Clinical Lead Physiotherapist with a special interest in Rheumatology
| Posting date: | 06 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £47,810 - £54,710 per annum |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 05 February 2026 |
| Location: | Halifax, HX3 5AQ |
| Company: | Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7686564/372-COM2636 |
Summary
A Vacancy at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Are you a experienced physiotherapist with a passion for Rheumatology and musculoskeletal care? We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and skilled clinician to join our MSK therapy service as clinical lead in rheumatology.
We are seeking someone who is-
• Well organised and confident in communication and problem solving.
• Proven Experience in Rheumatology Conditions and Physiotherapy
• Enthusiastic about improving service and supporting the growth of others.
The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across all of our sites.
To be eligible to apply for this role candidates must have undergraduate and or post graduate experience in the NHS as a Physiotherapist.
To have a specialist interest in Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders, advancing clinical practice in this area of work and taking a lead in evolving and embedding the evidence base into clinical practice.
To act as the Clinical Lead for the Out Patient Physiotherapy Service, in relation to musculoskeletal care of patients.
The post holder will have the skills and experience to manage patients with a long-term condition, providing therapeutic care as well as education on all musculoskeletal conditions. They will be able to offer self-management strategies appropriate for inflammatory conditions such as Spondyloarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, bone diseases such as Osteoporosis, connective tissue disorders and long-term musculoskeletal problems such as hypermobility syndrome.
Main Tasks
• · To perform highly specialist assessment and treatment of all MSK patients, in particular those withRheumatologyand connective tissue disorders to facilitate a smooth, efficient and effective patient pathway
• · To determine a clinical diagnosis, develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide highly specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.
· To manage own highly specialist caseload in this area.
· Establish relationships with other stakeholders and services involved in the care of rheumatology and connective tissue disorder patients.
· To support and advise other services, eg Pain Clinic, on the delivery of the service.
• · To educate and train Physiotherapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare/ social services / education staff including medical staff.
• · To work autonomously within Trust policies and standards of professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.
• · To assist the Team Leader in thedaily operational management of the Out-Patient Physiotherapy Team.
CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.
Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.
Clinical Duties
· To work within the Out-Patient Physiotherapy Service leading, co-ordinating and developing effective clinical interventions for all msk patients and those within the speciality of, but not exclusive to,Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders,in order to advance clinical practice across the service in line with the current evidence base.
· To manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients/clientsat a highly specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinicalrecords.
· To have highly specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listedbut not limited to:
o Physical rehabilitation through manual therapy
o Physical rehabilitation through exercise and function
o Physical rehabilitation through pain relief: could include acupuncture, injection therapy, electrotherapy etc.
o Complex bio-psychosocial assessment of patients and carers
o Assessment for assistive equipment, splinting and adaptations
o Work with other agencies/patients to ensure an MDT approach
o Cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person
o Falls assessment
· To apply evidence-based knowledge within the highly specialist clinical area. This knowledge will have been acquired through in depth experience and academic study to a highly specialist post graduate level.
· Toact as a resource to provide advice for relevant members of staff about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients / clients who have Rheumatology, connective tissue disorders and/or complex psychosocial needs.
· To work collaboratively with other providers involved in the patients care including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care community and acutecolleagues.
· To take a lead, and work with any appropriate member of staff to ensure effective care pathwaysand transfer of care/discharges.
· To proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of physiotherapy outpatient patients between care settings.
· To work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner with any appropriate member of staff, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries if appropriate.
· To develop highly specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention for physiotherapypatients in particular those with Rheumatology pathologies, connective tissue disorders and any non rheumatology patients.
· To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.
· To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students as required.
· To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
· To provide highly specialist assessment and advice for the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To use networks locally, regionally and nationally where appropriate in order to share information and good practice.
Professional Duties
· To comply with and,along with the team leader,write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on themanagement and care of Out-Patient Physiotherapy Patients
· To participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Out-Patient Physiotherapy teams’ clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, clinical audit and service activity data and research and development.
· To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients/clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research tools and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.
· To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.
· Along with the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner generate, collect, analyse and disseminate data as required for the service, both manually and computerised.
· To lead, develop and actively undertake clinical audit, some of it complex.
· On a day to day basis, to support members of the physiotherapy and assistant team to enable them to meet their objectives and development needs.
· To assist the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner to manage the performance of thephysiotherapy and assistant staff.
· To identify, develop and evaluate a training programme for out-patient physiotherapy which addresses the needs of the physiotherapy service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.
· To organise, participate and lead in-service training programmes, ensuring appropriate training is delivered.
· To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with peers. To disseminate information from training effectively to all appropriate members of staff.
· To participate in the Trust’s supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.
· To participate in the Trust appraisal process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.
· To give highly specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of student physiotherapists to graduate levelin the role of clinical educator.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of students from other professional groups e.g. Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists as required.
· To make links with HEI and be instrumental in influencing undergraduate and post graduate training within the field of Out-Patient Physiotherapy.
Managerial Duties
· To support and advise on the delivery of the Out-Patient Physiotherapy service across the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To provide the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner with advice/information in the planning and development of the service and to identify and evaluate potential areas for service and quality improvement.
· In conjunction with the Team Leader ensure adequate staff cover within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and report sickness absence to the Team Leader.
· To assist theOut-Patient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in achieving the serviceobjectives.
· To actively participate in the professional development programme of the Physiotherapy service.
· To assist theOut-Patient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist implementation of change as appropriate.
· To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating process as appropriate.
· To participate in the staff recruitment process and in issues of staff retention.
· Maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
· Initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of the job description.
· Work in accordance with all Trust policies and procedures.
· Attend induction and regular update training on risk management policies and procedures.
· Identify through risk assessment, any risks within their department or in the community during the delivery of their service.
· Provide incident reports and supporting documentation for any unexpected event or incident. To work with the Team Leader, assisting them in the management of complaints and incidents.
Financial Duties
To support the Head of Therapies/Outpatient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in helping identify ways in which we can best utilise staffing resources and financial resources within the wider team
Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 27th January 2026
This advert closes on Sunday 18 Jan 2026
Are you a experienced physiotherapist with a passion for Rheumatology and musculoskeletal care? We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and skilled clinician to join our MSK therapy service as clinical lead in rheumatology.
We are seeking someone who is-
• Well organised and confident in communication and problem solving.
• Proven Experience in Rheumatology Conditions and Physiotherapy
• Enthusiastic about improving service and supporting the growth of others.
The successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly across all of our sites.
To be eligible to apply for this role candidates must have undergraduate and or post graduate experience in the NHS as a Physiotherapist.
To have a specialist interest in Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders, advancing clinical practice in this area of work and taking a lead in evolving and embedding the evidence base into clinical practice.
To act as the Clinical Lead for the Out Patient Physiotherapy Service, in relation to musculoskeletal care of patients.
The post holder will have the skills and experience to manage patients with a long-term condition, providing therapeutic care as well as education on all musculoskeletal conditions. They will be able to offer self-management strategies appropriate for inflammatory conditions such as Spondyloarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, bone diseases such as Osteoporosis, connective tissue disorders and long-term musculoskeletal problems such as hypermobility syndrome.
Main Tasks
• · To perform highly specialist assessment and treatment of all MSK patients, in particular those withRheumatologyand connective tissue disorders to facilitate a smooth, efficient and effective patient pathway
• · To determine a clinical diagnosis, develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide highly specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.
· To manage own highly specialist caseload in this area.
· Establish relationships with other stakeholders and services involved in the care of rheumatology and connective tissue disorder patients.
· To support and advise other services, eg Pain Clinic, on the delivery of the service.
• · To educate and train Physiotherapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare/ social services / education staff including medical staff.
• · To work autonomously within Trust policies and standards of professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.
• · To assist the Team Leader in thedaily operational management of the Out-Patient Physiotherapy Team.
CHFT is an integrated Trust of 6,500+ colleagues providing hospital and community services to patients and communities across Calderdale and Kirklees. We are rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, are a top performing Trust for Elective Recovery, Emergency and Cancer Care and widely acknowledged as a national digital lead when it comes to caring for people across our local and regional systems.
Our people are at the core of everything we do, hence our commitment to One Culture of Care. Our focus is to care for and support each other in order to provide outstanding compassionate care to our patients. That is why we are looking for an inclusive collaborative, creative, innovative and compassionate leader to join us in this role.
Clinical Duties
· To work within the Out-Patient Physiotherapy Service leading, co-ordinating and developing effective clinical interventions for all msk patients and those within the speciality of, but not exclusive to,Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders,in order to advance clinical practice across the service in line with the current evidence base.
· To manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients/clientsat a highly specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinicalrecords.
· To have highly specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listedbut not limited to:
o Physical rehabilitation through manual therapy
o Physical rehabilitation through exercise and function
o Physical rehabilitation through pain relief: could include acupuncture, injection therapy, electrotherapy etc.
o Complex bio-psychosocial assessment of patients and carers
o Assessment for assistive equipment, splinting and adaptations
o Work with other agencies/patients to ensure an MDT approach
o Cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person
o Falls assessment
· To apply evidence-based knowledge within the highly specialist clinical area. This knowledge will have been acquired through in depth experience and academic study to a highly specialist post graduate level.
· Toact as a resource to provide advice for relevant members of staff about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients / clients who have Rheumatology, connective tissue disorders and/or complex psychosocial needs.
· To work collaboratively with other providers involved in the patients care including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care community and acutecolleagues.
· To take a lead, and work with any appropriate member of staff to ensure effective care pathwaysand transfer of care/discharges.
· To proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of physiotherapy outpatient patients between care settings.
· To work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner with any appropriate member of staff, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries if appropriate.
· To develop highly specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention for physiotherapypatients in particular those with Rheumatology pathologies, connective tissue disorders and any non rheumatology patients.
· To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.
· To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students as required.
· To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
· To provide highly specialist assessment and advice for the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To use networks locally, regionally and nationally where appropriate in order to share information and good practice.
Professional Duties
· To comply with and,along with the team leader,write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on themanagement and care of Out-Patient Physiotherapy Patients
· To participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Out-Patient Physiotherapy teams’ clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, clinical audit and service activity data and research and development.
· To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients/clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research tools and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.
· To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.
· Along with the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner generate, collect, analyse and disseminate data as required for the service, both manually and computerised.
· To lead, develop and actively undertake clinical audit, some of it complex.
· On a day to day basis, to support members of the physiotherapy and assistant team to enable them to meet their objectives and development needs.
· To assist the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner to manage the performance of thephysiotherapy and assistant staff.
· To identify, develop and evaluate a training programme for out-patient physiotherapy which addresses the needs of the physiotherapy service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.
· To organise, participate and lead in-service training programmes, ensuring appropriate training is delivered.
· To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with peers. To disseminate information from training effectively to all appropriate members of staff.
· To participate in the Trust’s supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.
· To participate in the Trust appraisal process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.
· To give highly specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of student physiotherapists to graduate levelin the role of clinical educator.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of students from other professional groups e.g. Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists as required.
· To make links with HEI and be instrumental in influencing undergraduate and post graduate training within the field of Out-Patient Physiotherapy.
Managerial Duties
· To support and advise on the delivery of the Out-Patient Physiotherapy service across the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To provide the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner with advice/information in the planning and development of the service and to identify and evaluate potential areas for service and quality improvement.
· In conjunction with the Team Leader ensure adequate staff cover within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and report sickness absence to the Team Leader.
· To assist theOut-Patient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in achieving the serviceobjectives.
· To actively participate in the professional development programme of the Physiotherapy service.
· To assist theOut-Patient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist implementation of change as appropriate.
· To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating process as appropriate.
· To participate in the staff recruitment process and in issues of staff retention.
· Maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
· Initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of the job description.
· Work in accordance with all Trust policies and procedures.
· Attend induction and regular update training on risk management policies and procedures.
· Identify through risk assessment, any risks within their department or in the community during the delivery of their service.
· Provide incident reports and supporting documentation for any unexpected event or incident. To work with the Team Leader, assisting them in the management of complaints and incidents.
Financial Duties
To support the Head of Therapies/Outpatient Therapies Service Manager/Team Leader in helping identify ways in which we can best utilise staffing resources and financial resources within the wider team
Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 27th January 2026
This advert closes on Sunday 18 Jan 2026