Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner

The closing date is 26 March 2026

We are pleased to invite applications from experienced MSK physiotherapists seeking to deliver the highest level of clinical care working within our well established MSK CATS service.

The post is for an Advanced MSK Physiotherapy Practitioner at AFC Band 8a.

The working pattern is Monday to Friday primarily based at Platt Bridge and Leigh Health Centres but must be able to facilitate multi-site working. (There is no requirement to join an on-call list).

You should hold or be working towards an MSc within a musculoskeletal or advanced practice field. Candidates are required to show evidence of their certificates to the interview panel.

The role will be based in community clinic settings across the Wigan borough, but predominantly based at Platt Bridge and Leigh Health Centres.

You will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently and effectively. You will direct the care pathway for your patients autonomously, including assessment, diagnosis, provision and interpretation of diagnostics, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated.

You will be working closely with our well established clinical team consisting of Advanced Physiotherapy and Podiatry Practitioners, Specialist Podiatrists, Upper and Lower Limb Orthopaedic Surgeons, Spinal Neurosurgeons, and Assistant Practitioners.

Previous experience of referring for investigations and/or administering joint and soft tissue injections is desirable. Training and mentorship will be provided.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Responsibilities

1. To work as an autonomous practitioner providing an advanced role within the Multidisciplinary (MDT) Musculoskeletal (MSK) Clinical Assessment & Treatment Service (CATS). Managing a defined caseload, using evidence based/client centred principles, specialising in highly complex and challenging patients.

2. To triage referrals at the point of entry into the service using advanced clinical reasoning, knowledge and expertise, directing to appropriate services/clinicians

3. To work in an advanced role in the management of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, medical and psychological conditions. To make a clinical diagnosis, by using advanced assessment, requesting and interpreting advanced diagnostic tests and investigations, to implement the correct care pathway. Ensuring referral to the appropriate services and / or facilitating Choice to service users for Secondary Care, independently of medical staff.

4. To be responsible for the development, implementation and updating of evidence based treatment protocols for orthopaedic conditions within their speciality

5. As a source of knowledge and expertise within their speciality, act in a consultancy capacity to other professionals and support staff in the wider MDT. Within the MSK setting and as appropriate outside the organisation regarding MSK policies, procedures, diagnosis and care pathways.

6. To provide clinical & professional leadership for their speciality for the MSK service as a whole. Educate, train and mentor other health professionals to promote and ensure an exemplary MSK service.

7. To lead and implement research and audit activities within their speciality. To ensure the continuing development and improvement of the MSK CATS in line with evidence based practice and new initiatives.

8. To ensure equality across all sites for the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating of the MSK CATS related to their speciality.

9. To contribute and work effectively and efficiently as a member of the MSK CATS team to deliver an holistic quality and safe service being responsible for service achievement of contractual activity and meeting access targets including 18 week pathway.

10. To work as an autonomous practitioner, be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work

including the management of patients in your care. To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under your management,

and support other staff working in the team to do likewise.

11. Post holders are required to work independently, within broad clinical & professional guidelines.

12. To triage referrals at the point of entry into the service and using clinical knowledge and expertise direct them to the appropriate

pathway within, or to a different service and / or refer to secondary care e.g. listing for surgery via choice; direct to rheumatology and

pain clinic, urgent admission to hospital wards; and referrals to community/social services e.g. rapid response, duty social worker.

13. To use advanced clinical reasoning skills to request appropriate investigations and interpret eg X-rays, blood tests, ultrasound scans,

nerve conduction, MRI, computerised gait analysis, (including identifying patients and recommending referral for nuclear and

computerised tomography and DEXA scanning) to assist in the formulation of diagnosis and planned patient management.

14. To undertake the comprehensive advanced assessment, diagnosis and management of patients, including those with diverse and/or

highly complex presentation/multi-pathologies. Using investigative and high analytical skills, to formulate specialised individualised

plans, using advanced clinical reasoning/problem solving.

15. To provide advanced treatments using specialised techniques for a wide range of highly complex conditions, by utilising evidence

based knowledge. Demonstrating highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses.

16. To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the department ensuring

competence to use equipment and the safe use of equipment by others through, teaching, training and supervision of practice.

17. To be responsible for the development, implementation and updating of evidence based treatment protocols for orthopaedic conditions

within their speciality

18. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to

clinical priorities and use of time.

19. To accept partial responsibility for any tasks delegated to less senior qualified or unqualified staff.

20. To provide highly specialist advice to other professionals including GPs and consultants, to promote understanding of the aims of

treatment/surgery, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care, re: musculoskeletal patients, and where appropriate implement

patient management plan e.g. for further investigation.

21. To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Use

communication skills such as persuasion, motivation explanation to encourage patients to undertake their management programme

when they may be resistant or in cases with distressful diagnoses.

22. To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within

a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. There will often be barriers to effective communication e.g.

loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc and understanding.

23. To provide detailed patient reports to referrer and for onward treatment including secondary care (e.g. surgery listing via choice)

Key results from the job holder

1. To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate

them as necessary into your work, developing and maintaining professional and leadership skills.

2. To interpret clinical national and local agreed standards of practice, implementing policy and service development changes as

appropriate, for their speciality within the MSK Service (e.g. NICE)

3. To represent the Trust externally (locally and regionally) regarding MSK CATS for their speciality.

4. To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure the MSK CATS strategy is implemented throughout the Trust.

5. To be active in organising, contributing to and leading case conferences with Consultants and other AHPs.

6. To be responsible for the education, training and mentoring of other health professionals to promote and ensure an exemplary MSK

service. Providing an integrated and seamless approach to patient care.

7. To participate in the staff appraisal, and the formulation of Personal Development Plans (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.

8. To monitor the quality of service related to their speciality provided by the MSK CATS by undertaking the measurement and evaluation

of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either

individually, or with the CATS Team.

9. To ensure appropriate research and clinical trials are carried out relevant to your specialist area as appropriate

10. To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation.

11. To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of

your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment use if safe.

12. To act as a role model and clinical expert to actively promote your role within the multidisciplinary team, thereby supporting and

inspiring colleagues toward achieving excellence in their care.

13. To take an active role in special interest groups relevant to the area of musculoskeletal medicine and clinical practice, to cascade

information and incorporate their standards into local practice as appropriate.

1. To decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensures that they remain in

accordance with those of the section as a whole.

2. To co-ordinate the day-to-day organisational responsibilities for the clinical area to ensure appropriate human and clinical resources are

available.

3. To liaise with and advise the MSK CATS Team Leaders regarding their speciality in relation to developing the strategic and operational

management of the MSK CATS.

4. To be responsible for ordering (including being a budgetary signatory where appropriate), monitoring and maintaining equipment used

in carrying out MSK CATS duties.

5. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and

communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in form of reports and letters.

6. To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure the MSK CATS strategy is implemented throughout the Trust.

7. To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as

appropriate.

8. To be actively involved in the recruitment and selection of staff.

9. To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the manager

• Diploma or Degree in Physiotherapy
• Professional Registration
• Working at Masters level demonstrated by on-going CPD
• Evidence of relevant MSK post graduate courses
• Member of relevant specialist interest group
• Working towards Masters degree/ Modules at masters level
• Injection Therapy
• Advanced Physiotherapy Practice Masters module

• At least 4 years postgraduate experience in the management and treatment of MSK conditions, with evidence by portfolio, of professional development in this field of work.
• Experience in Orthopaedics working closely with Consultants in identifying appropriate clinical management e.g. Orthopaedic Surgery/Injection Therapy.
• Evidence of Teaching and Leadership skills
• Experience at clinical specialist or advanced practitioner level
• Experience of audit/research

• Excellent clinical skills
• Clinical reasoning and treatment planning for complex patient caseload.
• Willingness to develop / have interpretation skills of basic medical investigations e.g. bloods & X-Rays
• Highly specialised treatment techniques within physiotherapy
• Management of a complex caseload.
• Working to waiting time targets
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent communications skills
• Interpersonal skills Negotiated care packages to patients who are resistant to change/ have complex pain dysfunction and emotional problems/unable to accept the diagnosis.
• Provision of detailed clinical reports/letters.
• Excellent presentational/teaching skills for local, regional and national conference level.
• Ability to use IT confidently and effectively
• Forward thinking
• Self-directed learning
• Ability to work within the MDT and independently
• Ability to pass on knowledge and skills to others within both formal and in formal environments
• Ability to run internal and external courses.
• X-ray and blood interpretation skills

• Sound knowledge of MSK pathologies and associated psychological difficulties.
• Commitment to continuing professional development inclusive of:
• Reading of professional journals, In-house training and development
• Attendance at regional and national courses and conferences.
• Evidence based practice
• Knowledge of the development of clinical protocols
• Knowledge of audit/research and willingness to develop

• Committed to personal and team development
• Able to work well with others and pass on knowledge and skills
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure
• Self-motivated and confident to make appropriate decisions but willing to seek and accept support when necessary.
• Supports and values peoples\' equality diversity and rights. Approachable, supportive and caring.
• Able to facilitate multi-site working
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to the role: ie with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation.

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.

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust