Principal Physiotherapist in Spines

Job summary

Principal Physiotherapist in Spines

37.5 hours per week (variable shifts, with some days finishing at 18.00)

Fixed term for 12 months (Maternity Cover)

Salary: £57,528 - £64,750 per annum

Closing Date: Monday 6th July 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday 21st July 2026

**This post may close early due to high numbers of applications, so you are advised to apply promptly. **

All correspondence for this vacancy will be sent by email; please check your account regularly including your Junk and SPAM areas.

A great and friendly place to work, so bring your passion, commitment and expertise and enjoy the opportunities to make a difference every day.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community - get in touch to find out more

#JoinTeamEliot

• The role includes working closely with Consultants, in particular monthly spinal interface and triage MDT clinics; undertake advanced therapeutic assessment of patients presenting with complex physical and psychological conditions and using advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide a diagnosis ,develop and agree, goal orientated management plan and deliver individual or group programmes.
• The successful candidate will be key in the clinical education within the area of clinical specialism, as well as leading in audit, research and service development.

Main duties of the job

• To assist the MDT Spinal team in the assessment and treatment of complex Spinal Patients.
• To lead in MSK spinal triage and interface clinics.
• To treat complex Spinal patients with advanced clinical reasoning referred to Therapy Services.
• To refer appropriate patients to T&O Consultant/neurosurgery & for investigations.
• To be the main clinical educator for Therapy staff in the treatment of Spinal patients.
• To Lead in service developments, research and audit in the specialist area of spinal conditions.

About us

Here at George Eliot our vision to 'excel at patient care'** takes centre stage. An ever evolving clinically-led acute service provider we are on a journey to continually provide high quality, safe and responsive services delivered by inspiring, friendly and compassionate staff who share our corporate values which underpin everything we do. Our values are not just words on a piece of paper, they bond us together, reflect our ambition and shape who we are:

Effective Open Communication

excellence and safety in everything we do

Challenge but support

Expect respect and dignity

Local health that inspires confidence

Benefits: On-site nursery, 27 days minimum annual leave plus bank holidays, cycle to work scheme, flexible working, in house training and development, buying and selling of annual leave, subsidised restaurant, tranquillity garden and generous subsidised on-site parking.

If you are applying for a Domestic Assistant or Health Care Assistant role you may be eligible for the refer a friend scheme - find out more here: https://www.geh.nhs.uk/about-us/people-and-workforce/vacancies/refer-friend-scheme

Job description

Job responsibilities

• To work as an autonomous Principal Physiotherapist in the specialist area to deliver a comprehensive and cost-effective assessment and treatment service, as part of a multi-disciplinary service.
• To perform to a highly specialised level within area of specialism, assessment, diagnosis, and management of conditions, using advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making abilities and skills beyond the scope of physiotherapy/occupational therapy practice.
• Ensuring that evidence-based principals, along with interpretation from National Policies and current best practice, are implemented and all interventions are evaluated.
• To independently determine the clinical diagnosis and future clinical management of presenting patients through the assimilation of clinical assessment.
• Take responsibility for referral on to secondary care consultants and other medical and non-medical services following the local referral pathways; liaise with other professional and non-professional staff, relatives, and carers.
• Be the Clinical lead and highly specialised source of expertise for the development of the specialist area across the Trust, including other health professionals, GPs and within the CCG.
• To deliver and ensure prioritisation services to patients, other registered and non-registered healthcare professionals, GPs, and Secondary Care Consultants.
• Be the key contributor to the provision and development of policies and service development pathways of specialist area within the primary and secondary care services.
• Lead and perform clinical audit activity, generate original ideas for audit and research, and evaluate the results of service audit and research, both as independent service and in MDT thereby contributing to the development and advancement of the service and evidence base for the management of related conditions as required.
• To assist in the prioritisation of referrals in the specialist area and to direct the patient into the appropriate level of service according to referral information regarding clinical presentation.
• Develop close relations with Consultants and GPs in their localities, regarding the management of specialist conditions and ensuring that patients needs are met by the appropriate patient pathway.
• To be the lead in the education of registered physiotherapists, registered healthcare professionals and non-registered healthcare employees, physiotherapy students, members of the MDT in the physiotherapeutic and highly specialised management of the specialist areas conditions.

Management/Leadership

• To be responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the clinical specialist Service. Ensure the appropriate use of the pathway by all referrers.
• To liaise with secondary and Primary care specialities to develop the strategic and operational management of the service.
• To provide specialist training and supervision of less experienced Therapists, assistants and students.
• To act as clinical mentor to all Physiotherapists/Occupational Therapists with links to specialist area.
• To be able to manage stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathic manner, supporting more junior staff in similar circumstances
• Take responsibility as a Clinical Educator for Physiotherapy undergraduate students and maintain good links with the universities, as required. To lead training programme for staff,MDT staff members as required
• Provide specialist training to non AHPs, including Doctors/nurses
• To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information as required. Use audit to identify the developing needs of the service.
• To participate in the Trust appraisal scheme as an appraiser and an appraisee.
• To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the appropriate person/persons immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken in line with Trust Health and Safety Policies.
• To undertake HR investigations and chair HR related hearing panels, including appeals, where appropriate.

Responsibility for ensuring that:

• Staff are managed and standards of work are maintained and Trust policies for the management of staff performance are adhered to.
• Appraisals of staff directly managed are undertaken and that the appraisal process is maintained throughout the team
• Staff receive appropriate health and safety and other mandatory training as prescribed and that relevant records are maintained.
• Other records are maintained by the team ensuring compliance with the agreed record keeping systems of the Trust.
• Informed consent is obtained where appropriate and documented in accordance with Trust procedures.
• New and replacement equipment is not used until it has been commissioned in accordance with Trust policy.
• Appropriate risk and other assessments are completed and documented in a timely manner in accordance with Trust policy.
• Defective equipment is reported and made safe without delay in accordance with Trust procedures
• Equipment is maintained in accordance with Trust policy.
• Infection prevention and control procedures are followed by all staff within their area of responsibility
• All staff follow Trust clinical governance requirements
• Be responsible for and actively record own personal development.
• To keep abreast of all new developments which includes attending study days, conferences and visits to specialist units.
• To be actively involved in the appropriate clinical interest groups

Communication

• To attend regional and national conferences/study days and network with other Clinical Specialists and Principal/Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners appropriate to the clinical field. Share and disseminate knowledge with colleagues within the Trust and in the community.
• To communicate effectively and advise other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure multidisciplinary approach to care.
• To be able to communicate highly complex information sensitively to such patients in order to gain their cooperation for treatment. In addition, where there may be barriers to understanding to motivate them towards self-management.
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the professional adviser on all professional matters.
• To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local Trust guidelines, supervising records of physiotherapists and students within the clinical area.
• To attend meetings and liaise with GPs / Consultants / Occupational Health as required in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to discharge.
• To attend and be an active participant in pathway, departmental staff, and peer group meetings

Research/Audit

• To design and implement appropriate work-related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to speciality.
• In line with Trust commitment to Clinical Governance, to design, initiate and participate in clinical audit and the evaluation of clinical effectiveness

Effort and Environment

• Frequent travel may be necessary across the Trust area.
• Requirement to carry laptop computer and/or other equipment.
• Ability to switch tasks because of managing several strands of work because of interruptions and / or arising situations requiring urgent attention.
• Occasional periods of intense concentration may be required for complex clinical assessments, interventions and the teaching of such procedures and prolonged concentration when analysing information and managing own workload with many competing priorities.
• Ability to deal with complex clinical scenarios.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative.

For a full comprehensive list of main responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to job description and personal specification attached.

Person Specification

Other

Essential

• Able to commit to flexible working
• Presents a professional image
• Able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills
• Able to travel between sites and work at a variety of clinics across the county.
• Able to deal with distressing situations in a sensitive and sensible manner
• Able to reflect on own practice and use experience to learn
• Ability to cope in busy/stressful/challenging situations
• Ability to cope in a busy/stressful/challenging situations

Desirable

• Excellent interpersonal skills

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Up to date with effective professional practice and research.
• Up to date with effective practice and research or related fields of practice.
• Keep legible and accurate patients notes
• Thorough understanding of clinical governance and its implications for service provision.
• Sound knowledge of quality and audit/PDSA and how to implement change.
• Ability to undertake and lead clinical research
• Understanding of scope of practice issues and legal accountability & responsibilities.
• Ability to comprehend, write and implement pathways, policies and guidelines.
• Critical appraisal of clinical evidence and evidence-based practice
• Excellent written and spoken presentation skills
• Driving license

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Senior experience in specialist area
• Recent NHS experience
• Teaching/supervision/training of professional staff
• Expereince of interpreting medical investigations such as pathology tests and x-ray
• Membership of related special interest group
• Exposure to strategic and political issues affecting advanced practice healthcare

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• Registration with HCPC
• Qualified or working towards Master's degree in relevant field
• Recognised/validated postgraduate training in specialist area in particular in complex conditions
• Relevant eveidence of CPD

Personal Qualities

Desirable

• Able to work under pressure, diplomacy, resilience and robustness
• To work within an evolving clinical role and service
• Able to travel between sites and work at a variety of clinics across the county.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Empathetic
• Flexible and reliable (work long shifts as required)

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Therapy Services, George Eliot Hospital

College Street

Nuneaton

CV11 8AE

United Kingdom

Employer's website

http://www.geh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

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