Job summaryHighly Specialist In-Patient Adult Orthopaedic Physiotherapist
Band 7 - Part time 22.5 hours per week
This is an exciting opportunity to join our award winning, inpatient Orthopaedic team at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.
PLEASE BE AWARE THIS VACANCY MAY CLOSE EARLY IF SUFFICIENT APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED. PREVIOUS APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLYMain duties of the jobWe are looking for a highly motivated, dynamic and forward thinking physiotherapist, to act as a specialist physiotherapy practitioner for orthopaedics on the post-operative wards at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre working in Orthopaedic specialties such as; limb reconstruction, sarcoma, complex revision surgery, spinal surgery and elective day surgery.
The postholder should be able to demonstrate masters/advanced practitioner level of study within Orthopaedics and be able to provide specialist physiotherapy advice to other health professionals.They will act as a deputy to the Team Lead for in-patient physiotherapy and be required to lead on clinical audits and the onward development of the service.
The inpatient team is a friendly, enthusiastic and hard working team winning the Chief Allied Health Professions Officer's, AHP Quality Improvement Award 2019, for our accelerated rehabilitation protocol for patients undergoing uni-compartmental knee replacements.
We have a world-class reputation for teaching and research and within the wider physiotherapy department, you will benefit from access to a large team of specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapists and clinical specialists.
The successful candidate will be required to participate in weekend and orthopaedic on-call rotas. The inpatient team also operate a late shift working pattern which involves working 12-8pm one day a week.
About usOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.
Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community.
We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.
These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.
In 2023NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles
Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment.
If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.
DetailsDate posted: 07 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year per annum pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 321-NOTSS-7725675-B7
Job locations: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX4 7LD, United Kingdom
Job descriptionJob responsibilities- To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work including the management of individual caseload, working within accepted codes of professional conduct and clinical guidelines to minimise clinical risk. To be able to undertake assessments and report safeguarding issues and refer to appropriate teams.
- To demonstrate highly advanced theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology and utilise highly developed clinical reasoning skills to assess and treat patients within specialist orthopaedic clinical areas such as, limb reconstruction, sarcoma, bone infection, day surgery, complex revision procedures and amputees.
- To promote and expand the role of Physiotherapy in early discharge/daycase post-operative pathways for primary joint arthroplasty patients and seek opportunities to work with other members of the MDT to improve pathways, review Patient Information leaflets and identify new ways of working in keeping with relevant clinical governance processes.
- To undertake a highly specialist assessment of Orthopaedic patients as an autonomous practitioner to determine appropriate rehabilitation programmes for each patient setting realistic, patient centred goals and treatment plans. To facilitate the discharge planning of complex patients demonstrating an appreciation for common discharge destinations such as community hospitals, short stay hub beds and home-based rehabilitation.
- To undertake as a specialist autonomous practitioner, comprehensive assessments of highly complex patients presenting with multiple pathologies, using advanced bio psychosocial clinical reasoning skills, expert knowledge of evidence-based practice, and advanced rehabilitation expertise to interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, which may include very personal, emotive or contentious information.
- Demonstrate critical awareness of knowledge and evaluation of new literature to Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques at the interface between different specialities. Create a research-based diagnosis to problems by integrating knowledge from new or interdisciplinary fields and make judgements with incomplete or limited information.
- To be able to use musculoskeletal imaging such as x-rays and MRI scans to inform clinical decision making and have experience of treating patients under the plastics speciality to include those having rotational as well as free flap procedures and skin grafts.
- To have experience of working with patients undergoing oncology treatment and demonstrate understanding of how chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment may affect their presentation. To demonstrate a sensitive and empathetic approach towards these patients and to play an active role in coordinating their onward rehabilitation particularly when they are from an out of area locality.
- To initiate outpatient physiotherapy referrals where indicated and liaise with wider teams such as orthotics, trauma physiotherapy, plaster room, hand therapy and spinal cord injury outreach teams to influence patient care as patient need dictates.
- To be responsible for planning, prioritising and managing own caseload of patients using advanced evidence based and client centred principles to assess, plan and evaluate interventions. To show initiative in assisting other less experienced staff to manage their caseload and in ensuring caseload is spread across the team in times of high service demand or staff shortages.
- To provide a comprehensive, specialist follow up physiotherapy service for day case and early discharge UKR, and TKR patients as required.
- To recognise and appropriately manage any early post operative complications.
- To attend Clinical Governance Groups where relervant to clinical caseload and ensure that the Team Lead is made aware of any changes to the wider orthopaedic services.
- To represent the physiotherapy service at ward rounds, clinics and case conferences as appropriate.
- To identify patient concerns related to the clinical presentation and use current evidence to respond to them.
- To advise patients and referrers on return to work, sports and other activities.
- To encourage health promotion within the hospital by example and advice to individual patients. This will involve providing complex and sensitive information.
- To be aware of the boundaries of own practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk by seeking support from senior clinical colleagues are required.
- To have the ability to work within the Trusts guidelines and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national standards. To maintain good clinical documentation in line with local, Trust and CSP standards.
- To enhance the profile of Physiotherapy within consultant led sarcoma and limb reconstruction clinics as required and to look for opportunity to influence the provision of pre-habilitation and post-operative rehabilitation to these patients.
- To implement policies and propose changes to practice procedures for own area. To propose policy or service changes that could impact beyond own area of work
- To participate in on-call, weekend work duties and late shift working patterns (12.00-20.00) as required by the service or Team Leader.
Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential- Degree in Physiotherapy
- HCPC registration
- Able to demonstrate or commit to future, Masters / ACP level of study
Desirable- Membership of appropriate Clinical Interest Group
- Attendance at relevant post-grad courses
- Leadership course
ExperienceEssential- Evidence of extensive band 6 level or equivalent experience, working in core physiotherapy areas to include trauma or elective orthopaedics
- NHS experience
- Advanced Communications Skills
- Experienced Clinical educator
- Experience in line management of senior and junior staff
- Involvement in service development, clinical effectiveness and audit projects
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team and involvement in complex discharge planning
Desirable- Experience of working at a Band 7 or equivalent level
- Experience of oncology and treating patients with Cancer
- Prior involvement in Research
- Experience of working with patients undergoing limb reconstruction or plastics procedures.
SkillsEssential- Good written and verbal communication skills
- High level organisational skills re caseload management
- Advanced presentation skills
- Able to participate in weekend, on-call and late shift (12.00-20.00) working patterns
- Competent IT skills
Desirable- Flexible and adapts well to frequent changes in service demand and staffing levels
- Able to handle difficult or emotionally charged situations.
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration.Employer detailsEmployer name: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX4 7LD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website
For questions about the job, contact: Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead, Vicky Crawford, victoria.crawford@ouh.nhs.uk, 01865738084
