Senior Physiotherapist - Trauma and Orthopaedics

Job overview

It is an exciting time to join our service with the Trust committed to becoming a designated major trauma centre over the next 5 years and with the opening of a new Norfolk and Norwich Orthopaedic Centre in July 2024, transforming our elective care provision.

As a result our Physiotherapy service is growing, with the opportunity for experienced physiotherapists to join our Trauma and Orthopaedic team. The post will suit individuals who have worked in an acute setting, completed their core rotations (on a Band 5 Physiotherapist rotation programme, or similar) or already have experience at Band 6 and are looking to develop specialist skills in the field of Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Your weekday pattern will include long days (08:00-20:00), early (starting at 08:00) and late (ending at 20:00) shifts and we will require your ability to be flexible to meet service needs.

You will be required to demonstrate + maintain skills for weekend and respiratory on-call provision and will fulfil 7-day working requirements through our orthopaedic weekend + bank holiday roster.

You will work with and learn from staff who are experts in their field and will have the opportunity to develop both your clinical and leadership skills working with junior staff, physiotherapy support workers and students.

You will receive supervision and annual appraisal and take an active role within your own personal development.

Main duties of the job

Senior Physiotherapist responsible for the physiotherapy management of a defined case load or patient within the speciality presenting to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

To access, prioritise and manage own caseload of patients, determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated, maintained records as a legally autonomous practitioner.  Patient presentation may be complex/highly complex.

Work will be undertaken without direct supervision.  Clinical/professional supervision may take the form of formal training, clinical reasoning sessions and occasional direct observation of practice.  Advise and support is always available.

To provide clinical leadership within the speciality including educational, professional and managerial guidance.

To have an active role in the planning, development, coordination, delivery and evaluation of the physiotherapy service provided to patients within and out-reaching from the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

To deputise for the Physiotherapy Operational Lead or Senior Physiotherapy staff as required.

Interview date: 8th October 2025

Candidates will need to be available for face-to-face interviews we are unable to offer virtual.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work.
• To maintain a high standard of clinical care for patients under your management.
• To accept clinical responsibility for a defined caseload of patients and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time
• To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) and assess understanding of treatment proposals to gain valid informed consent. With support, to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
• To collect relevant patient information from a variety of sources e.g. radiology imaging systems, other investigations to assist with clinical prioritisation and patient management. This may also include ward handovers, observation charts, medical and nursing records etc.
• To undertake the comprehensive specialist assessment of patients using investigative and analytical skills.
• To make a clinical diagnosis based on presenting signs and symptoms.
• To formulate an individual management and/or treatment programme using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills and options.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date clinical records in line with legal and departmental requirements.

Please refer to the Job Description for the full specification of responsibilities and requirements for this post.

People are at the heart of everything we do. We support patients through every stage of their care, ensuring that we address and respect individual needs at every step. We recognise that our staff are our greatest asset and commit to supporting them and investing in their development, to ensure that our services continue to improve and evolve.

There is a drive to advance our research capabilities and ensure that relevant research evidence is integrated into clinical practice to aid staff and service development.  We are proud to have strong links with the University of East Anglia, including associate tutor opportunities for senior staff in addition to providing a full student placement programme This post will provide a variety of clinical experiences within the specialty and multiple opportunities for professional and personal development in keeping with our Trusts strategic objectives.