Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner

Go back Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 06 March 2026

We are looking for a motivated, experienced APP who is passionate about the consistent delivery of quality clinical management of musculoskeletal conditions to work within our innovative, friendly MSK service.

This is an exciting role working as an APP. You will be responsible for managing a case load of patients in outpatient clinics with varying diagnosis and/or highly complex needs, using evidence based and patient centred principles.

You will work as a self-sufficient practitioner. The post will offer the flexibility to work in different settings and parts of the service, integrating with the MSK Physiotherapists, FCP's, MSK Podiatrists, MSK Pain service and Patient Appliances.

Whilst undertaking comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of patients with a wide variety of physical and emotional needs, you will formulate, deliver, review and progress individual programmes and ensure effective treatment, specialist advice and timely discharge is achieved.

Developing and promoting a positive and dynamic image and culture, you will be key in fostering productive relationships with key stakeholders such as local Consultants and GP's and provide support and training to other clinical staff.

We offer regular department in-service training, funding for external clinical courses, and an excellent supportive learning environment in order to continually develop your own personal learning and CPD.

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• To work as part of the Musculoskeletal Service and as part of the Advance Practice Physiotherapy team to provide a highly specialist service to commissioners, that assesses patients with musculoskeletal conditions and manages them appropriately with regard to clinical need. To work as an autonomous practitioner in an advance practice physiotherapy role. This will involve highly specialist triage skills and advanced assessment and treatment of patients, including requests for diagnostics and administering steroid injections.
  
• To be responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical musculo-skeletal practice by evaluating the service through: regular audit; staff training and education; and facilitating research and evidence based practice.
  
• To act as a specialist resource for all MSK conditions in primary and secondary care for all staff-clinically and non-clinically, where appropriate.
  
• The post holder reports to the Clinical Manager for MSK Services. The post holder will carry out clinical supervision and appraisals when necessary and support Team Leads and the Musculoskeletal team on clinical issues, as and when they arise. They will support the Operational Services Manager in the clinical governance of the staff and service.
  

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

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• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
  
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
  
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
  
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
  
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
  
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
  
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
  
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
  
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
  

Work that wraps around your needs

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• Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
  
• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
  
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
  

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• To provide highly specialist assessment and management of patients, providing expert and specialised triage of electronic referrals from GPs referred to Orthopaedic Consultants. Ensuring the most appropriate treatment is provided to all patients in the right setting and in a timely manner.
  
• To run Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) clinics. To be highly competent in assessing patients with a wide range of MSK, Orthopaedic conditions and impairments, often with highly complex presentations, based on advanced theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, often in situations where conflicting evidence is present.
  
• To be responsible for the provision of a high standard of physiotherapy practice and patient management for a wide range of musculoskeletal patients and supporting other staff to do the same.
  
• Use advanced practice skills to aid diagnosis and development of treatment plans e.g. have the knowledge and skills to request and interpret x-rays, scans, blood tests.
  
• To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnoses and prognoses in a wide range of highly complex MSK presentations. To recommend the best course of intervention, ensuring appropriate and effective pain management following initial assessment and to develop comprehensive treatment and discharge plans. To refer patients to the most appropriate clinicians for treatment, including patients who do not require the skills of an APP.
  
• To independently judge when the diagnosis and management of an MSK patient requires the opinion of an Orthopaedic Consultant, working collaboratively with our system partners.
  
• To use specialist knowledge to refer to other agencies as appropriate e.g. podiatrists, rheumatologists, neurologists.
  
• To carry out highly skilled procedures beyond the parameters of normal routine physiotherapy practice based on evidence of competencies and experience, thereby expanding the role of practice (e.g. injection therapy and prescribing).
  
• Assess and manage a clinical caseload of patients requiring advanced clinical reasoning and manual therapy skills.
  
• To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co‑ordination and palpatory skills for the assessment and manual treatment of patients.
  
• To monitor and evaluate treatment, measure progress, ensure effectiveness of intervention and identify quickly when treatment requires modification.
  
• To support more junior staff demonstrating clinical leadership, including highly specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists in the management of the most highly complex types of MSK conditions, in order to develop their assessment, treatment and clinical reasoning skills ensuring a high standard of care to patients. This may include advising on the management of patients who have often failed to respond to previous physiotherapy interventions.
  
• Working with our system partners, evaluate and further develop treatment pathways to provide effective high quality services for patients. To act as an advisor regarding MSK conditions within the clinical speciality, locally, regionally and nationally as required.
  
• To ensure a high standard of clinical practice and patient care is maintained, and to ensure that other physiotherapists in the team do the same through ongoing competency assessment and evaluation of treatment outcomes.
  
• To ensure that the physiotherapy team implements clinical policies and service development changes relating to the provision of high standards of clinical practice for patients with MSK conditions.
  
• To effectively manage the MSK APP teams caseload and prioritise its workload within time available. To fulfil patient assessment and treatment commitments in conjunction with any other commitments, including managerial ones such as staff supervision. To ensure the needs of the patients, the service and the profession are met.
  
• To promote integrated working alongside our system partners and consultants, GPs and other health professionals to provide a seamless service.
  
• To represent the IMSK service at MDT meetings as part of the partnership model, providing expert clinical evidence based information on a complex caseload of patients and making suggestions on adjustments to management plans, as required.
  
• To represent EPUT and act as a resource within all aspects of the IMSK partnership in the provision of expert physiotherapeutic knowledge of issues relating to MSK physiotherapy.
  

Professional

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• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care .To work within the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Rules of Professional conduct.
  
• To work within guidelines laid down by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
  
• Progress towards completion, possess, or demonstrate the ability to perform at the level of, a relevant Masters Degree and to use knowledge gained from the experience to benefit the service.
  
• To maintain own competence at post registration Masters Level, through theoretical study and reflective practice. This will be through CPD activities, maintaining a professional portfolio, which reflects personal development, and leading others in similar good practice.
  
• Undertake evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice, audit and outcome measures.
  
• Maintain and develop further skills required to practice at an advanced level within the scope of physiotherapy for example: referral for and interpretation of x-rays, scans and bloods; injection therapy skills and supplementary prescribing.
  
• Identify and develop local policies, procedures and guidelines, e.g. imaging and diagnostics guidelines.
  
• To be actively involved in the accurate and timely collection of data and/or information as required for audit and clinical governance purposes, in order to monitor and improve standards and quality.
  
• To keep up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice accordingly.
  
• To work with the MSK Operational Services manager and our system partners in West Essex in developing the strategic and operational management of the physiotherapy service within this speciality.
  
• To represent the physiotherapy service and/or specialty at meetings, contributing to decisions making and feeding back information to the wider IMSK team as appropriate.
  

Communication Skills

31. Is able to communicate sensitive and complex information to patient and carer in order to gain cooperation for the best possible treatment programme for patients presenting with complex and/or multi-pathological issues.

32. Gain consent using highly developed persuasion, motivation and reassurance skills to maximise the cooperation of the individual in order to ensure the successful outcome of each selected treatment management programme.

33. To provide individualised clear written information, instructions and exercise programmes for patients to follow independently and/or on discharge.

34. To provide spontaneous and planned advice on highly specialized physiotherapy care and treatment for patients within MSK based on theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience and to be consulted frequently for specialist advice and guidance by other team members and other members of the MDT.

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• To work collaboratively with our system partners to ensure a coordinated service, culminating in the timely and appropriate discharge or transfer of care of patients from the specialty.
  
• To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training to other professionals regarding the management of patients with orthopaedic conditions locally.
  
• To represent and promote the role of physiotherapy in the management of Orthopaedic musculoskeletal conditions in a multi-disciplinary context and in dealings with other medical disciplines.
  
• To ensure dissemination of current research developments, evidence based practice and best practice guidelines with particular emphasis on the management of orthopaedic patients.
  
• To be accurate, efficient and succinct at writing letters to Orthopaedic Consultants, GPs and other team members.
  
• To develop and maintain close working relationships and communication with the Orthopaedic team, GPs, musculoskeletal physiotherapists and other referral sources in order to maximise the effectiveness of the APP role and ensure high levels of patient care.
  
• To represent the Physiotherapy Department within the IMSKS and to external agencies e.g. GP surgeries, as required.
  

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• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
  
• Post graduate high quality courses relevant to MSK and APP
  
• MSc qualification in MSK clinical practice
  
• Independent prescriber or working towards qualification
  
• Injection qualification or working towards this
  

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• Post graduate experience of working in musculoskeletal specialist area at a senior level within the NHS for minimum of 5 years.
  
• Experience as APP/FCP.
  

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.

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum, plus 5% HCA