Specialist Lower Limb Physiotherapist (Band 7)

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced MSK Physiotherapist with specialist expertise in lower limb conditions to lead, shape and further develop high‑quality care across our outpatient MSK service. You will play a key role in driving clinical standards, service improvement and staff development across multiple sites.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated, innovative and collaborative clinician to take a senior leadership role within a supportive and ambitious service.

📞 Want to find out more?

For an informal chat or further information, please contact: Kieran Duxbury – MSK & Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Operational Manager 📧 [email protected]

Main duties of the job

Job Summary

The Lower Limb Clinical Lead is responsible for leading and supporting all aspects of lower limb care within the MSK Physiotherapy Service. The post holder will;

• Lead and develop the service/clinical area
• Be responsible for planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating clinical case work within the MSK Physiotherapy service.
• Provide evidence based, highly specialist knowledge and skills to the MSK Physiotherapy Service
• Provide a key role in partnership working with patients, carers, the MDT including the orthopaedic team, and wider statutory, private and voluntary sector services.
• Take responsibility for effective functioning the team within MSK Physiotherapy Service
• Take a lead with quality improvements in MSK Physiotherapy Service
• Take responsibility for staff and student training and development.
• Provide support to operational and service managers deputizing for them as required

In pursuing these duties the post holder will ensure compliance with the NHS Constitution and be familiar with the NHS England Guidance ‘Understanding the new NHS’

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Principle Duties and Responsibilities:

• Clinical

1.1.    Develops, manages, and maintains positive, appropriate relationships with patients, families, carers and colleagues demonstrating respect, kindness, compassion and empathy at all times.

1.2.    Use verbal and non-verbal communication skills and sensitivity with patients, relatives and carers to overcome barriers to communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, anxiety, tracheotomy, problems with cognition.

1.3.    Provide timely and efficient clinical service to patients according to clinical protocols and service priorities.

1.4.    Ensure that all patients receive a high standard of clinical care from the team and that all team members meet the standards expected from their professional body.

• Use investigative and analytical skills to undertake a comprehensive, highly specialist profession assessment of the patient.
• Reflect on complex facts gathered or situations presented and use analysis and judgment skills to consider options for interventions, and outcomes
• Formulate individual management/treatment plans, using advanced clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment skills
• Implement specialist profession interventions in partnership with the service user, carer/s and in consultation with colleagues.
• Work with other agencies in order to implement recommendations of treatment. Making onward referrals as appropriate.
• Plan and organise to carry out assessment and interventions in the most appropriate setting.
• Monitor and evaluate the outcome of highly specialist interventions in partnership with the service user, carer/s and in consultation with colleagues.
• Ensure accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation is maintained in line with professional, legal and service requirements.
• Collaborate with the MDT to develop and improve patient pathways.
• Provide expert advice, teaching and instruction for relatives, carers, and other health professionals to promote understanding of the aims of the team and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Provide highly specialist advice to therapy and dietetic colleagues working within other clinical areas across the Trust.
• Advise, instruct, and educate patients, carers and other professionals in the use of standard and specialist equipment, assistive technology, and environmental adaptation where appropriate.
• Ensure equipment is used, stored and maintained in adherence with to relevant policies and ensure own and team’s competencies to use equipment within the team/clinical area are maintained.
• Train and supervise junior therapists, assistants and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
• Deal effectively with complex, sensitive or contentious communications.

2          Leadership and Management

• Recognise and respond to changing team priorities and unforeseen situations that take precedence over planned work.
• Communicate effectively within the immediate team, MDT and with other internal and external organisations
• Organise and manage staff for team/clinical area as agreed with the service managers. This will include informal management of absence and discipline and facilitation of regular team meetings.
• Have an overview of the team’s clinical capacity and demand: Ensure protocols are followed, there is adequate cover across working hours and that all team members have an appropriate balance of clinical and professional activities.
• Contribute to the planning and development of the team/clinical area in partnership with the operational managers and other Team Leaders.
• Take responsibility for all delegated tasks and service development activities.
• Supervise therapists, assistants and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
• Plan, deliver and evaluate appropriate clinical training to others inside and outside the organisation.
• Develop and amend team/clinical area protocols policies and procedures designed to improve patient care and experience and ensure that the team implements any changes to practice.
• Adhere to health and safety policies and procedures and ensure they are followed by all team members.
• Report, investigate and feedback learning from incidents and near misses using the incident reporting systems.
• Collect, monitor and evaluate data and statistics for the team and service.
• Ensure all team members participate in supervision and annual development review processes.
• Take a lead in the recruitment of staff in team/clinical area in collaboration with service managers.
• Have an awareness of team budgets and work with operational manager on cost efficiencies.
• Deputise for the service manager as required.
• Be prepared to work flexibly in terms of time and workload to meet service needs.

3          Personal and Professional Development

• Adhere to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency and Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct stipulated by the professional body and maintain current professional registration.
• Understand the scope of the role and know when to seek advice.
• Maintain own and support team’s continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of new trends and developments, use of reflective practice and incorporating learning into working practice.
• Attend and present in-service training sessions at designated times and at staff meetings share existing knowledge and skills and feedback from external courses.
• Prepare for and participate in own supervision and ensure and team compliance with supervision and appraisals.
• Support team to participate in relevant internal and external research and quality improvement projects.
• Establish links with other clinicians specialising in the care of clinical area patients through regional and national groups to promote sharing of good practice and evidence-based research.
• Facilitate and engage in practice placement education (PPE) and ensure that PPE standards are upheld by all staff.
• Understand, promote, and advocate for equality and diversity and demonstrate inclusion through interaction with individuals.
• Be a role model for professional behaviours in all aspect of practice.

4          Service Improvement and Governance

• Participate in developing and implementing a service/clinical area Clinical Governance Plan.
• Initiate, co-ordinate and supervise regular research and audit of the service/clinical area and enable other staff to do the same.
• Present the results of research, audit and patient surveys to the wider teams/services within the Trust, CCG, and at appropriate local and national conferences.
• Implement recommendations from informal service/clinical area research and service evaluations.
• Keep abreast of new research and clinical developments, and to implement relevant national policy guidance and strategy within the service, Trust and CCG e.g. NICE guidance.
• Respond to requests for information and actions in a timely manner.
• Participate in risk assessment and reduction and enable staff to report any adverse events.
• Investigate incidents, informal comments and formal complaints in conjunction with the Service Manager.
• Communicate clinical and personal information confidentially and in an appropriate format and apply the same standards to the team.
• Attend the clinical governance meetings for service/clinical area and contribute to the operational and strategic planning and monitoring of the service.
• Assist with the development and implementation of Trust and therapy wide service quality improvements strategies.
• Follow Trust and departmental policies and guidelines.