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Job summary

Main area
Advanced Practice Physiotherapist - Scoliosis
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Contract
8 months (Fixed-term to 31 March 2026)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
37.5 hours per week (Up to 37.5 hrs per week (Full-time))
Job ref
392-RNOH-1246
Employer
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore
Town
Stanmore
Salary
£59,490 - £66,239 per annum inclusive of HCAs
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
21/07/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust logo

Advanced Practice Physiotherapist - Scoliosis

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Please note in order to progress your application, your data will be processed by our 3rd party recruitment providers – North London Partners Shared Service, who conduct recruitment activities on behalf of Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust. 

The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and a global leader in our field.  We provide a dynamic working environment where we support frontline staff to implement improvements so that we can realise our vision of being a world leading neuro musculoskeletal hospital providing the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS, delivering world leading research, and offering a strong foundation of education, training and career progression. Our dedicated staff come from diverse backgrounds, and our patients benefit from the wide range of experience they bring to the Trust. The RNOH brings unrivalled expertise together in one place allowing us to deliver some of the world’s most complex and innovative care to our patients

  • Rated Good by the CQC
  • Two sites, one in central London and one in Stanmore - which has recently opened The Stanmore Building, a new, state-of-the-art inpatient facility
  • Our Research and Innovation Centre works closely with our main academic partner, University College London
  • Recognised as a centre of excellence,  leading on national initiatives, such as the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) Programme
  • Further major redevelopment underway across the Stanmore site – improving and modernising our facilities to maintain our position as the UK’s leading centre for orthopaedic medicine
  • In the NHS staff survey, over 90% of our staff were satisfied with the quality of care they are able to give to patients - the best result of any NHS Trust in the country
  • Our staff also indicated that they had the best experience of appraisals as compared to all other NHS Trusts.

This is a great time to join us and play a critical role in the next stage of RNOH’s journey to achieving an outstanding CQC rating.

Our aim is to remain a world-leading orthopaedic hospital with the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS. To do this, we have four core values that underpin everything that we do. We use our values to help ensure that we are always focused on the things that our staff and patients believe are most important:

  • Patients first, always
  • Excellence, in all we do
  • Trust, honesty and respect, for each other
  • Equality, for all

Our annual staff survey results have been improving year on year, with our staff telling us that their experience of working at the Trust is getting better and better. They also indicate that our staff feel very loyal to the RNOH and committed to its role in providing the very best care to our complex patient group. We hope that we can welcome you to our growing team soon.

Job overview

We are looking for a dynamic and experienced physiotherapist specialised in the management of Scoliosis who is ready to lead and develop an innovative new service at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH). The appointed Advanced Practice Physiotherapist (APP) will play a pivotal role in the development and delivery of a new Scoliosis Service Pilot. This exciting initiative aims to enhance early access to conservative treatment for patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS), reducing the need for surgery and improving long-term outcomes.

As an integral member of a specialist multidisciplinary team, you will work closely with consultants, orthotists, and other healthcare professionals to deliver expert assessment, triage, and evidence-based physiotherapy interventions. Your work will directly inform the wider London Paediatric Spinal Deformity Improvement Programme (LP-SIP).

Currently the role has secured funding until the end of March 2026.  Further funding to be confirmed to extend service beyond this date.

Main duties of the job

·         Lead the triage and assessment of AIS referrals, identifying candidates for conservative management.

·         Deliver and oversee specialist physiotherapy interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team.

·         Independently manage a complex clinical caseload, including post-operative and conservatively managed scoliosis patients.

·         Request and interpret diagnostic imaging (X-rays, EOS, MRI, etc.) and blood tests to support clinical decision-making.

·         Support the development of new patient-centred care pathways and contribute to service evaluation and improvement.

·         Participate in consultant-led outpatient clinics and act as the first point of contact for diagnosis and treatment planning.

·         Promote and engage in clinical research and evidence-based practice within the scoliosis service.

·         Provide expert guidance and education to patients, families, and colleagues on spinal deformity management.

·         Ensure high standards of documentation, patient safety, and clinical governance.

Working for our organisation

RNOH Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust (RNOH) is the largest orthopaedic hospital in the UK and a global leader in our field. We provide a dynamic working environment where we support frontline staff to implement improvements so that we can realise our vision of being a world leading neuro-musculoskeletal hospital providing the best patient care and staff experience in the NHS, delivering world leading research, and offering a strong foundation of education, training and career progression. Our dedicated staff come from diverse backgrounds, and our patients benefit from the wide range of experience they bring to the trust. RNOH brings unrivalled expertise together in one place allowing us to deliver some of the world’s most complex and innovative care to our patients. RNOH is rated good by the CQC and covers two sites, one in central London and one in Stanmore - which has recently opened The Stanmore Building, a new, state-of-the-art inpatient facility. For more information, please access the following link:

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

What We’re Looking For

·         HCPC-registered Physiotherapist with significant post-registration experience in specialist field.

·         Proven expertise in musculoskeletal/spinal physiotherapy, ideally with experience in paediatrics and scoliosis.

·         Advanced clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills, including experience with imaging and extended scope practice.

·         Strong leadership, communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.

·         Passion for service development, innovation, and improving patient outcomes.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Degree or Diploma in relevant AHP discipline e.g. Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Orthotics, Prosthetics
  • HCPC registration
  • Undertaken a range of relevant postgraduate courses
Desirable criteria
  • Member of relevant professional body
  • Masters degree or evidence of level 7 qualification
  • Member of appropriate Special Interest Group
  • Appropriate IRMER qualification
  • Appropriate non-medical prescribing qualification
  • Trained in using the Schroth method

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Significant post graduate clinical experience including having held senior position in relevant speciality
  • Significant experience of relevant specialist pathway
  • Extensive experience of working within and contributing to a multidisciplinary team
  • Experience of working autonomously and unsupervised
Desirable criteria
  • Experience at an established senior level working with GPs or consultants in the management of musculoskeletal conditions
  • Experience of service evaluation and improvement, audit and research
  • Experience in supervision and teaching relevant to service

Skills & abilities

Essential criteria
  • Comprehensive and advanced level clinical assessment and treatment skills across MSK and orthopaedic presentations
  • Able to diagnose complex MSK problems and formulate management plans
  • The ability to identify and act upon adverse clinical signs
  • Advanced clinical reasoning skills and the ability to discuss these in the management of highly complex cases
  • Able to communicate at an advanced level including complex information to patients, carers, team and other health professionals
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to organise and prioritise
  • Excellent ability to work effectively in a team environment
  • Able to provide a high standard of clear, concise written and verbal reports in English
  • Ability to self-direct learning, be critical and evaluate own learning needs
  • Ability to work in a stressful and unpredictable environment and mange own stress
  • Good level of IT Skills and computer literacy (to be tested during probationary period)
Desirable criteria
  • Good teaching and training skills
  • Ability to undertake clinical audit and research
  • Clear, strong presentation skills

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Extensive specialist knowledge of evidence based diagnosis and management of the relevant complex MSK disorders and pathways
  • Robust understanding of clinical governance and its implications for this APP role
  • Awareness and understanding of NHS structure, current issues and developments

Disposition and Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Excellent concentration and able to work for long periods, often with interruptions
  • Self-motivated with a clear vision of the role and a commitment to the speciality
  • Works in a flexible manner and adapts to changing environments
  • Enthusiastic and motivated to share knowledge and training across the team
  • Professional manner and appearance

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesCare quality commission - GoodMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerNHS Rainbow badgeNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality MarkBronze Trailblazer by Race Equality MattersDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - GoldAccredited Menopause Friendly EmployerRoyal College of Anaesthetists AccreditedCareLeaver CovenantThe Employer Standards provide a clear framework to businesses of all shapes and sizes to maximise the impact of employer engagement with young people, ensuring mutual value and long-term business success

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Daniel Fielder
Job title
Therapies Clinical Operations Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02039470508
Additional information

n/a

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