Senior Orthopaedic Practitioner, Band 5

Job overview

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Orthopaedic Practitioner to join our multidisciplinary team, specialising in casting and plastering techniques. The successful candidate will hold the British Orthopaedic Association Casting Certificate and demonstrate the ability to work autonomously, delivering high standards of care through expert assessment, treatment planning, and clinical decision-making.

This role involves supervising junior staff, supporting a wide range of clinical departments, including Emergency, Theatres, ICU, and outpatient services—and providing specialist procedures such as casting, splinting, bracing, and manipulation. You will also contribute to the education and development of staff and ensure safe, effective patient care across both adult and paediatric services.

The post requires excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, as well as the flexibility to work within a 23-hour shift pattern to meet the needs of the service, across both hospital sites.

Main duties of the job

Lead and deliver training programmes for new trainee Orthopaedic Practitioners.

Sign off competencies for cast removal, application, splinting, and limb positioning.

Identify development needs and training opportunities within the service.

Remain accountable for own ongoing professional development.

Actively participate in in-service and external training offered by the Trust.

Deliver structured training sessions and support education Trust-wide as required.

Stay updated on advances in casting techniques and relevant published research and audits.

Identify and engage in clinical audits relevant to the plaster room service.

High level of manual dexterity and technical skill required during complex casting procedures, often performed in physically restricted positions (e.g. bending, kneeling).

Sustained concentration and focus required despite frequent interruptions.

Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions, including uncooperative patients and hygiene challenges.

Frequent use of computer systems and visual display units

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The role requires a highly skilled and professionally accountable Orthopaedic Practitioner working in line with recognised professional standards, including those set by the Association of Orthopaedic Practitioners and the British Orthopaedic Association. The practitioner must hold a valid British Casting Certificate, maintain active registration on the British Casting Register, and demonstrate ongoing professional development.

Clinically, the practitioner must be competent in a wide range of casting and orthopaedic techniques, including the Ponsetti method and the application of complex casts such as hip spicas, particularly within paediatric care. They should possess extensive post-qualification experience across acute orthopaedic settings, including outpatient clinics, emergency trauma care, theatres, wards, and community-based patient care.

The role involves autonomous clinical practice, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care. The practitioner must be confident in decision-making, able to recognise and respond to life- or limb-threatening conditions, and provide safe, effective wound care in line with Trust policies, including removal of sutures, clips, and K-wires.

Strong multidisciplinary working is essential, with the ability to collaborate effectively across adult and paediatric services. The practitioner must provide technical expertise in fracture clinics, emergency departments, theatres, and wards, while also supporting orthotic care through the adaptation and application of specialist braces and spinal collars.

The role also includes significant teaching and leadership responsibilities. The practitioner should be able to supervise, mentor, and support trainees and plaster room staff, demonstrating strong interpersonal and communication skills when engaging with patients, families, and colleagues. They must also be proficient in IT systems and able to work flexibly under pressure across multiple sites, acting as a professional role model at all times.

Please see attached job description.