Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Physiotherapist Orthopaedics & T&O Research Associate

The closing date is 12 April 2026

Job summary

Join Our Dynamic Trauma & Orthopaedics Team as a Physiotherapist

We are delighted to offer a unique and exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic, motivated, and suitably qualified Physiotherapist to join our supportive and forward-thinking team.

This hybrid role offers the best of both worlds:part-time clinical practice as a Band 6 Physiotherapist in Trauma & Orthopaedics, combined with part-time work as an Orthopaedic Research Physiotherapist collaborating closely with our Orthopaedic surgeons.

About the Role

In this varied and rewarding position, you will:

  • Provide high-quality clinical care to Trauma & Orthopaedic patients on the wards and in outpatient settings
  • Take a lead role in the day-to-day coordination and management of clinical trials and research studies
  • Work closely with patients, identifying those suitable for inclusion in research programmes and supporting them throughout their participation
  • Contribute to the development and delivery of innovative research that directly shapes patient care and service improvement

You will become an integral part of both the Therapies and Orthopaedic teams, gaining exposure to a wide range of clinical and research experiences.

You will also participate in the Orthopaedic weekend rota as part of the clinical component of the role.

Main duties of the job

Deliver advanced physiotherapeutic assessments, diagnoses, and treatments for patients with a wide range of complex physical and psychological conditions, ensuring high-quality, patient-centred care.

Manage your own independent caseload, taking responsibility for a designated area of the service or a specific patient group. You will work autonomously, using your specialist clinical reasoning to make informed decisions.

Work with professional support rather than direct supervision. Support will be provided through regular training sessions, clinical reasoning meetings, peer review, and case discussions. Senior physiotherapists will be available for advice when needed, although routine evaluation of clinical work is not required.

Undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, demonstrating confidence, accountability, and a commitment to delivering safe and effective care.

We are seeking someone who is:

  • Passionate about Trauma & Orthopaedics and eager to develop specialist expertise
  • Engaged and curious about clinical research
  • Confident working independently, while also being a collaborative team player
  • Organised, proactive, and committed to delivering excellent patient care

About us

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person-centred care we're proud of.

We're committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing - and yes, we even have a pool!

Discover what it's like to live and work in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn how we're building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research.

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

427-7893488

Job locations

RUH NHS Trust

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Job description

Job responsibilities

The applicant should already have significant experience within Orthopaedic and have a keen interest in the management of acute conditions. Applicants need to have a broad range of experience in addition to their Orthopaedics skills and would benefit from experience in frailty and acute medicine. They will also need excellent communication and discharge planning skills, with experience of making complex discharge decisions autonomously.

As a band 6 the successful applicant will be expected to regularly support students on clinical placement and experience of this would be beneficial. As a band 6 you will also be expected to mentor and support rotational band 5 colleagues and assistants.

As part of a group of band 6 staff in Orthopaedics , you along with your peers will supported to develop more advanced skills to promote your personal development and be involved in service improvement projects.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The applicant should already have significant experience within Orthopaedic and have a keen interest in the management of acute conditions. Applicants need to have a broad range of experience in addition to their Orthopaedics skills and would benefit from experience in frailty and acute medicine. They will also need excellent communication and discharge planning skills, with experience of making complex discharge decisions autonomously.

As a band 6 the successful applicant will be expected to regularly support students on clinical placement and experience of this would be beneficial. As a band 6 you will also be expected to mentor and support rotational band 5 colleagues and assistants.

As part of a group of band 6 staff in Orthopaedics , you along with your peers will supported to develop more advanced skills to promote your personal development and be involved in service improvement projects.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Physiotherapy Qualification
  • Evidence of CPD to meet the needs of the post
  • GCP

Desirable

  • CSP member
  • Involvement in spec interest groups

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience working in the NHS
  • Experience of a broad range of Orthopaedic conditions
  • Understanding of the application of research within the clinical environment
  • Knowledge or previous experience of randomised controlled trials
  • Experience of student and physiotherapy assistant supervision
  • Experience of working as part of a physiotherapy team and/or multi-disciplinary team

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental.
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring. Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference

Specific skills

Essential

  • To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression causes by pain, dementia or limited mobility
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • The ability to maintain high levels of concentration when under pressure from competing sources
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Physiotherapy Qualification
  • Evidence of CPD to meet the needs of the post
  • GCP

Desirable

  • CSP member
  • Involvement in spec interest groups

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Experience working in the NHS
  • Experience of a broad range of Orthopaedic conditions
  • Understanding of the application of research within the clinical environment
  • Knowledge or previous experience of randomised controlled trials
  • Experience of student and physiotherapy assistant supervision
  • Experience of working as part of a physiotherapy team and/or multi-disciplinary team

Values

Essential

  • Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental.
  • Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring. Helps and co-operates with colleagues
  • Pro-active and takes responsibility Willing to learn, open to change
  • Motivated to make a difference

Specific skills

Essential

  • To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression causes by pain, dementia or limited mobility
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • The ability to maintain high levels of concentration when under pressure from competing sources

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

RUH NHS Trust

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

RUH NHS Trust

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Team Leader Physiotherapist Orthopaedics

Suzy Riggs

s.riggs@nhs.net

01225824299

Details

Date posted

02 April 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£39,959 to £48,117 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

427-7893488

Job locations

RUH NHS Trust

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG


Supporting documents

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