Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Band 5 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

The closing date is 24 November 2025

Job summary

Band 5 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

A vacancy has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated band 5 Physiotherapist to join the musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy team at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, working cross site at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich and the University Hospital Lewisham.

The post holder will rotate through Musculoskeletal (MSK) Outpatient pathways and working under the supervision of an allocated Specialist Physiotherapist or Team Lead.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy rotations include:Upper limbLower limbSpinalPaediatricsHydrotherapy

Clinical Governance and clinical support will be provided by the pathway Leads and Physiotherapy Site Leads.

The post holder will be a clinician who independently manages a full clinical caseload working as part of the musculoskeletal team.

The post holder will participate in a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research.

The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.

The post holder will be required to work weekends on a rota basis providing physiotherapy input to patients on orthopaedic wards.

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

Main duties of the job

The team will assist the candidate in completing a robust framework of clinical competencies and identify and implement their personal development plan in order to advance their clinical, research and leadership skills in the MSK field while being exposed to a wide range of MSK conditions. They will receive regular teaching and supervision, participate in departmental training and be eligible for funding to attend external courses.

We are an innovative Therapy Service and offer a comprehensive supervision and appraisal structure to enhance your professional development and leadership qualities.

The physiotherapy department is a very inclusive environment to work in and we are keen to continue to highlight the importance of this working closely with our local community.

The aims of the service are to improve the health and quality of life of MSK patients by providing the best possible care to the population in which we serve and ensure our staff take pride in their work.

A strong emphasis is placed on development of staff with excellent access to internal and external support for ongoing development.

About us

If you are a motivated Physiotherapist do not miss this opportunity to work within a progressive, friendly department with all the benefits of being a large London Trust with great transport links to central London and surrounding areas.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

  1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
  2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
  3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
  4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
  5. Making equalities mainstream

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

197-R-UT7539

Job locations

University Hospital Lewisham

Lewisham high street

London

SE13 6LH


Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder rotates through Musculoskeletal (MSK) Outpatient pathways and works under the supervision of an allocated Specialist Physiotherapist or Team Lead.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy rotations include:

  • Upper limb
  • Lower limb
  • Spinal
  • Paediatrics
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Persistent pain

Clinical Governance and clinical support will be provided by the pathway Leads and Physiotherapy Site Leads.

The post holder is a clinician who independently manages a full clinical caseload working as part of the musculoskeletal team.

The post holder participates in a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research.

The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.

The post holder will be required to work weekends on a rota basis providing physiotherapy input to patients on the orthopaedic wards.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Specialist Physiotherapists, Team Lead Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy Site Lead, Head of Adult Physiotherapy, Therapy Support Workers, Medical Consultants, Occupational Therapists / Speech and Language Therapists / Dietitians, All Physiotherapy Staff Trustwide, Nursing Staff, Referring Hospitals, Social Services, Community Services, GPs, Voluntary Services, Academic Institutions, Specialists external to L&G.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

  1. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a full caseload of patients as an autonomous practitioner.
  1. To be professionally and legally accountable for a patient caseload and to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands
  1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist.
  1. To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient
  1. To undertake the comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis of patients, using investigative, palpatory, analytical and clinical reasoning skills
  1. To undertake physical treatment techniques utilising developed manual skills
  1. To formulate individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to plan a suitable programme of care
  1. To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
  1. To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of Physiotherapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.
  1. To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and professionally agreed criteria
  1. To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis. To facilitate the best possible communication outcome in every situation and use appropriate services e.g. interpreters
  1. To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning
  1. To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion, motivation and negotiation to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme
  1. To communicate with empathy, patient information which may be of a complex and sensitive nature including details of prognosis or disability that may be unwelcome
  1. To receive complex patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively plan and develop individual case management
  1. To communicate and advise regarding complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working within the Physiotherapy service and with other professionals across health and other agencies to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service
  1. To be integral in discharge planning, providing timely discharge reports
  1. To produce comprehensive patient related reports for other disciplines or agencies relating to assessment findings and/or treatment outcomes
  1. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement, the application of evidence based practice and research where appropriate.
  1. To facilitate the implementation and evaluation of Physiotherapy clinical outcomes within a designated pathway and monitor adherence with professional and national standards
  1. To work to Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy clinical guidelines and have a good working knowledge of relevant national standards to which quality of practice should be monitored
  1. To follow service policy regarding current clinical and service developments
  1. To be accessible and provide clinical advice to colleagues
  1. Once considered competent, to participate in the weekend and bank holiday orthopaedic rota
  1. To participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future

All clinical staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they are deemed competent in line with guidance from their professional bodies.

Education, Training and Research

  1. To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the nature of the condition and the aims of Physiotherapy intervention
  1. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan
  1. To participate in peer review as appropriate
  1. To take an active role in appropriate uniprofessional and multiprofessional research initiatives
  1. To participate in regular training in pathway and local site
  1. In collaboration with the Pathway Team, to participate in implementation of new working practices on designated site
  1. To participate in and contribute to the delivery of a specific in-service training programme for staff in the designated pathway
  1. To provide teaching and instruction to other disciplines to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
  1. To assist/support colleagues undertaking higher education, audit and research projects
  1. To participate in mandatory/statutory training as required by the Trust and national standards
  1. To maintain state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to provide evidence of that registration annually upon request

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder rotates through Musculoskeletal (MSK) Outpatient pathways and works under the supervision of an allocated Specialist Physiotherapist or Team Lead.

Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy rotations include:

  • Upper limb
  • Lower limb
  • Spinal
  • Paediatrics
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Persistent pain

Clinical Governance and clinical support will be provided by the pathway Leads and Physiotherapy Site Leads.

The post holder is a clinician who independently manages a full clinical caseload working as part of the musculoskeletal team.

The post holder participates in a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research.

The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.

The post holder will be required to work weekends on a rota basis providing physiotherapy input to patients on the orthopaedic wards.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Specialist Physiotherapists, Team Lead Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy Site Lead, Head of Adult Physiotherapy, Therapy Support Workers, Medical Consultants, Occupational Therapists / Speech and Language Therapists / Dietitians, All Physiotherapy Staff Trustwide, Nursing Staff, Referring Hospitals, Social Services, Community Services, GPs, Voluntary Services, Academic Institutions, Specialists external to L&G.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

  1. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a full caseload of patients as an autonomous practitioner.
  1. To be professionally and legally accountable for a patient caseload and to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands
  1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist.
  1. To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient
  1. To undertake the comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis of patients, using investigative, palpatory, analytical and clinical reasoning skills
  1. To undertake physical treatment techniques utilising developed manual skills
  1. To formulate individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to plan a suitable programme of care
  1. To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
  1. To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of Physiotherapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.
  1. To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and professionally agreed criteria
  1. To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis. To facilitate the best possible communication outcome in every situation and use appropriate services e.g. interpreters
  1. To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning
  1. To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion, motivation and negotiation to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme
  1. To communicate with empathy, patient information which may be of a complex and sensitive nature including details of prognosis or disability that may be unwelcome
  1. To receive complex patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively plan and develop individual case management
  1. To communicate and advise regarding complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working within the Physiotherapy service and with other professionals across health and other agencies to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service
  1. To be integral in discharge planning, providing timely discharge reports
  1. To produce comprehensive patient related reports for other disciplines or agencies relating to assessment findings and/or treatment outcomes
  1. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement, the application of evidence based practice and research where appropriate.
  1. To facilitate the implementation and evaluation of Physiotherapy clinical outcomes within a designated pathway and monitor adherence with professional and national standards
  1. To work to Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy clinical guidelines and have a good working knowledge of relevant national standards to which quality of practice should be monitored
  1. To follow service policy regarding current clinical and service developments
  1. To be accessible and provide clinical advice to colleagues
  1. Once considered competent, to participate in the weekend and bank holiday orthopaedic rota
  1. To participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future

All clinical staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they are deemed competent in line with guidance from their professional bodies.

Education, Training and Research

  1. To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the nature of the condition and the aims of Physiotherapy intervention
  1. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan
  1. To participate in peer review as appropriate
  1. To take an active role in appropriate uniprofessional and multiprofessional research initiatives
  1. To participate in regular training in pathway and local site
  1. In collaboration with the Pathway Team, to participate in implementation of new working practices on designated site
  1. To participate in and contribute to the delivery of a specific in-service training programme for staff in the designated pathway
  1. To provide teaching and instruction to other disciplines to ensure a consistent approach to patient care
  1. To assist/support colleagues undertaking higher education, audit and research projects
  1. To participate in mandatory/statutory training as required by the Trust and national standards
  1. To maintain state registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to provide evidence of that registration annually upon request

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy.
  • HPC registration

Desirable

  • MCSP
  • Member of Special interest Group
  • Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses / Preceptorship

Experience

Essential

  • A broad range of undergraduate experience in all core specialities of Physiotherapy
  • Experience and ability to work collaboratively within MPT

Desirable

  • Previous experience at band 5 level
  • Experience of clinical practice in an NHS environment
  • Experience of participating in audit and evidence based projects
  • Evidence of actively participating in in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating effectiveness of training
  • Research experience.
  • Experience in managing limited resources and high workloads

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • An understanding of evidenced based practice pertaining to Physiotherapy
  • Awareness of national guidelines and standards relevant to Physiotherapy
  • Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for Physiotherapy
  • Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
  • The ability to discuss clinical reasoning in the management of cases
  • The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs
  • Able to communicate complex information to patients, carers other health professionals and team.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Ability to self direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs, demonstrated in a CPD portfolio.

Desirable

  • Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments
  • IT skills - Ability to create and/or format data and/or complex spreadsheets using computerised systems
  • Demonstrates excellent motivational skills
Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential

  • Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy.
  • HPC registration

Desirable

  • MCSP
  • Member of Special interest Group
  • Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses / Preceptorship

Experience

Essential

  • A broad range of undergraduate experience in all core specialities of Physiotherapy
  • Experience and ability to work collaboratively within MPT

Desirable

  • Previous experience at band 5 level
  • Experience of clinical practice in an NHS environment
  • Experience of participating in audit and evidence based projects
  • Evidence of actively participating in in-service training and MDT groups, and evaluating effectiveness of training
  • Research experience.
  • Experience in managing limited resources and high workloads

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • An understanding of evidenced based practice pertaining to Physiotherapy
  • Awareness of national guidelines and standards relevant to Physiotherapy
  • Understanding of clinical governance and its implication for Physiotherapy
  • Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession
  • The ability to discuss clinical reasoning in the management of cases
  • The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs
  • Able to communicate complex information to patients, carers other health professionals and team.
  • Ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Ability to self direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs, demonstrated in a CPD portfolio.

Desirable

  • Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments
  • IT skills - Ability to create and/or format data and/or complex spreadsheets using computerised systems
  • Demonstrates excellent motivational skills

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

Lewisham high street

London

SE13 6LH


Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

University Hospital Lewisham

Lewisham high street

London

SE13 6LH


Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Outpatient Physiotherapy Lead UHL

Rachael Reader

rachaelreader@nhs.net

02083333000

Details

Date posted

10 November 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year per annum plus HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

197-R-UT7539

Job locations

University Hospital Lewisham

Lewisham high street

London

SE13 6LH


Supporting documents

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