Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist - Emergency Department

Job Overview

Are you a highly motivated and experienced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist looking for a new challenge or to progress into a Band 7 post? A rare opportunity has arisen to join the Physiotherapy Team in the East of BCUHB as an ED/MIU Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist.

This role provides advanced clinical expertise in the assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries across Emergency Department (ED), Minor Injury Unit (MIU), fracture clinic, and MSK outpatient services. The post holder will act as a key specialist practitioner, delivering high-quality, patient-centred care for individuals presenting with acute trauma, soft tissue injuries, and complex MSK conditions.

Working closely with Orthopaedic, ED, and multidisciplinary teams, the post holder will support the delivery of integrated care pathways, including first-contact physiotherapy assessments, triage, and onward referral where appropriate. The role includes responsibility for managing a complex clinical caseload, contributing to one-stop clinics, and ensuring timely and effective patient management across urgent and elective pathways.

The physiotherapy service in BCUHB offers a whole career pathway to Band 8A as a clinical advanced practitioner. Service improvement and development is encouraged and all staff have access to regular supervision and training.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver specialist physiotherapy assessment and management for patients with acute musculoskeletal (MSK) trauma within Emergency Department (ED) clinics, including identification of non-MSK and red flag pathologies.
• Work collaboratively with Orthopaedic teams within fracture clinics, providing first-contact assessments and one-stop physiotherapy assessments for soft tissue injuries and trauma follow-ups.
• Provide ongoing treatment and rehabilitation for patients referred from ED and fracture clinics within MSK outpatient settings, including management of complex caseloads.
• Deliver clinical leadership across MSK drop-in clinics, supporting the management of acute fractures, post-operative cases, and acute injuries.
• Utilise advanced practice skills, including non-medical requesting (e.g. imaging, blood tests) and non-medical prescribing/PGDs to support timely diagnosis and management.
• Contribute to specialist services such as scaphoid clinics as required.
• Support education and training of physiotherapy colleagues and ED/MIU staff in the management of acute MSK conditions and trauma.
• Provide supervision and clinical support to junior staff and contribute to service development initiatives, including pathway design and quality improvement projects.
• Participate in clinical audit, research activity, and implementation of evidence-based practice, including patient information development and research recruitment processes.

Working for our organisation

If you relish a challenge, have a passion to help others or simply fancy a fresh start, then Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) North Wales, has all the right ingredients. The largest health organisation in Wales, providing a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and elective hospital services for a population of around 700,000, across North Wales . Join our team and get the support you need, in line with our Organisational Values and ‘Proud to Lead’ competence framework.

Enjoy being part of working with engaged leadership at all levels, and be assured we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and are proud to welcome applicants under the “Disability Confident Employer” scheme.

Please check your email account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Applications may be submitted in Welsh. Applications submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

You will be able to find a full Job description and Person Specification attached within the supporting documents or please click “Apply now” to view in Trac.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Degree/Graduate Diploma in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registered
• Obtained or working towards post graduate (Masters) qualifications
• Extended scope skills or working towards
• Able to demonstrate up to date continuing CPD

Desirable criteria

• Membership of appropriate special interest group
• Management and leadership training
• CSP member

Personal Qualities

Essential Criteria

• Able to undertake manual handling tasks in line with Health Board Policies.
• Able to sustain moderate to high level physical effort throughout the working day.
• Able to cope with a busy working environment, with periods of interruption throughout the working day
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of the team.
• Able to work flexibly and independently to the needs of the service.
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.

Desirable criteria

• The ability to speak Welsh

Other Relevant Requirements

Essential criteria

• Clear vision of role/commitment to speciality and department

Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience working as a senior physiotherapist working in clinical speciality
• Experience of delivering clinical education in area of speciality
• Evidence of teaching within post
• Proven MDT working
• Experience of audit

Desirable criteria

• Experience of lecturing externally
• Involvement in research
• Competency in extended scope practice in the specialism

Skills

Essential criteria

• Advanced clinical practice and clinical reasoning skills to specialist level
• Able to critique research papers and implement relevant findings. Able to give clear, concise written and verbal reports
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to process and share highly complex information in a confidential manner.
• Demonstrate professional independence
• Ability to conduct professional affairs in a confident, assertive manner, using negotiating / influencing skills whilst maintaining excellent working relationships with all stakeholders

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrable presentation skills
• Audit/ Research skills
• Management/ Leadership skills
• Delivery of extended scope practice

Knowledge

Essential Criteria

• Extensive specialist clinical experience and knowledge in relationship to specialty
• Evidence of recent study in relevant clinical area
• Understanding of professional ethics and their application in practice
• Demonstrate understanding & involvement of clinical governance and risk assessment.
• Broad knowledge of health legislation