Advanced Practice Physiotherapist – Orthopaedics

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) is one of the largest healthcare systems in the United Kingdom, employing approximately 40,000 staff across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical professions and roles. We deliver acute hospital, primary, community and mental health services to a population of over 1.15 million people, and to a wider population of 2.2 million when regional and national services are included.

The role:

To provide a high quality, person-centred MSK service within Orthopaedics clinics by providing specialised clinical diagnosis, determining appropriate orthopaedic management needs and identifying ongoing rehabilitation needs or discharging. The service strives to provide an efficient and effective service, which is underpinned with a robust evidence base where available.

Permanent, Part time

Shift Pattern - 5/7

Base location - Glasgow Royal Infirmary

• Clinical
  • Act independently as the primary orthopaedic contact, accountable for patient assessment and management.
  • Use advanced clinical reasoning to analyse complex information, establish orthopaedic diagnoses and determine management plans.
  • Request and interpret specialist investigations (e.g., X-ray, MRI, blood tests, EMG) to support diagnosis and decision-making.
  • Discharge or refer patients appropriately to internal and external services based on clinical findings.
  • Apply specialist knowledge of orthopaedic surgery to identify need for surgical intervention and assess surgical risk.
  • Independently list suitable patients for surgery and initiate consent processes in line with departmental standards.
  • Produce detailed clinical reports outlining findings, diagnosis and recommendations.
  • Provide specialist advice to patients, carers, occupational health, and healthcare professionals to support coordinated care.
  • Manage a caseload of complex musculoskeletal patients using expert assessment and treatment skills.
  • Offer expert guidance to physiotherapy staff and initiate orthopaedic intervention when required.
  • Work within professional boundaries, managing clinical risk and ensuring safe use of advanced skills (e.g., manipulation, acupuncture, injections).
  • Contribute to evaluation of new clinical equipment and audit outcome measures to support service improvement.
  • Maintain professional and legal accountability in line with physiotherapy standards, departmental policies and CSP codes.
• Managerial
  • Support adaptation of APP clinic services to meet national waiting time targets.
  • Contribute to developing and evaluating new care pathways to improve timely access to specialist services.
  • Balance responsibilities across complex caseload management, teaching, service development and quality assurance.
  • Interpret and implement clinical and non-clinical policies relevant to the specialty, liaising with other agencies as needed.
  • Maintain accountability for advancing orthopaedic practice and ensuring high standards of patient care.
• Service Development
  • Provide specialist clinical input into policy development and service planning within physiotherapy and orthopaedics.
  • Monitor and adapt service provision to ensure efficient and effective delivery.
  • Support alignment with national and local directives (e.g., waiting time targets, service redesign, NICE, NSF, Scottish Modern Outpatient Framework).
  • Promote the APP role across organisational and regional boundaries, including participation in national APP meetings.
• Education
  • Participate in musculoskeletal and extended-scope special interest groups and support dissemination of learning.
  • Deliver specialist teaching to peers, medical staff and other professionals.
  • Provide occasional undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
  • Offer expert clinical leadership and support to physiotherapy and orthopaedic staff to develop clinical reasoning skills.
  • Act as a PDP advisor and contribute to clinical effectiveness initiatives.
  • Support dissemination and implementation of best practice and national guidelines.
  • Maintain CPD through appraisal systems and ensure practice reflects current research and evidence.
• Research and Audit
  • Identify, facilitate and conduct clinical audit and research to improve service quality and effectiveness.
  • Undertake joint research with medical colleagues and contribute to major studies (e.g., ACL rehabilitation, frozen shoulder trials).
  • Disseminate findings locally, nationally and internationally, including publication where appropriate.
  • Maintain data collection systems to support regular audit reporting for orthopaedic and physiotherapy services.
  • Carry out additional duties as appropriate within the scope of the role.

• Degree or diploma leading to Physiotherapy HCPC registration.
• Current HCPC registration.
• Master’s Degree in the speciality or significant and extensive post-graduate experience in the physiotherapy profession including musculoskeletal outpatients.
• Evidence of specialist post-graduate courses/CPD relevant to the specialty i.e. Society of Orthopaedic Medicine, McKenzie, MACP, injection therapy.
• Advanced knowledge and expertise in a wide range of musculoskeletal and medical conditions.
• To display highest level of clinical knowledge and experience in musculo-skeletal assessment, examination, clinical reasoning and management.
• Advanced knowledge of complex pain syndromes.
• Highly developed inter-personal and communication skills.
• In order to function as an autonomous, specialised practitioner, additional formalised extensive in-house and accredited external training will be required to develop specialist knowledge of orthopaedic conditions and their management
• Maintenance of expert physiotherapeutic skill level to fulfil roles of clinical expert, resource and clinical educator.
• Evidence of interest in clinical research and audit focussed at driving practice development and excellence within both physiotherapy and orthopaedic departments.
• Completion of statutory annual training requirements e.g. fire safety, moving and handling and immediate life support.
• Competent knowledge of IT e.g. Power point, Internet, data base management, statistical analysis, literature searches.

We offer a wide range of supportive policies designed to enhance your employee journey, including a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, Cycle to Work Scheme, bursary scheme and extensive learning and development opportunities.

As an NHS Scotland employee, you will be entitled to:

• A minimum of 27 days annual leave, increasing with length of service, plus public holidays
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme, including life insurance benefits
• Salary Sacrifice Car Benefit Scheme
• Development opportunities including study bursaries, e-learning and classroom-based courses
• Enhanced pay for working public holidays
• NHS discounts on a wide range of goods and services
• Confidential employee support and assistance, including counselling and psychological therapies

If you would like to find out more, we would love to hear from you.

For an informal discussion, please contact: Lynn Smyth, APP Team Lead - -

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service and the Recruitment Process: Information for candidates

This post may close early due to the volume of response. Please submit your application form as soon as possible. Due to the volume of applications that we receive, we will not be able to provide shortlisting feedback.

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From 1 April 2026, the Agenda for Change full-time working week will reduce from 37 hours to 36 hours. Part-time working hours will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. A corresponding increase in the hourly rate will apply, ensuring that overall pay remains unchanged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde recognises the importance of work-life balance and is committed to offering a range of flexible working options where service needs allow. For roles where less than full-time hours can be accommodated, and where the tenure is listed as “various”, we encourage applications from individuals seeking flexible working arrangements. Flexible working will be included as a topic for discussion during the recruitment process.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and are proud of the diverse workforce we employ.

By signing the Armed Forces Covenant, NHSGGC has pledged its commitment to being a Forces Friendly Employer. We welcome applications from across the Armed Forces Community and recognise military skills, experience and qualifications throughout the recruitment and selection process.

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