Advanced Practitioner Physiotherapist (Orthopaedic / MSK / Hand and Upper Limb Therapy)

Are you looking to develop and progress your career? Are you an individual with a growth mind set and enthusiasm for physiotherapy? Are you interested in personal and professional development specialising in upper limb and hands? If so, we would like to speak to you.

We are keen to attract a forward thinking and innovative Advanced Practice Physiotherapist to our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy and Orthopaedic Service. An interest in the speciality of upper limb & hands is essential and whilst previous experience in hands is desirable, bespoke training will be provided if a training gap is identified.

You will work with the Physiotherapy Leadership Team to grow and enhance the specialism of MSK Physiotherapy within the wider MSK Physiotherapy Service, securing sustainability for the future.

Excitingly your clinical remit will also include supporting the development of the Orthopaedic Advanced Practice (AP) Service provision, alongside an established band 7 AP and dedicated Lead AP in orthopaedics and clinically you will facilitate an early and preventative approach to patient care and provide rehabilitation to musculoskeletal and orthopaedic post-operative patients.

Working in collaboration with colleagues in Orthopaedics, Minor Injuries Unit and Emergency Department (ED), you will help to ensure an integrated approach to the MSK management of patients with MSK conditions with a bias towards upper limb and hand conditions. On going possibilities for service and quality improvement exist through this system wide approach to person centred care.

You will have a mentor / supervisor and a career plan will be discussed and mapped with you, which will explore opportunities across the four pillars of physiotherapy practice. As an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist you will also input to our new AHP Research, Innovation and Knowledge Strategy.

In Fife we have a Physiotherapy Professional strategic vision to promote a culture of excellence through an interlinked, effective and sustainable Physiotherapy Profession across Fife, ensuring best possible personal centred care for the people of Fife. The hand therapy role is well established within Orthopaedics with collaborative working between the Orthopaedic and Physiotherapy Service. The orthopaedic upper limb and hand team consists of consultant, nursing, AP Occupational therapy and AP Physiotherapy. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists provide specialist hand therapy.

Fife provides a unique location to live and work and is within easy commutable distance from most parts of the East of Scotland region, with many of our staff travelling from Lothian, Perth and Tayside. We have recently opened a new national treatment centre in which this role will be based at times. Flexibility in working practices will be available for discussion. The full job role is detailed in the person specification and Job description.

If you are keen to explore something new then we would be keen to meet you or speak to you informally.

For informal enquiries, please contact Mr Mark Fargie, Operational Lead MSK Physiotherapist on Ext. 22248 / Mr David Reynolds, Orthopaedic Advanced Practice Upper Limb Lead on .

As from 1/4/26, the Agenda for Change full time working week will be reducing from 37 to 36 hours per week. Part time hours will be reduced pro rata. However, there will be a corresponding increase in the hourly rate so that pay will not be affected.

NHS Fife is legally obliged to ensure all its employees are legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom. If you are not a United Kingdom (UK) or Irish National, you are required to confirm your right to work in your application.

To work in the United Kingdom, there is a legal requirement for an individual to demonstrate that they have the relevant permission to work in the country. This permission is, without exception, granted by the UK Visa and Immigrations Service.

As part of the pre employment checks for a preferred candidate, NHS Scotland Boards will check your entitlement to work in the UK. It can be evidenced through a number of routes including specific types of visa as well as EU settled and pre settled status. To find out more about these routes of permission, please refer to the GOV.UK website here.

For specific types of post, if you do not have the necessary eligibility to work in the UK, it might be possible (though not guaranteed) to secure sponsorship via a UK Skilled Worker/Health & Care Worker Visa. However, this is only possible if the employer is a licensed Sponsor, and if the post does not fall below the current minimum salary threshold or 'going rate'. Further information on these criteria can be found here.

It is ESSENTIAL that you have checked that you either already have an appropriate right to work in the UK or that the post would be eligible to be sponsored BEFORE submitting your application form.

Due to legislative changes from 1 April 2025, this post may require a different level of criminal records check done than is currently the case. If the post is assessed as a "regulated role", your appointment will be subject to joining the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If there is any change to what is currently required, this will be confirmed by either the Hiring Manager or the Recruitment Team. For more details on these changes please visit: Disclosure Scotland Changes.

We offer flexible working and family friendly policies and fully support disabled candidates, and candidates with long term conditions or who are neurodivergent by making reasonable adjustments to our recruitment policy and practices.

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.