Specialist Physiotherapist
Closing date: 02 April 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist band 6 Physiotherapist to join the OCATS Team based at Warrington Wolves. You will work within a large busy musculoskeletal outpatient service managing referrals from GP practices and secondary care Orthopaedic services. You will work exclusively within MSK conditions and engage in assessment of treatment of a range of musculoskeletal conditions.
Your working day will comprise a range of 1 to 1 sessions with patients in addition to any classes that may be required that are based in our gym at Wolves. This will form an important part of your role. Your workload will be spread across a 5 day working week (Monday to Friday) where a compressed working week (across 4 days with some longer days) is encouraged to manage demand, offering the opportunity to have 3 days off every 7 days. While based at Warrington Wolves there will be a requirement to work at one of our satellite clinics within the Warrington area as service demand dictates.
You will be supported by a team from 8A level clinical specialists, a team of B7, B6 and B5 physiotherapists, along with our GP, WSi and Biomechanical Podiatrist, through to our Band 2 Assistant. A mentoring tree for more formal support exists, however peer support opportunities are available on a regular basis with time blocked in diaries for this purpose.
About us
Flexible working will be considered for all roles.
Unfortunately, we do not hold a sponsor licence for working Visas.
Bridgewater, our PEOPLE values shape how we deliver our NHS services in your local community. They help us deliver our mission to improve local health and promote wellbeing in the communities we serve. After all, values are about people and they were created in partnership with our staff to reflect what they felt was important to them. Here at Bridgewater our shared values flow through the organisation.
Main duties of the job
Provide a high quality physiotherapy service in clinic within a community setting to patients with musculo-skeletal dysfunction.
Provide advice and education to other physiotherapists and students in the management of physiotherapy conditions.
Take a role in the assessment and treatment of patients who may have complex and/or chronic presentations.
Determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment and maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
Clinical duties and responsibilities
- Undertake reasoned physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with a range of musculo-skeletal dysfunctions, adults in Warrington and children aged 5-16 in Warrington.
- Provide appropriate specialised physiotherapy treatment based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice, using a range of manual and electrotherapy techniques, and formulation of individualised home management programmes.
- Evaluate physiotherapy intervention and respond appropriately to findings.
- Work autonomously without direct supervision within scope of practice and refer to peers and senior colleagues when appropriate.
- Ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management.
- Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals; promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- Be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy treatment, and adhere to trust policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure its safe use.
- Be an active member of the multidisciplinary team and liaise with them regarding patient management.
- Supervise, educate and assess the performance of junior members of staff/ students.
Professional Development and Education
- Undertake measurement and evaluation of own work and current practices through the use and application of evidence-based practice projects, audit, research and outcome measures.
- Identify personal training needs and maintain up-to-date clinical expertise by using appropriate learning opportunities.
- Participate in protected learning time, including sharing in the delivery of education after external courses.
- Attend internal courses both organised by the physiotherapy department and mandatory courses delivered by the TRUST.
- Participate in the staff appraisal scheme.
Organisational responsibilities
- Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
- Work as a lone practitioner, with access to a senior physiotherapist, at one or more GP surgeries and community bases; prioritise referrals, organise appointments, manage daily workload, paper and computer administration tasks, and handle telephone calls before, during and after clinic sessions.
- Provide and maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of letters, reports and entries onto IT systems, in accordance with TRUST and CSP guidelines.
- Be actively involved in the provision and collection of accurate statistical information.
- Undertake and participate in clinical audit relevant to the post.
- Assist the team leader and senior physiotherapist in evaluating the service and identifying areas of improvement and implementation of new working practices.
- Comply with the organisation and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in reviewing and updating as appropriate.
Communication skills
- Effectively and sensitively communicate with patients, understanding emotional, physical and psychological conditions.
- Explain the nature of chronic or disabling conditions, possible poor outcome and response to treatment, taking into account language or hearing differences.
- Gain consent from patients, including those with communication issues.
- Provide motivation and encouragement to ensure active participation in home management programmes, especially when high pain or anxiety or depression.
- De‑escalate patient concerns and manage early complaints, referring to senior colleagues inline with trust policy.
This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive, but indicates the main areas of work and may be subject to change after consultation with the post-holder to meet the changing needs of the organisation. Please see attached Full Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Experience
- Significant demonstrable experience in musculo-skeletal physiotherapy.
- Evidence of relevant courses and CPD.
- Evidence of MSK rotations or static positions within the NHS.
Job Specific Requirements
- Critical appraisal skills.
- Ability to maintain judgement under pressure.
- Ability to participate in the education of other healthcare professionals including students.
- Familiarity with System One or equivalent Electronic Patient Records systems.
- Forward thinking, motivation and enthusiasm.
Skills and Knowledge
- Knowledge of a range of approaches to the physiotherapy management of a variety of musculo-skeletal disorders.
- Evidence of self-directed learning.
- Evidence of clinical reasoning skills.
- Evidence of excellent interpersonal skills.
- Evidence of involvement in relevant clinical audit.
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments.
- Ability to work independently and also collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.
- Excellent communication skills with patients, healthcare professionals, managers and other agencies.
- IT literate.
Qualifications
- Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy.
- HCPC registered.
- Demonstratable experience in musculoskeletal physiotherapy at B5/B6 or equivalent.
- Evidence of relevant courses and CPD.
Relationships
- If you are related to a director or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship.
Sponsorship
- Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share‑codes will be checked if applicable).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
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