Musculoskeletal Occupational Health Physiotherapist
We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
We take positive action to support disadvantaged groups and also particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, disabled and LGBTQIA+ people that are under-represented in our workforce. Furthermore we welcome applications from reservists and ex-armed forces personnel as we recognise the benefits of the values, skills, training and experience that they bring to their work with us.We encourage all applicants to share their equality information with us.
Job overview
The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users’ and their carers whilst embracing the core values of the organisation. These principles will recognise the need to: Promote safe practices
Value the aims of service usersWork in partnership and offer meaningful choice
Be optimistic about the possibilities of meaningful change
Value social inclusion
As a result of the post-holder being effective in their role, The Trust would expect to see the following outcomes for the Trust:Greater number of staff who are able to stay in work or return to work as efficiently as possible via prevention/education and physiotherapy rehabilitation.
Staff who are educated and empowered to take personal responsibility for their own musculoskeletal system.
Outcome based interventions that make a difference to how staff feel, who use the service.
Delivery of physiotherapy interventions that are based on best practice and audited to ensure clinical effectiveness.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will provide autonomous musculoskeletal assessment and rehabilitation for Mersey Care employees referred to the Occupational Health & Wellbeing Service, supporting timely fitness‑for‑work advice and safe, sustainable return‑to‑work outcomes.
Key duties include delivery of evidence‑based MSK assessment, formulation of clear and defensible Occupational Health advice and contribution to sickness absence management, phased returns and reasonable adjustments. The role supports managers and HR by advising on functional capability, workplace risk and work sustainability, particularly within physically demanding or safety‑critical roles.
The postholder will maintain accurate clinical records and management reports, work collaboratively with Occupational Health colleagues and wider stakeholders, and contribute to service priorities aimed at reducing MSK‑related sickness absence and improving staff wellbeing.The role operates within Trust governance, confidentiality, and professional standards.
Working for our organisation
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 1.4 million people across our region and are also commissioned for services that cover the North West, North Wales and the Midlands.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to ‘perfect care’ – care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together.We’re currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide a high level of occupational health physiotherapy to the Host Trust employees along with others contracted to receive a service.
Assess, diagnose and formulate treatment plans for staff referred to Occupational Health via self-referral and Occupational health referral with diverse musculoskeletal conditions.
Be responsible for the management of own caseload and autonomous within the clinical setting in the delivery of physiotherapy. Clinical supervision/Leadership from a Band 7 Senior Physiotherapist within the OHW team is available.
A Senior MSK Occupational Health Physiotherapist will primarily triage management referral cases to Occupational Health Physiotherapist(s) as appropriate.
Be able to recognise associated psychosocial contributing factors to musculoskeletal pathology and how to address these factors, referring on when necessary.
Perform comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment of patients referred via self-referral, management referral and referrals from the Occupational Health team. This may also include patients with complex multifactorial musculoskeletal conditions and associated psychosocial
factors. This may also be the first point of contact with this condition.
Deliver preventative education to staff regarding musculoskeletal conditions through one to one and/or group sessions.
Assist in musculoskeletal clinical audits and with the development of the physiotherapy service.
Demonstrate a high level of clinical reasoning to assess, analyse and provide a clinical diagnosis and prognosis for individual patients to determine their need for physiotherapy intervention.
Formulate and implement an individualised treatment plan using sound knowledge of evidence-based practice, which may include manual therapy, exercise prescription, electrotherapy, advice, and education to maximise patient recovery and function.
Continually evaluate treatment programmes and readjust when required.
When appropriate identify the need for referral to other medical or healthcare professionals and act upon this.
To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with staff, managers, and employers on the appropriate time to return to work and other activities. This will include the requirement to formulate advisory return to work programmes and other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing in response to a management/employer referral and referrals to other agencies including case conferences as required.
Manage a caseload of patients effectively and efficiently including prioritisation and ongoing management of any waiting list.
Maintain comprehensive clinical records in line with Trust policy and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards of practice.
Be aware of the boundaries of own practice, and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times.
Encourage health promotion within the Trust by example and advice to individual patients.
Maintain good clinical documentation in line with required Trust and professional standards.
Aid the Senior Leadership/Management Team in service development.
Work within and to the guidelines of the trust and the standards and code of practice of the CSP
Partake in telephone triage
Provide reports of the consultation and clinical opinion to relevant colleagues.
Develop and maintain effective communication channels with the multidisciplinary team involved in the Occupational Health Department.
Demonstrate an ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to communication or may include information about long-term / permanent disabilities or chronic pain. This must be done whilst ensuring confidentiality at all times.This may include imparting unwelcome or disappointing news to them (and any accompanying family)
Use knowledge and understanding of health behaviours and health behaviour change to design and deliver programmes for individuals or small groups. Tackling psychosocial issues to understand obstacles to return to work and develop shared goals and overcome the obstacles.
Articulate effectively the physiotherapeutic perspective on a patient’s condition with medical colleagues and members of the multidisciplinary team and advise of the various patient management options available.
Communicate the results of investigations to patients and medical colleagues as appropriate.
Ensure effective and appropriate communication and reporting takes place at all times, both within the Trust and to General Practitioners and other community-based health team members.
Advise staff and employers regarding Display Screen Equipment to prevent musculoskeletal conditions, signposting to the Health & Safety Team and Trust Policy as appropriate.
Attend and actively participate in the Occupational Health Department meetings and wider organisational meetings as appropriate
Initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the occupational health musculoskeletal field.
Assist in organising the efficient day to day running of the musculoskeletal physiotherapy service, liaising with Senior colleagues, Occupational Health Physician, Nurses and Clerical staff.
Help develop and maintain accurate and evaluative patient documentation and systems that facilitate audit and/or research.
Assist with audits of the musculoskeletal service, leading on specific projects as appropriate.
Participate in both professional and clinical supervision.
Participate actively in the in-service training programme of the physiotherapy service and contribute to the education programme of the Occupational Health Department.
To participate in the planning and supervision of student placements.
To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.
To keep abreast of evidence regarding physiotherapy within occupational health.
Keep updated regarding relevant clinical research issues pertinent to the role.
Ensure equipment used in the course of treatments, equipment used by patients and others is maintained and fit for purpose.
Undertake fitness to attend training assessments and advise Managers whether the employee is capable of performing this task.
Participate in occasional/frequent moderate physical effort, several short/long periods per shift e.g., moves, manoeuvres clients and/or equipment.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree in Physiotherapy/BSc (PT) or equivalent.
- Health Professions Council registered.
Experience
Essential criteria- Evidence of CPD
- Significant demonstrable post qualification experience in relation to musculoskeletal conditions.
- Experience in independently managing musculoskeletal caseload.
- Broad experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.
- Working autonomously
- Student Educator/supervisor.
- Assessing /treating patients with psychological issues i.e., ‘yellow flags’
- Evidence in CPD of experience relevant to occupational health field or special interest groups e.g. (MACP).
- Previous experience of health promotion and education
- Previous occupational health experience.
- Previous experience of outcome measures and involvement in audit.
- Specialist postgraduate study
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Sound knowledge of evidence-based strategies
- A demonstrable understanding of clinical governance and Equality and Human Rights and legal policies in relation to occupational health
- Understanding of clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues and audit.
- Knowledge of the psychological issues of rehabilitation e.g., yellow flags.
- Knowledge of field of Occupational Health.
- Knowledge of relevant NICE Guidelines.
Skills
Essential criteria- Ability to plan, implement and evaluate a physiotherapy treatment programme, using outcome measures and audit effectively
- Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust’s policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet the differing needs of the patients
- Sound clinical reasoning
- Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes.
- Highly developed communication skills both verbal and non-verbal.
- Ability to work as part of a team and to facilitate team working.
- Ability to work with a high degree of autonomy.
- Ability to manage own caseload and prioritise workload.
- Demonstrate a commitment to respecting and displaying the Trust Values at all times.
- Computer literate.
Values
Essential criteria- Continuous improvement – committed to making improvements to our services for the benefit of all.
- Accountability – taking ownership to anticipate, develop and deliver high quality care.
- Respect – how we treat others in an inclusive and supportive way.
- Enthusiasm – demonstrate our passion and pride for what we do and how we do it.
- Support – actively supporting others with compassion and courage.
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Only those applicants who demonstrate clearly how they meet our person specification will be shortlisted for interview.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants who consider themselves to be disabled who meet the minimum (essential) criteria for the role in the person specification. If you would like your application to be considered under the Trust’s guaranteed interview scheme you can indicate this in the personal information section of your online application form.
Should you require a reasonable adjustment to our recruitment process please email [email protected] to ensure that measures can be put in place to support you.
We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received a minimum number of applications from which to make a shortlist. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered for this role.
The Trust expects all post holders who require an enhanced DBS for their role and work in Children’s & Young People services to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. You will be required to enrol for this service for a fee of £16 per year and maintain registration.Trans applicants who require a DBS check and do not want to reveal details of their previous identity can contact the DBS Sensitive Applications Team (01516761452 or email [email protected]) with their application number once they have completed their DBS application form.
The team can prevent any previous identity showing on the DBS Certificate, unless the applicant has a conviction under their previous details in which case this will need to be disclosed.
Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
Flexible working requests will be considered for all roles.
Please be advised that the use of Artificial Intelligence on applications is monitored and if you choose to use this, you must declare this on your application form.
Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.Please note: new entrants to the NHS will commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.