Band 7 Locum Community Physiotherapist

MSK Interface Physiotherapist – Band 7

Brief Job Overview

Tripod Partners are recruiting a highly skilled Band 7 MSK Interface Physiotherapist for a locum opportunity within South West NHS. This role sits within the Musculoskeletal Interface Service (MSKI), providing advanced assessment, clinical decision-making, and pathway management for patients with complex musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

The successful candidate will work at an advanced practice level, assessing patients referred from primary care, secondary care, and internal musculoskeletal services. The role requires expert clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis skills, and the ability to support patients through complex decision-making regarding both surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide advanced assessment and management of patients with complex musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions.
• Utilise advanced clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and pattern recognition skills to formulate management plans.
• Assess patients referred from GPs, First Contact Practitioners (FCPs), consultants, physiotherapists, and podiatrists.
• Interpret diagnostic investigations including imaging, blood tests, and diagnostic injection reports.
• Develop competence in referral pathways and interpretation of diagnostic investigations in accordance with service protocols.
• Support the delivery and clinical decision-making surrounding injection therapy for musculoskeletal and rheumatological conditions.
• Facilitate referrals into specialist pathways including Orthopaedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Rheumatology, Pain Services, and Community Therapy Services.
• Provide specialist advice for patients with persistent pain and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.
• Promote self-management, behavioural change, and health and wellbeing initiatives.
• Deliver education, mentoring, buddy clinics, and professional development support to physiotherapy colleagues.
• Support service audits, pathway development, quality improvement initiatives, and service evaluation activities.
• Participate in local and regional MSK Interface networks to support evidence-based practice and service development.
• Deputise for the Advanced MSKI Physiotherapist when required.

About You

You will be an experienced MSK Physiotherapist with advanced knowledge of 
musculoskeletal assessment, clinical reasoning, and pathway management. You will have experience managing complex presentations and be confident supporting patients through shared decision-making regarding conservative and surgical treatment options.

You will possess excellent communication and leadership skills, with a passion for education, mentorship, service development, and delivering high-quality patient-centred care.

Requirements

• Recognised qualification in Physiotherapy.
• Current HCPC registration.
• Significant post-registration musculoskeletal physiotherapy experience.
• Advanced assessment and differential diagnosis skills.
• Experience managing complex musculoskeletal and orthopaedic conditions.
• Knowledge of diagnostic investigations and musculoskeletal referral pathways.
• Experience supporting patients with persistent pain and chronic conditions.
• Ability to mentor and support junior clinicians.
• Experience participating in audit, service evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Strong communication, leadership, and multidisciplinary team working skills.

Contract & Salary

• Role: MSK Interface Physiotherapist – Band 7
• Sector: South West NHS
• Contract Type: Locum
• Contract Length: 4–6 months initially
• Working Pattern: Flexible
• Service Hours: Monday to Friday, 07:30 – 18:30
• Salary: Negotiable
• Reference Code: U.003006.B20364

How to Apply

If you are an HCPC-registered MSK Physiotherapist with advanced musculoskeletal experience and a passion for clinical excellence, education, and service development, Tripod Partners would welcome your application.

To apply for this MSK Interface Physiotherapist role, apply using the form on the page.