Job summary
- Main area
- Physiotherapy
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 372-COM2692
- Employer
- Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Broad Street Plaza
- Town
- Halifax
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 26/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 19/05/2026
Employer heading
Upper Limb MSK Advanced Physiotherapist & First Contact Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust (CHFT) are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics.
We are committed to recruiting to our values. Leading One Culture of Care underpins our values by creating an environment, tone and behaviours across all parts of the Trust that are fundamentally rooted in compassionate care.
We are open to considering a wide range of flexible working arrangements. There are opportunities to flex the days of the week, hours and times of work and place of work including: part-time, job-share, flexible working hours and the possibility to work from home when appropriate. Please talk to us during the interview process to discuss any flexibility that you may require.
We received our Silver Award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme which is helping actively promote SaBRE - Supporting Britain’s Reservists and Employers. This means that we provided its statement of intent to support all Defence personnel and we welcome application to work for us.
Our Future Plans
The Department of Health and Social Care has awarded capital funding to invest in local health services at both Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. This is a significant investment and an opportunity to enhance services for our populations in Calderdale and Huddersfield and West Yorkshire for generations to come. To find out more, please visit https://future.cht.nhs.uk/
Job overview
MSK Physiotherapy Services at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust are excited to recruit an Upper Limb Advanced Practice Physiotherapist to join our MSK and FCP Team into a full-time position.
The post-holder will join our established MSK Upper Limb Service providing MSK triage, assessment, investigation and treatment for upper limb patients.
We are looking for candidate who can manage all aspects of an upper limb caseload in line with latest guidelines and provide support and training to the wider physiotherapy team. The ability to build relationships with the Orthopaedic team and other services involved in the care of upper limb patients is essential.
Our integrated MSK Service provides First Contact Practitioners to the Calderdale GPs and the post holder will undertake some FCP Clinic work as part of their job plan. Supervision is provided by NHS England’s Workforce, Training & Education directorate for accreditation in FCP.
We seek individuals with proven clinical experience and an interest in service development and offer training and development as required for the post.
Candidates must have previous NHS physiotherapy experience either as an undergraduate or postgraduate to be eligible to apply for this post
For further information please contact Lindsay Hawker, MSK Physiotherapy Services Team Lead on 07500 765356 or Donna Richardson, Advanced Practice Upper Limb Physiotherapist on [email protected]
Interviews will be held, in person, on Tuesday 19 May 2029
Main duties of the job
- To be a specialist clinician in Upper Limb conditions in the MSK Service using expert clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice to an independent caseload of clients including those who present with highly complex conditions.
- To act as First Contact Physiotherapist for the GPs across the health economy with responsibility for advancing evidence-based clinical practice in primary care.
- To act in an expert/consultative role on the management of Upper Limb MSK conditions within physiotherapy and to other health care professionals within the local health economy such as consultants, GP’s and other Allied Health Professionals.
- To work within a multi-professional team, including orthopaedic consultants and physiotherapists, beyond the scope of physiotherapy practice, to determine a pathway for the management of complex cases by removing the demarcations of professions, thus allowing for timely and appropriate intervention and onward referral.
- To lead appropriate education and training of physiotherapy staff and other healthcare professionals including GP’s, consultants and other AHP’s. This may include education and training outside of the Trust.
- To lead audit and ensure implementation of evidence-based practice.
- To act as an expert resource in MSK across Primary and Secondary Care and to ensure delivery of a high-quality evidence-based service. Working at both clinical and advisory levels.
Working for our organisation
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To work autonomously, taking a lead role in providing an expert level of care within MSK, FCP, orthopaedic clinics and physiotherapy, undertaking advanced assessment, diagnosis and therapy for an independent caseload of clients including those presenting with highly complex conditions.
- To triage referrals to MSK First Point of Contact, from GP’s, consultants and other authorised referrers and make onward referral as appropriate.
- To provide professional and clinical leadership on MSK conditions using expert knowledge and skills within the MSK, FCP, orthopaedics and physiotherapy teams.
- To provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.
- To request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information and limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests/diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood tests. To Interpret and act upon investigation results to aid diagnosis and shape the management plans of patients.
- To deliver programmes of supported patient self-management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and minimise the need for pharmacological interventions.
- To maintain effective communication links with clients, carers and all associated professional practitioners both within and outside the Trust.
- To complete comprehensive, accurate and legally compliant clinical records.
- To develop and maintain strong professional relationships and communication links with healthcare professionals, including GP’s and Consultants; professional leads, academic staff, managers and client representative groups, in order to enhance the development of services in and outside the Trust.
- To demonstrate strategic leadership skills by having the ability to lead on translating policy into practice in collaboration with service managers. This may involve work across organisations.
- To identify training needs and lead on training at University and multi professional level in order to enhance services within the specialism.
- To provide learning opportunities to GPs and the wider Primary Care Team, as well as the physiotherapy team and support staff.
Person specification
QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING
Essential criteria
- Relevant Degree/Diploma
- Registered with HCPC
- Evidence of relevant post graduate learning and training
- Study to masters level or equivalent
Desirable criteria
- Qualification in Injection Therapy
- Clinical Educator Training
- Member of Professional Body
- Leadership Training
KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
Essential criteria
- Extensive experience and reflective practice in physiotherapy at a senior level in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, sufficient to work at a band 8a level.
- Wide experience of evidence -based management of a range of musculoskeletal problems with an emphasis on the upper limb.
- Experience in planning, allocating and delegating tasks.
- Expert negotiating and communication skills, including with people with complex difficulties.
- Ability to lead service developments.
- Understanding of relevant NHS policy and guidelines
- Evidence of the ability to lead audit projects
- Able to demonstrate advanced decision making / clinical reasoning skills in MSK through the analysis and interpretation of the clinical examination and interpretation of investigations.
- Experience of developing Staff, including from other professional groups e.g. Supervision, training, appraisal
- Ability to identify own learning needs and engage in self-directed learning for CPD
- Evidence of experiential learning
- Detailed and up to date knowledge of musculoskeletal pathologies in the upper limb including indications for surgery
- Relevant and comprehensive evidence of Life Long Learning and post-graduate training.
- Knowledge and experience of approaches to managing chronic pain
- Evidence of being innovative and pro-active
- Understanding of legal responsibilities within the profession
- Ability to maintain accurate and legal clinical records. Evidence of the ability to lead audit projects
- Mastery / fluency of one approach to musculoskeletal medicine and a good understanding of alternative approaches
- Teaching/presentation skills
- Current knowledge of evidence based practice relevant to the position
- Knowledge and use of the bio-psychosocial approach
- Undergraduate and/or postgraduate NHS experience as a physiotherapist
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience of working in advanced practice clinics
- Evidence of published papers
- Active participant in regional/ national groups
- Experience in working in partnership with stakeholders
- Experience in lead clinical role.
- Previous experience of working in a FCP role
Practical/Intellectual Skills/Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
- Ability to develop positive professional relations
- Experience in contributing to service improvements
- Critical Appraisal Skills.
- Positive attitudes and behaviours
- Excellent time management skills.
- 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 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.
- Must be eligible to work in the UK.
- Willingness to work flexibly to meet service needs
- Attendance of relevant SIGs
- Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands
- Ability to work in various locations throughout the network of services provided by Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust
- Ability to maintain satisfactory level of attendance
- Competent in use of computers
- Access to own transport insured for business use
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
- Lindsay Hawker
- Job title
- MSK Physiotherapy Team Leader
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07500765356
- Additional information
Donna Richardson
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