Senior MSK clinician — Emily Goss

Emily loves her role as an MSK clinician where she can help patients to achieve their goals and make a big difference to their lives

What degree did you study?

I studied BSc Sports Therapy at the University of Chichester and graduated in 2020.

How did you get your job in the NHS?

I saw the job advertised on the NHS Jobs website. After graduation I had worked in various pitch-side settings for local schools in Portsmouth and for a football club in the National League South. I also spent a year working self-employed in a sports therapy clinic where I was able to put my hands-on knowledge into practice. This all gave me vital experience to help me with this job.

What's a typical working day like?

The role involves undertaking a musculoskeletal assessment of patients, including those with highly complex presentations, and then from this I formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan. The job also involves the co-ordination of intervention, which may include other disciplines, such as advising and educating patients, carers, relatives and working with other health professionals.

Day to day I am involved in the diagnosis and treatment plans of MSK outpatients. We have a team that involves our Band 5 and 6 physiotherapists, MSK practitioners like myself and rehab instructors. We also have our specialists we can refer onto if cases are more complex and require further imaging or surgical opinion.

We receive the referrals via the GPs, we assess and treat them within the department and aim to get them better as quickly as possible. Some are very complex and long-term conditions, others are post-surgery and others are more acute injuries. My daily diary involves approximately four new patients, with one of those being an urgent new patient slot and approximately six to seven follow up patient slots.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy helping people achieve their goals, no matter how big or small they may be. You can make such a big difference to individuals lives and they are very grateful for this.

What are the challenges?

The NHS is a very busy environment, with a high number of referrals every day. This can sometimes be tiring, but also very rewarding.

How is your degree relevant?

The undergraduate sports therapy degree is brilliant for preparing you to go into work in the field - whether this is the sporting environment or more clinical roles. You develop a good working knowledge of the anatomy and physiology underlying musculoskeletal injuries and get experience of delivering exercise rehabilitation as a key component of patient care.

The course is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists which appealed to me as it allows graduates to enter a variety of careers including those in the NHS and military.

How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?

Since I have become a Band 6 I am involved in student mentoring and teaching. This is important for the development of students and new graduates coming through into MSK roles.

Currently, I am happy with my level of work as I am constantly learning, however it will be great to push sports therapy within the NHS settings and see how far it can take us.

What advice can you give to others wanting to get into this job?

• Try and gain experience in an NHS setting.
• Always check the NHS jobs website - there are more NHS trusts nationally that are starting the MSK clinician roles.
• Never stop reading and learning - CPD is always available.

Find out more

• Read all about being a sports therapist.
• Take a look at the healthcare sector.