Job summary
- Main area
- Rheumatology
- Grade
- Band 6
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 153-ME05865
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- University Hospitals Dorset Christchurch and Dorchester
- Town
- Dorset
- Salary
- £39,959 - £48,117 pa/pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 08/05/2026
Employer heading
Rheumatology Practitioner
Band 6
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
Applications are invited for the post of Rheumatology Practitioner within the Rheumatology department at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust. This can be an established Rheumatology Practitioner or someone wishing to advance their skills in rheumatology. We have positions available in the East - Christchurch and the West - Dorchester.
We are looking for an innovative, motivated practitioner interested in rheumatology who would fit into this team. You will be expected to develop your rheumatology practice and become an autonomous practitioner caring for patients with Rheumatic conditions. The specialist practitioner service works within a multi-disciplinary team providing holistic care for patients including practitioner-led clinics, advice via a telephone helpline service, provision of shared care monitoring, and assisting in delivery of consultant led outpatient clinics.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to work in a multi disciplinary team environment. This would be suitable for an Allied Health Professional or clinical nurse with some awareness of rheumatology. You will be interested in injection therapy, ultrasound and independent prescribing training. To apply for the post you must have clinical patient experience
This role requires an Active UK NMC or HCPC Registration
Interview date: Friday 8th May 2026
Main duties of the job
The role includes practitioner-led clinics, advice via a telephone helpline service, provision of shared care monitoring, and assisting in delivery of consultant led outpatient clinics.
Full support will be provided from the band 7 Rheumatology practitioners as well as from the rheumatology consultants enabling you to develop your skills and be able to run outpatient clinics as well as the patient adviceline
You will have excellent communication skills which will be essential in an MDT approach to management including linking with primary care.
Working for our organisation
UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.
This service has a planned East and West model, with the East moving to Christchurch site in Summer 2026.
If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.
UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.
AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Current registration with professional body
- Evidence of degree study
- Expectation to undertake Enhanced Practice qualification or equivalent
- Willing to work towards independent prescribing qualification
- Demonstrates evidence of on-going continuous professional development
Desirable criteria
- Physical examination/assessment course or recognised equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical knowledge of musculo-skeletal and inflammatory arthritis conditions and assessment
- Demonstrates ability to apply research-based practice and advocate it to improve the quality of patient clinical assessment and management.
Desirable criteria
- NMR IRMER experience
- Recent experience / evidence of managing a caseload of rheumatology patients
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential criteria
- Able to obtain, analyse and interpret information from patient assessment and interventions, to formulate diagnoses, plan and implement care plans
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, using a range of methods e.g. verbal, written and record keeping
Desirable criteria
- A commitment to improving patient services through an ability to sustain a clear performance focus on achieving demanding goals
- A strong sense of personal and team accountability whist understanding the boundaries around delegated authority, responsibility, accountability
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Lucy.sanders
- Job title
- Lead rheumatology practitioner
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Additional information
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