Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join NHFT as the Professional Lead for Musculoskeletal Services, playing a key role in shaping and delivering high quality, safe and effective MSK Physiotherapy and Hand Therapy services across the county. Working closely with the Head of Service and Service Manager, the post holder will provide expert clinical leadership, contribute to strategic planning and lead service evaluation, education, training and research to drive continuous improvement and innovation.

Alongside this leadership role, the Professional Lead will manage a highly complex clinical caseload, delivering advanced assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients with chronic and complex musculoskeletal conditions. The role offers the opportunity to apply advanced clinical reasoning, integrate the latest evidence with expert practice and influence care pathways to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients.

The post holder will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, commissioners, GPs, consultants, universities and professional networks to develop services in line with local and national priorities. By leading clinical governance, audit, research and ongoing professional development, this role offers a rewarding chance to inspire and support staff, strengthen links across primary and secondary care and make a lasting impact on MSK services within NHFT.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as the clinical lead specialist for Musculoskeletal services, providing expert advanced assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients with highly complex and chronic conditions. This includes managing a complex clinical caseload, ordering and interpreting investigations, undertaking injections, non medical prescribing, leading clinical decision making and communicating complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and multidisciplinary teams.

The role provides professional leadership across MSK services, acting as an expert resource within the Trust and across primary and secondary care. Key duties include clinical supervision, postgraduate education and training, maintaining professional standards, leading audit and governance activity, supporting staff development and advising senior leaders on clinical and service related issues.

The post holder will lead service development, quality improvement, research and evaluation across MSK services. This includes contributing to strategic planning, developing care pathways and policies, working with pharmacy, radiology and pathology leads, leading and supporting research and clinical trials, and ensuring services align with national policy, evidence based practice and clinical governance requirements.

Working for our organisation

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

NHFT promotes a culture of learning to improve the care and safety of our patients and staff, which focuses on people who enable our Trust to be ‘outstanding’ by supporting opportunity, innovation, development and growth.