MSK Rotational Physiotherapist

Job summary
Band 6 Rotational Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

This is an exciting opportunity for physiotherapists seeking their first musculoskeletal/orthopaedic Band 6 position, or for those already working at this level who wish to expand their experience in the musculoskeletal field working in a well-supported Centre of Excellence.

This rotational post consists of 7 rotations through 3 different MSK outpatient departments, Hand Therapy, Trauma inpatient wards, Elective Orthopaedic Surgery inpatient wards and our Optimise pain management service.

These rotations are across three of the OUH sites, the John Radcliffe Hospital, the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Horton General Hospital, providing a varied range of learning as well as the opportunity to progress leadership skills.

There is a well established Physiotherapy Research Unit based at the NOC. Staff are encouraged to be actively involved in research.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS POST MAY CLOSE EARLY IF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED

Main duties of the job
The 8 month rotations in more detail:

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre:

MSK outpatients- A mix of consultant and post elective surgery patients which can be highly complex. You will be part of a large team of mostly Band 6s and 7s, treating patients individually as well as in hydrotherapy and gym classes.

Optimise Pain Management service - A unique opportunity to gain experience managing some of the more complex conditions supported by experienced physiotherapists and psychologists

Hand Therapy - Specialist upper limb service, splinting and complex hand surgery patients

Elective Orthopaedic Inpatients - working on the wards treating patients post operatively. Surgery includes complex limb reconstruction and sarcoma surgery alongside innovative enhanced recovery pathways for primary joint replacements.

John Radcliffe Hospital:

Trauma inpatients - Working on the wards in a Major Trauma Centre alongside experienced clinicians. A wide variety of complex trauma patients, working with the MDT

Trauma outpatients - Following these patients up as outpatients as well as specialist fracture clinic work

Horton General Hospital:

MSK outpatients - A mix of GP referrals and post trauma outpatients in a small friendly team.

About us
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. Find out more here

The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via theOUH YouTube channel.

Details
Date posted: 19 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 321-NOTSS-8187253-B6
Job locations: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to patients within a variety of areas which include:

• Orthopaedic Inpatients Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
• MSK/ Orthopaedic Outpatients Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
• Trauma Outpatients John Radcliffe Hospital
• Trauma Inpatients - John Radcliffe Hospital
• Musculoskeletal Outpatients (GP, trauma and orthopaedics) Horton Hospital, Banbury and Brackley Physiotherapy Department
• Optimise Pain Management Service Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre
• Hand Therapy NOC/JR

Job Statement

• To assess and treat own patient caseload, who may have a complex presentation, and maintain associated records, as an autonomous practitioner.
• To supervise and teach band 5 Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy Assistants and student Physiotherapists.
• To undertake evidence-based projects, including recommendations for change in practice and participate in departmental research and audit.
• To deputise for Physiotherapy Team Leaders in operational management

Clinical:

• To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of the post-holders own work
• To manage a complex and busy caseload, and to demonstrate the ability to work flexibly to deliver efficient patient services in a range of models.
• To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with diverse or complex presentations / multi pathologies, and using clinical reasoning skills, and knowledge of evidence based practice, determine appropriate care plan, utilising wide range of treatment skills and options.
• To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnoses in a wide range of conditions including those with a complex presentation, with occasional guidance from specialist physiotherapists
• To formulate accurate diagnoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive treatment and discharge plans, based on sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment skills.
• To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter / progress the treatment programme as required.
• To assess a patients capacity to understand and to gain valid, informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent or refuse treatment.
• To co-ordinate intervention which may include other disciplines; advise and educate patient/carers/relatives/other health professionals
• To maintain accurate written records, in line with Professional Standards. To provide comprehensive progress and discharge reports as required by rotation.
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling
• To demonstrate, teach and observe excellent manual handling and demonstrate therapeutic patient handling when needed
• To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients
• To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting, or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.
• To represent physiotherapy and / or individual patients at multidisciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care. This will include discussion of patient care / discharge planning.
• To be able to motivate and persuade others through effective communication skills, with the benefit of verbal and non-verbal skills, using written and electronic information where needed
• To demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patient, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to communication e.g., non-English speakers, those with communication disorders, impaired sight or hearing.
• To contribute regularly to on-call and weekend physiotherapy services demonstrating competence and confidence in the assessment and treatment of patients with physiotherapy amenable respiratory conditions when require

Management:

• To be responsible for competent use and maintenance reporting of all equipment, including but not limited to electrotherapy, gym equipment, hoists, IPPB ventilators, saturation monitors and patient appliances, and to ensure that junior staff/students and assistants attain competency prior to use.
• To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• To be responsible for the operational management of the designated team in the absence of the team leader or as required
• To plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and adjusting plans as required according to staffing levels.
• To be able to respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions.
• To assist in the planning of juniors, students and assistants timetables and deputise for the team leader in organisational duties.
• To ensure that performance data is recorded and reported within the service timescales

Education

• To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families, and carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for Band 5 / Student Physiotherapists as allocated by the Team Leader.
• To be pro-active regarding learning from other physiotherapy staff within the department, and other MDT staff in the Trust.
• To be responsible for and actively record own professional development and maintain a CPD portfolio to reflect this.
• To be proactive with regular clinical supervision with supervisor and plan suitable sessions
• To keep abreast in understanding and knowledge of new developments applicable to specific physiotherapy treatments.
• To attend and actively participate in departmental in-service training program and other outside courses/ lectures as appropriate.
• To assist in organising and actively participate in the in-service and post-registration education programme within the specialist clinical area.
• To maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the areas in each rotation, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types.
• To participate in the mentorship programme offered on the rotation
• To actively engage with fellow rotational staff and to play active role in peer learning and development in rotational group meetings.
• To plan and conduct in-rotation specific service development plans, clinical audits and CPD as guided by supervisor and to plan and encourage between rotation projects for other rotational staff to continue

General:

• To carry out assessments and treatments, with moderate physical effort on a daily basis.
• To comply with the Trusts Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidelines.
• To be presentable, punctual and to represent the trustand the values at all times
• To work in an environment where the work patterns may be disrupted by frequent demands from patients, clinical staff, students, and administrative support staff.
• To deal sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care such as realistic expectations of rehabilitation outcome.
• To support juniors when indicated in the management of challenging patients.
• To remain professional and supportive of patients suffering from pain states that may lead to anxiety and aggressive behaviour.

Person Specification
Essential criteria
Essential

• Current experience of working in the NHS as qualified physiotherapist
• Degree in physiotherapy and HCPC registration
• Broad range of core band 5/junior rotations including MSK/Orthopaedics
• Good written and spoken English
• Evidence of relevant post graduate training

Desirable

• Evidence of participation in research/audit
• Previous band 6 experience
• Completed clinical educator training or previous student supervision experience
• Membership of appropriate Clinical Interest Group
• Flexible and able to commit to weekend, on-call and late shift working patterns

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: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7LD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Physiotherapy Inpatient Lead
Victoria Crawford
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.