The closing date is 12th Jul 2026
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Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join a well established Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy service as a Band 6 MSK Physiotherapist, providing 12month maternity leave cover based at Chard. The post holder will deliver a high quality, evidence based MSK outpatient service, managing a varied caseload of adults and children aged 8 years and above with complex and diverse musculoskeletal presentations.
You will work as part of a supportive, multidisciplinary team alongside Band 4 Exercise Instructors, Band 5 and Band 6 Physiotherapists and Osteopaths, as well as Band 7 Enhanced and Advanced Practice Therapists. The service benefits from close collaboration with First Contact Practitioners (FCPs) within the locality, who provide additional expertise and work in partnership with the departmental physiotherapy team to optimise patient pathways and clinical outcomes.
The role involves comprehensive assessment, clinical reasoning and treatment planning, utilising shared decision making to support patients in achieving personalised goals. In addition to clinical duties, the post holder will provide supervision, teaching and support to junior staff and students, contribute to service development, audit and clinical governance activity, and actively engage in continuing professional development. This is a rewarding role for a motivated clinician who enjoys teamwork, leadership and delivering high quality patient centred care within a progressive MSK service.
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Main duties, tasks & skills required
Provide a high quality, evidence based musculoskeletal physiotherapy service to outpatients, including adults and children aged 8 years and above, managing a varied and often complex caseload.
Undertake comprehensive assessments using advanced clinical reasoning and manual assessment techniques to diagnose MSK conditions and formulate individualised treatment programmes.
Deliver effective treatment interventions, regularly evaluating progress and adapting care plans in partnership with patients using shared decision making.
Act as a source of specialist MSK expertise, offering advice and clinical support to patients, carers, physiotherapists, osteopaths, exercise instructors and the wider multidisciplinary and primary care teams.
Provide clinical supervision, teaching and performance support to Band 5 staff, Band 4 Exercise Instructors and students, contributing to induction, in-service training and appraisal processes.
Manage and prioritise an individual caseload effectively, adapting to changing service and patient needs while maintaining high professional and safety standards.
Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive clinical documentation and reports in line with Trust policy, HCPC and CSP standards.
Actively contribute to service development, audit, clinical governance and quality improvement initiatives within the MSK service.
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About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
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Job description
Please see attached Job Description, for information about the post and the person specification requirements.
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Person specification
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Qualifications
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Essential
Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy
Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) (UK)
Evidence of relevant and up to date postgraduate training in the field of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
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Experience
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Essential
Substantial post qualification experience working within the NHS ( >20 months
Experience of working within a Musculoskeletal (MSK) outpatient service, managing a varied and complex caseload
Experience of independently assessing, diagnosing and treating patients with a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions using evidence based practice
Experience of applying advanced clinical reasoning skills to inform assessment, treatment planning and outcome evaluation
Experience of clinical supervision and support of Band 5 Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Exercise Instructors (Band 4) and/or students
Experience of effective multidisciplinary working with other healthcare professionals, including primary care teams and advanced practitioners
Experience of managing and prioritising a personal caseload to meet service demands and patient needs
Experience of maintaining accurate clinical documentation and reporting in line with Trust, HCPC and CSP standards
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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.
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UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
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For help with your application, contact:
Victoria Harvey
[email protected]
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Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
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Band
Band 6
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Salary
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£39959.00 to £48117.00 Yearly
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Contract
Fixed Term
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Duration
12 Month(s)
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Working pattern
Full-Time
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Reference number
184-OL-BL-4925
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Job locations
Chard Community Hospital
Crewkerne Road
Chard
Somerset
TA20 1NF
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