Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Physiotherapist to develop and work in our citywide, non-medically led Spinal Service at University Hospitals of Liverpool Group.This is a split role between our ED/inpatient service and outpatient spinal Therapies. Within ED/inpatients you will manage a spinal caseload using specialist knowledge from theoretical and practical experience, developing an extended scope of practice. In outpatients you will provide spinal clinical expertise within the Physiotherapy department, Musculoskeletal Triage Clinics (MCAS) and Consultant-led Clinics to deliver high quality patient care.
Working with other advanced practitioners (APs), you will lead on service development and provide clinical education, supervision, leadership, research and audit, in addition to clinical expertise, in line with the HEE AP framework.Working within this large university hospital foundation trustwill enable you to shape service delivery, influence practice and drive innovation and change at a local, regional and national level, with specific focus on management of spinal presentations across primary and secondary care.
If you would like to be part of this exciting journey but don't have all the requisite knowledge and experience, training/apprenticeship MSc AP posts will be considered. This role is ideally suited to full-time applicants, though some flexibility is available. There is an expectation to work across the two main acute hospital sites.
Main duties of the job
1. To deliver expert specialist evidence-based care including development, assessment, planning, implementing, evaluating programmes of evidence-based care for a defined caseload.2. To improve the experience and outcomes of care for patients by taking the lead in investigations and treatments prescribed. 3. To provide a consistent and personalised service by ensuring that the patients receive the best care, in the best place from the best person or team. 4. To provide social, emotional and psychological support for patients from referral and throughout their treatment. 5. To make appropriate referral to consultants/other specialist/members of the multidisciplinary team in primary, secondary or tertiary care settings. 6. To be aware of risk management issues both locally and nationally and develop strategies to address identified issues.
MSK outpatients comprises 60% of the role.
Please see both attached job descriptions for full details regarding roles and responsibilities. Shortlisting will be based on the shared essential criteria relevant to the combined role.
About us
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.
UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.
For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.
Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.
For roles at Liverpool Women's, visit theircareers page.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities
Clinical:
1. To deliver expert specialist evidence-based care including: development, assessment, planning, implementing, evaluating programmes of evidence based clinical care for a defined caseload.2. To take a lead role in the triage, clinical assessment and management of patients with spinal conditions referred to the outpatient physiotherapy service. This will include working in an Advanced Practice role assessing and diagnosing patients referred to the Musculoskeletal Triage and MCAS service and within consultant-led clinics.3. To maintain and develop a specialist service for patients within the caseload, ensuring that the treatment and follow up of this group of patients is delivered in a timely manner. 4. To provide and maintain a diagnostic service for the Trust. Ensure clinician-led clinics provide for both diagnoses and reporting of subsequent results for identified patients. 5. Using a shared decision-making approach, they will be required to make onward referrals to relevant services and agencies to optimise patient care.6. To provide teaching as an in-house measure to all medical and clinical staff, not only within the Care Group but also from other services. 7. To provide a clinician-led clinic service to patients. 8. To maintain and develop a specialist clinical service for patients within the caseload, ensuring that the treatment and follow up of this group of patients is delivered in a timely manner9. To provide expert care, advice and support for patients and their relatives/carers and ensure that advice and point of contact is available throughout the patients journey.10. To maintain personal accountability for professional and ethical actions and ensure compliance with the standards of professional conduct issued by the relevant regulatory body
Research
11. Initiate and participate in any future projects that may occur within the area.12. To evaluate and critique recent research, to be used to enhance best practice. 13. Actively investigate current practice, using research papers and evidence data. 14. To be involved in relevant research projects promoting the role of clinician and presenting appropriate papers. 15. To identify areas in which research is viable. 16. To be competent in literature review techniques and research methodology.
Education and training development
17. Maintain own professional knowledge base and skills, meet PREP requirements, and continually update knowledge.18. To provide education to members of the multidisciplinary team, relating to the area of specialist knowledge. 19. To promote and give presentations about the role of the specialist clinician. 20. To act as an educator and assessor to promote and maintain skills and knowledge to physiotherapy staff and relevant medical and clinical staff, including specialist registrars and senior house officers. 21. To be actively involved in health promotion in line with Government targets.Management and Quality:
22. To provide a consistent and personalised service by ensuring that the patients receive the best care, in the best place from the best person or team acting as a change agent for the development of the service.23. To improve the experience and outcomes of care for patients by taking the lead in investigations and treatments prescribed. Assisting in the audit and data collection required for developing evidence-based services.24. To provide verbal and written reports to appropriate managers and clinical leads.25. To monitor the effectiveness of the service by continuous audit.26. To ensure that equipment is maintained and serviced as required.27. To develop protocols, documentation, standards and guidelines to enable best practice for the care of patients. In the identified/specified area.28. To be involved in complaints handling according to the Trusts Complaints Procedure.29. To establish a clear focus, vision and direction for the service, within the Care Group.30. To ensure effective and efficient use of financial resources, contributing to increasing the efficiency and controlling cost within the departmental budget. Making recommendations regarding supplies and purchasing of equipment.
Communication and Liaison:
31. To promote effective communication within the hospital and to the patient and/or their relatives.32. Act as a point of liaison between all hospital departments involved in the patients journey.33. Act as a source of specialist information for clinicians and other members of the multidisciplinary team.34. Liaise with other departments/ Trusts regarding services provided and current practises to develop best evidence-based practice.35. To be skilled to impart distressing information with respect and empathy.36. To ensure that all patient records are maintained contemporaneously.
* The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues. * The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key responsibilities
Clinical:
1. To deliver expert specialist evidence-based care including: development, assessment, planning, implementing, evaluating programmes of evidence based clinical care for a defined caseload.2. To take a lead role in the triage, clinical assessment and management of patients with spinal conditions referred to the outpatient physiotherapy service. This will include working in an Advanced Practice role assessing and diagnosing patients referred to the Musculoskeletal Triage and MCAS service and within consultant-led clinics.3. To maintain and develop a specialist service for patients within the caseload, ensuring that the treatment and follow up of this group of patients is delivered in a timely manner. 4. To provide and maintain a diagnostic service for the Trust. Ensure clinician-led clinics provide for both diagnoses and reporting of subsequent results for identified patients. 5. Using a shared decision-making approach, they will be required to make onward referrals to relevant services and agencies to optimise patient care.6. To provide teaching as an in-house measure to all medical and clinical staff, not only within the Care Group but also from other services. 7. To provide a clinician-led clinic service to patients. 8. To maintain and develop a specialist clinical service for patients within the caseload, ensuring that the treatment and follow up of this group of patients is delivered in a timely manner9. To provide expert care, advice and support for patients and their relatives/carers and ensure that advice and point of contact is available throughout the patients journey.10. To maintain personal accountability for professional and ethical actions and ensure compliance with the standards of professional conduct issued by the relevant regulatory body
Research
11. Initiate and participate in any future projects that may occur within the area.12. To evaluate and critique recent research, to be used to enhance best practice. 13. Actively investigate current practice, using research papers and evidence data. 14. To be involved in relevant research projects promoting the role of clinician and presenting appropriate papers. 15. To identify areas in which research is viable. 16. To be competent in literature review techniques and research methodology.
Education and training development
17. Maintain own professional knowledge base and skills, meet PREP requirements, and continually update knowledge.18. To provide education to members of the multidisciplinary team, relating to the area of specialist knowledge. 19. To promote and give presentations about the role of the specialist clinician. 20. To act as an educator and assessor to promote and maintain skills and knowledge to physiotherapy staff and relevant medical and clinical staff, including specialist registrars and senior house officers. 21. To be actively involved in health promotion in line with Government targets.Management and Quality:
22. To provide a consistent and personalised service by ensuring that the patients receive the best care, in the best place from the best person or team acting as a change agent for the development of the service.23. To improve the experience and outcomes of care for patients by taking the lead in investigations and treatments prescribed. Assisting in the audit and data collection required for developing evidence-based services.24. To provide verbal and written reports to appropriate managers and clinical leads.25. To monitor the effectiveness of the service by continuous audit.26. To ensure that equipment is maintained and serviced as required.27. To develop protocols, documentation, standards and guidelines to enable best practice for the care of patients. In the identified/specified area.28. To be involved in complaints handling according to the Trusts Complaints Procedure.29. To establish a clear focus, vision and direction for the service, within the Care Group.30. To ensure effective and efficient use of financial resources, contributing to increasing the efficiency and controlling cost within the departmental budget. Making recommendations regarding supplies and purchasing of equipment.
Communication and Liaison:
31. To promote effective communication within the hospital and to the patient and/or their relatives.32. Act as a point of liaison between all hospital departments involved in the patients journey.33. Act as a source of specialist information for clinicians and other members of the multidisciplinary team.34. Liaise with other departments/ Trusts regarding services provided and current practises to develop best evidence-based practice.35. To be skilled to impart distressing information with respect and empathy.36. To ensure that all patient records are maintained contemporaneously.
* The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues. * The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly across the service to support other Clinical staff and Therapies Management team on other specific initiatives and developments as required
- Ability to initiate evidence based practice within clinical area
- Ability to manage own time within clinical and non-clinical activity and to show effective leadership skills empowering others to use problem solving and decision making skills
- Ability to demonstrate specialist clinical skills accompanied by an extensive and current working knowledge of Therapy practice within the identified specialist field of clinical practice
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to manage own stress and awareness of stress in others and ability to access support as relevant
- High level of ability to work in multidisciplinary and collaborative teams
- Ability to demonstrate tact/diplomacy and empathy within clinical and team settings
- Excellent clinical reasoning skills
- High level of organisational and negotiation skills
- Ability to lead and motivate effectively
- Ability to demonstrate assertiveness within the clinical/team and service settings
- Ability to delegate appropriately
- Ability to represent the Therapy service and the organisation at Trust initiatives and with external agencies
- Ability to demonstrate and promote reflective practice
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Ability to act as role model for staff adopting the Trust values and behaviours
- To be adaptable to changing needs of the service and clinical role giving resource and expertise as required
- Evidence of effective leadership skills
- Basic IT skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive working knowledge of Therapy practice within the identified specialist field of clinical practice
- Take an active role within multi-agency practice both within the organisation and outside the Trust
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Good understanding of standardised assessment tools and treatment principles Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Ability to demonstrate clinical reasoning and an holistic problem solving approach
- Awareness of and local involvement in current NHS issues and relevant frameworks/quality indicators
- Demonstrate awareness of Clinical Governance and its application within Therapies
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable relevant experience within the speciality
- Evidence of staff development
- Evidence of effective management
- Evidence of change management
- Evidence of clinical service development
- Evidence of participation in audit and research
Desirable
- Experience of Human Resource related issues e.g. recruitment/retention, management of sickness, attendance and special leave
- Proven experience in the formal management and supervision of staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical Professional Qualification - Degree level
- Current registration with the HCPC
- Masters qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
- Completion of Educator /Mentorship qualification or equivalent.
Desirable
- Training qualification in relevant management/leadership development
- Non-medical prescribing qualification (dependent on role) - Desirable
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly across the service to support other Clinical staff and Therapies Management team on other specific initiatives and developments as required
- Ability to initiate evidence based practice within clinical area
- Ability to manage own time within clinical and non-clinical activity and to show effective leadership skills empowering others to use problem solving and decision making skills
- Ability to demonstrate specialist clinical skills accompanied by an extensive and current working knowledge of Therapy practice within the identified specialist field of clinical practice
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to manage own stress and awareness of stress in others and ability to access support as relevant
- High level of ability to work in multidisciplinary and collaborative teams
- Ability to demonstrate tact/diplomacy and empathy within clinical and team settings
- Excellent clinical reasoning skills
- High level of organisational and negotiation skills
- Ability to lead and motivate effectively
- Ability to demonstrate assertiveness within the clinical/team and service settings
- Ability to delegate appropriately
- Ability to represent the Therapy service and the organisation at Trust initiatives and with external agencies
- Ability to demonstrate and promote reflective practice
- Ability to demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Ability to act as role model for staff adopting the Trust values and behaviours
- To be adaptable to changing needs of the service and clinical role giving resource and expertise as required
- Evidence of effective leadership skills
- Basic IT skills
Knowledge
Essential
- Extensive working knowledge of Therapy practice within the identified specialist field of clinical practice
- Take an active role within multi-agency practice both within the organisation and outside the Trust
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Good understanding of standardised assessment tools and treatment principles Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Ability to demonstrate clinical reasoning and an holistic problem solving approach
- Awareness of and local involvement in current NHS issues and relevant frameworks/quality indicators
- Demonstrate awareness of Clinical Governance and its application within Therapies
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable relevant experience within the speciality
- Evidence of staff development
- Evidence of effective management
- Evidence of change management
- Evidence of clinical service development
- Evidence of participation in audit and research
Desirable
- Experience of Human Resource related issues e.g. recruitment/retention, management of sickness, attendance and special leave
- Proven experience in the formal management and supervision of staff
Qualifications
Essential
- Clinical Professional Qualification - Degree level
- Current registration with the HCPC
- Masters qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
- Completion of Educator /Mentorship qualification or equivalent.
Desirable
- Training qualification in relevant management/leadership development
- Non-medical prescribing qualification (dependent on role) - Desirable
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
