Band 7 Highly Specialist Physiotherapist – ME/CFS

A Band 7 highly specialist physiotherapy post in the Royal Free Chronic Fatigue Service, based at the Royal Free Hospital, on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The work centres on assessing and managing people with ME/CFS, building care plans around their goals and energy limits, and running individual sessions alongside a virtual fatigue management programme. Hours are 22.5 a week within a multidisciplinary team, with physical activity led by the patient rather than graded exercise therapy. Applicants need HCPC registration and recent specialist experience with complex long-term conditions.

What the job involves

• Provide specialist physiotherapy assessment and personalised care for people with ME/CFS, recognising post-exertional malaise and avoiding symptom flare-ups
• Manage a complex caseload, agreeing and reviewing care plans with patients
• Support pacing, rest, sleep and energy management, adjusting advice to symptoms and relapse
• Offer patient-chosen physical activity support in line with NICE guidance, without fixed incremental increases or graded exercise therapy
• Deliver individual physiotherapy and the virtual Fatigue Management Programme alongside multidisciplinary colleagues
• Contribute to referral triage, multidisciplinary assessment, care coordination and onward referral
• Keep accurate records, monitor outcomes and escalated clinical or safeguarding concerns
• Support teaching and supervision of staff, clinical audit, quality improvement and service development

What’s required

Qualifications

• Degree or diploma in physiotherapy, or equivalent recognised qualification
• Postgraduate learning and CPD in specialist physiotherapy and complex long-term conditions

Registration & licences

• Current HCPC registration as a physiotherapist

Experience

• Significant post-registration experience, including Band 6-level specialist practice with complex long-term conditions
• Independently assessing and reviewing a complex caseload, recognising risk and seeking senior advice
• Multidisciplinary working and care coordination with patients, carers and professionals
• Patient education or group delivery, and supervising, teaching or supporting junior staff, support workers or students

Skills & knowledge

• Assessment, clinical reasoning and care planning, including red flag identification and outcome evaluation
• Knowledge of NICE ME/CFS guidance, post-exertional malaise and energy management, and safe physiotherapy practice
• Tailoring interventions to symptoms and energy limits, recognising flare-ups or relapse
• Communication that handles complex information sensitively and adapts to cognitive or accessibility needs
• Knowledge of safeguarding, consent, capacity, clinical governance, risk and information governance

Other

• Managing competing priorities on an autonomous caseload within competence and escalation pathways
• Accurate clinical records using electronic systems, virtual platforms and outcome data
• Audit, quality improvement and critical appraisal of evidence
• Commitment to the Trust's shared commitments, a compassionate and inclusive approach, and reflective, team-based practice

Nice to have

• Postgraduate or accredited training in ME/CFS, rehabilitation, clinical education or psychologically informed practice
• Clinical experience in an ME/CFS specialist service, including energy management and post-exertional malaise
• Experience of virtual consultations or online group programmes
• Knowledge or training in ACT- or CFT-informed approaches relevant to physiotherapy

What’s offered

• Flexible working approach
• Generous benefits
• Next-level training and career development
• Career opportunities across a large trust

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