend reading our Tips on how to apply page to give you an insight on how applications are scored & shortlisted by our Recruiting Managers. These tips have been provided to give you a better chance of being shortlisted for our vacancies.

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Full job description is attached which lists all the main duties of the role and the working environment. You can also find person specification attached.

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

Diploma/Degree in physiotherapy  HPC Registration  Evidence of good relevant CPD  Calrad training (Radiation and ionisation training)  Intensive 1:1 training with designated Spinal Surgeon including observation, case discussion and feedback  Training from ESP Peer Support Group and CSP Special Interest Group  MSc or equivalent

Work Experience

Essential criteria

Minimum 5 years postgraduate experience working as a Senior 1 Physiotherapist or above in musculoskeletal field.  Senior II Physiotherapist experience including musculoskeletal outpatients.  Junior Physiotherapist experience across all core areas of physiotherapy.  Experience in examination, assessment and management of complex and varied musculoskeletal and spinal pathologies.  Experience of communicating effectively with wide range of patients i.e. ages and pathologies who may have barriers to understanding e.g. deafness, learning difficulties.  Experience of communicating With Consultant Spinal Surgeons, General Practitioners and other healthcare professionals.  Experience of prioritising own caseload and working to time constraints in a stressful environment.  Experience of working as part of MDT to manage spinal patients.  Experience of research and audit process including evaluation of statistics

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Advanced knowledge of anatomy, physiology and underlying spinal pathology, orthopaedic/musculoskeletal/neurosurgery conditions.  Advanced knowledge of treatment/management options for patients with complex conditions, including indications of onward referral of patients to other healthcare professionals.  Advanced knowledge of peri-operative optimisation of complex spinal patients.  Knowledge of Trust and CSP guidelines pertaining to Extended Scope Practitioner working.  Advanced knowledge of comorbidities relevant to patient’s suitability for surgery and impact of these on outcome of surgery.  Advanced knowledge of management of post-operative cases, including complications, x-ray findings, expected rate of progress and outcome and appropriate discharge from care.

Skills

Essential criteria

Advanced specialist skills to examine, assess, diagnose and identify optimal treatment/management plan in line with Orthopaedic/Neurosurgery Departments clinical guidelines for patients with complex conditions and presentations.  To reassess and alter treatment plans as necessary.  To examine and assess postoperative cases, identifying potential complications, expected rate of progress and appropriate timing of discharge.  To identify relevant comorbidities and their potential effect on patient being able to undergo surgery and to highlight these to relevant staff e.g. Anaesthetist, Respiratory or Cardiac Physician.  To understand and be able to communicate highly complex information to other health professionals including consultants, patients and carers.  To provide assessment and advice to optimise peri-operative care of spinal patients  To determine necessity of tests/investigations e.g. bloods, x-rays, scans and to order these and interpret results for patient.  To determine necessity of onward referral of patients to other healthcare professionals (e.g. Physiotherapists, Pain Clinicians, Orthotists, etc) for ongoing management.  To undertake all aspects of role as an autonomous Physiotherapy Extended Scope Practitioner.  To demonstrate an advanced level of clinical reasoning and evaluation.  To be able to manage potentially stressful or emotional situations in an empathic manner.  To communicate effectively with all other disciplines involved in patient’s care.  To plan and manage own caseload within time constraints.  To be able to carry out repetitive physical activities.  To be aware of and be able to implement policies, standards and guidelines set by CSP and NBT.  To be able to maintain accurate and up to date patient records in line with Trust and CSP guidelines. To be able to conduct audit projects

If you apply for this vacancy and have not received a communication from North Bristol NHS Trust within three weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.

Please note that North Bristol NHS Trust does not reimburse travel expenses relating to interview attendance.

If you feel you meet the requirements of the Disability Act / Two Ticks scheme and require further support/advice, please contact us on tel 0117 414 1151.

North Bristol NHS Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant(s) will normally commence at the minimum of the scale unless they have previous NHS service at the same band. Progression through the scale is by annual increments.

At North Bristol Trust (NBT), we know diverse and inclusive environments lead to happier and healthier teams and improved patient care and outcomes. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented in NBT’s workforce at Band 8a and above. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people and LGBTQIA+ people.

Please note that stringent pre-employment checks are undertaken on all successful applicants prior to commencement in post.

Mindful employer. Being positive about mental health.

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name: Tom Gardener
Job title: General Manager - Neurosurgery, Spines, and Pain
Email address: [email protected]
Telephone number: 01174147491
Additional information: Jess Dallyn ([email protected]) Spinal ESP Lead

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Job summary

Employer heading

Spinal Extended Scope Practitioner

8a

Job overview

Main duties of the job

Working for our organisation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

Work Experience

Essential criteria

Knowledge

Essential criteria

Skills

Essential criteria

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

Documents to download

Further details / informal visits contact

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