First Contact Practitioner

NHS; Dartford; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is looking for a First Contact Practitioner. You will provide clinical expertise, making decisions about patient care without prior GP contact. This full-time role focuses on musculoskeletal services, requiring experience in delivering excellent patient care. You will work in Dartford, delivering innovative and sustainable healthcare. A competitive salary and extensive benefits are offered, including annual leave and private healthcare.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Private Healthcare

Company Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Previous experience in delivering musculoskeletal services.
• Current valid registration with HCPC.
• Experience developing team members.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical expertise as first-contact physiotherapist.
• Deliver programmes of supported patient self-management.
• Formulate, deliver, review and progress individual treatment programmes.

Job description

Job Summary

Stage 2 of the FCP Pathway signed offPrevious experience in delivering musculoskeletal services with tangible results and commitment to providing excellent, personalised care. A deep understanding of the impact of Musculoskeletal pain in the wider community and how collaborative working across the local system enables prevention and addresses health inequalities. Current valid registration with HCPC. Outstanding values that underpin clinical expertise and people management. Proven track record of influencing patients, people, commissioners, and pathways. Understand, influence and drive quality of audits and the integration of EBP. Educational acuity in developing and providing specialist teaching in Musculoskeletal. Strong desire and drive to deliver innovation and lead on change. Experience of developing team members.

Main Duties of the Job

As a First Contact Practitioner, you will provide clinical expertise, acting as first‑contact physiotherapist and making decisions about the best course of action for patients’ care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients 4 days a week, without prior contact with their GP, to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. Progressing and requesting investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime while understanding the information limitations using your clinical knowledge to and act on results to aid diagnosis, management and discharge of patients.

You will deliver programmes of supported patient self‑management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals’ physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and that minimise the need for pharmacological interventions. We are dedicated to delivering the highest level of patient care, in the most efficient and cost‑effective way, with re‑investment to ensure services are sustainable. We are looking for well‑organised Physiotherapy Clinicians, to deliver quality clinical care for patients with MSK conditions. Whilst undertaking comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of patients with a wide variety of physical and emotional needs, you must formulate, deliver, review and progress individual treatment programmes and ensure effective treatment, specialist advice and timely discharge.

About Us

Cora is a leading provider of community healthcare services in the UK. We deliver MSK (musculoskeletal) services, diagnostic imaging, day‑case surgery, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, podiatry, persistent pain management, mental health, orthopaedic and rheumatology services. We want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive. We help people help themselves, to get back to their best or to simply find a new way forward.

Details

Date posted: 30 October 2025

Pay scheme: £43,860 to £49,980 a year

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time

Reference number: DGS09

Job locations: Medical Surgery, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8RH

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave (plus Bank Holidays) and option to buy/sell
• Private Healthcare (Benenden)
• Company Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Blue Light Card
• Refer a Friend Scheme
• CPD Opportunities
• Wagestream
• Reward Gateway
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Smart Tech
• EV Car Scheme

Person Specification

Qualifications (Desirable)

• Stage 2 FCP Pwathway completed

Experience (Desirable)

• Previous FCP Experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Cora Health Group Limited

Address: Medical Surgery, New Ash Green, Longfield, Kent, DA3 8RH

Employer's website: http://www.corahealth.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)