B8a Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) Chronic Fatigue Service

Overview

Main area Chronic Fatigue – Physiotherapy

NHS AfC: Band 8a. Fixed term: 12 months (12 Month FTC). Hours: Part time – 30 hours per week (per annum pro rata inclusive of HCAS). Job ref 391-RFL-7636642.

Employer: Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Site: Royal Free Hospital, Hampstead. Salary: £64,156 – £71,148 Per annum inclusive of HCAS. Salary period: Yearly. Closing: 09/02/2026 23:59.

Role

B8a Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) Chronic Fatigue Service (Band 8a). This 12-month fixed-term Band 8a Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) & Team Co-Lead post is an opportunity to join the Chronic Fatigue Service at the Royal Free Hospital. You will provide joint clinical and operational leadership for a specialist ME/CFS service, working with the existing APP and the wider multidisciplinary team.

You will oversee the triage of all incoming referrals, ensuring safe and timely access to assessment and treatment. Using highly specialist clinical reasoning, you will support accurate diagnosis and deliver advanced assessment, formulation and intervention for individuals with chronic fatigue. This includes contributing to the virtual Fatigue Management Programme and providing specialist 1:1 physiotherapy for patients unable to participate in group-based interventions. You will play a key role in service development, clinical governance, pathway improvement and partnership work with primary care, community teams, voluntary-sector partners and regional commissioners.

Main duties of the job

• Provide joint leadership for the Chronic Fatigue Service, offering clinical supervision, guidance and role-modelling to MDT colleagues.
• Triage all new referrals and ensure safe prioritisation, appropriate redirection and effective risk management.
• Deliver advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment for people with ME/CFS using psychologically informed, biopsychosocial approaches.
• Contribute to the virtual Fatigue Management Programme and deliver specialist one-to-one physiotherapy where required.
• Develop personalised treatment plans and communicate effectively with patients, GPs and referrers.
• Participate in weekly MDT meetings and support junior team members in daily clinical practice.
• Lead or contribute to clinical governance activities, including audit, incident review, safeguarding, documentation standards and outcome measurement.
• Support service improvement, pathway refinement, and development of Standard Operating Procedures.
• Build and maintain relationships with primary care, community and voluntary-sector partners to promote integrated care.
• Line manage junior physiotherapy staff, overseeing performance, appraisal and professional development.
• Work efficiently within available resources and contribute to meeting divisional financial targets.

Working for our organisation

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK\\\’s largest and most innovative trusts, caring for over 1.6 million patients across three main hospitals and 30+ services in the community. We offer flexible hours, generous benefits, and opportunities for training and career progression.

For more information please visit: https://www.royalfreelondonjobs.co.uk/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Person specification

Royal Free World Class Values

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust Values

Education & professional Qualifications

• HCPC registration as a Physiotherapist
• CSP registration as a Physiotherapist
• Degree in Physiotherapy (or equivalent)
• Evidence of advanced CPD relevant to long-term conditions/fatigue
• Training at or equivalent to Master’s level
• Leadership or management training
• Training in ACT, CFT or psychologically-informed approaches
• Clinical Educator training/qualification

Experience

• Significant experience at senior level in relevant clinical areas (e.g., long-term conditions, persistent symptoms)
• Experience assessing and treating ME/CFS or chronic fatigue
• Experience leading or co-leading a clinical team
• Experience and confidence in triage, prioritisation and risk assessment
• Experience of clinical governance including audits, incidents and improvement work
• Experience working in MDT environments
• Experience in delivering group-based interventions
• Experience collaborating with voluntary/third-sector organisations

Skills and aptitudes

• Advanced assessment and clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to triage referrals safely and consistently
• Excellent communication skills adaptable to patient fatigue/cognitive load
• Ability to lead, supervise and motivate MDT colleagues
• Strong organisational and caseload-management skills
• Ability to design and deliver training to professionals
• Skills in service improvement, innovation and pathway redesign
• Competence using digital platforms and remote-consultation tools

Personal Qualities & attributes

• Compassionate and patient-centred
• Flexible, resilient and able to manage competing priorities
• Committed to evidence-based practice and continuous improvement
• Collaborative and supportive team member
• Confident representing the service with external partners
• AT* – Apprenticeship Training. Where AT* is entered next to the job title indicates that this vacancy is for an apprenticeship role.
• By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers. Therefore we require you to complete your stat and Man e-learning modules prior to joining our organisation.
• If you are an EU/EEA citizen who does not have EU Settlement or Pre-Settled status, you will require a visa to work in the UK.
• You must be eligible to work in the United Kingdom or meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa route. We welcome applications from candidates who require visa sponsorship, and these will be considered alongside all other applications. Before applying, please ensure that both you and the role meet the eligibility requirements under the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) points-based system to avoid disappointment. You can view this here
• If you are offered a role with one of the NLPSS partner trusts, as part of pre-employment checks your identity and right to work documentation will be verified remotely (in most circumstances), using a certified identity verification service provider TrustID. You will be asked to capture an image of the relevant documents as well as a “selfie” using your smartphone/tablet (if available) for facial matching. TrustID will also perform a digital address check using Trunarrative and Equifax, which is a soft check and does not leave a footprint on your credit rating. For more information, visit www.trustid.co.uk
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• The Trust will request a DBS (CRB) if post involves regulated activities. The Trust is compliant with the Disclosure and Barring Service Codes of practice and the Rehabilitation of offenders act.
• By applying for this post you are agreeing to Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Please be aware of scams – unless specified above, we will only communicate with you via @recruit.trac.jobs or nhs.net e-mails and we will never ask you for any payments.

Applications are welcome from people wishing to job share or work flexible patterns. We are committed to equal opportunities.

Please note:

• Due to the high number of applications that are received for some posts we may close this vacancy before the advertised closing date. Therefore please apply for this post as soon as you can, if you are interested and you meet the requirements of the Person Specification.
• Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.
• Interview arrangements will be communicated via email so please check your email regularly following the closing date.

Please be advised that due to exceptionally high demand, all Royal Free accommodation is at full capacity and waiting lists are being held. Average waiting times are 12 months. Please do not rely on Trust accommodation when you commence your role and ensure you investigate alternative accommodation for your arrival.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.