First Contact Practitioner

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust; Camberley; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking an experienced First Contact Practitioner to assess and manage MSK patients in Primary Care. This role involves direct patient consultations and requires HCPC registration along with a degree or diploma in Physiotherapy. The ideal candidate should possess broad experience in MSK outpatients and strong clinical reasoning skills. The organization values inclusivity and supports professional development.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Flexible working patterns

Healthy work-life balance

Qualifications

• HCPC Registered.
• Broad experience in MSK outpatients.
• Knowledge of professional ethics.
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist clinical expertise as a first-contact practitioner.
• Deliver patient-centred care that optimises physical activity.
• Assess and manage acute, chronic, and complex patient presentations.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

IT skills

Organisational ability

Sound Clinical reasoning

Ability to work independently

Education

Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy

Job description

Overview

The Frimley Health Advanced Practitioner Team provides both Primary and Secondary Care services across the Frimley ICS, covering Berkshire, Surrey, North East Hampshire, and Farnham. We are seeking an experienced and motivated First Contact Practitioner (FCP) to join our team, working in First Contact Practitioner clinics in North East Hampshire and Farnham. As an FCP, you will assess and manage MSK patients in Primary Care, perform clinical assessments, order and interpret diagnostics, and make decisions to manage MSK patients as the first point of contact—without the need for a prior GP appointment. If you are a passionate MSK physiotherapist with experience in Primary Care and an interest in the FCP role, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Responsibilities

• Provide highly specialist clinical expertise, acting as a first-contact practitioner and making independent decisions about the best course of action for patients' care, including referring for diagnostics. This involves seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, to establish rapid and accurate diagnoses and management plans, which may be face to face or via virtual consultation.
• Deliver patient-centred care that supports self-management, facilitates behavioural change, optimises physical activity and mobility, helps patients achieve personal goals and independence, and minimises the need for pharmacological interventions and investigations.
• Assess and manage acute, chronic and complex patient presentations, and refer patients to Physiotherapy or Secondary Care for further management when appropriate.

Working for our organisation

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide development opportunities and a wide range of training. We support a healthy work-life balance and encourage flexible working patterns.

Detailed Job Description and Main Responsibilities

The APP team works across Primary Care and Secondary Care in GP Practices and Orthopaedic clinics. We are a friendly and experienced team with a broad range of clinical expertise. We have run FCP services for the past 9 years and support new members of the FCP team to complete their Roadmap. We currently provide FCP services for Oakley Health Group in Blackwater and Farnham Integrated Care Services, which provide a centre for 4 local GP practices.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• HCPC Registered
• Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Broad experience in MSK outpatients

Desirable criteria

• Injection module
• Independent Prescribing
• Postgraduate qualifications (e.g., Masters, SOMM)
• Previous experience as an FCP, APP or ACP

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge of professional ethics
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance

Desirable criteria

• Awareness of primary care treatment options and challenges

Skills

Essential criteria

• Interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication
• IT skills
• Organisational ability/able to work under pressure
• Sound Clinical reasoning
• Able to work independently as an autonomous practitioner

Desirable criteria

• Presentation/Teaching skills (1:1/group)
• FCP Roadmap completed

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is proud of its reputation and ambition. Our strategy FHFT 2030 focuses on being the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS, guided by our values: Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future. We are investing in new facilities and digital innovation, including the Epic electronic patient record launched in 2024, to support safer and more connected care. Everything we do is guided by our values to care for patients and support colleagues. Apply online now.