First Contact Practitioner (MSK)

Uk Wwl Limited; Greater Manchester; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An established healthcare provider is seeking experienced MSK physiotherapists to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on delivering high-quality clinical care within a primary care setting, utilizing the First Contact Practitioner model. Candidates will be responsible for assessing and diagnosing musculoskeletal disorders, providing expert advice, and directing patient care pathways autonomously. The organization values staff engagement and promotes a collaborative environment, ensuring that both staff and patients receive the highest standards of care. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in the community while advancing your professional development.

Qualifications

• Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education and CPD.
• Active member of relevant special interest group.

Responsibilities

• Provide MSK assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management.
• Direct care pathway for patients with undiagnosed MSK disorders.

Skills

Differential Diagnostic Skills

Independent Working

Leadership Skills

Research Skills

Presentation Skills

Education

Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy

HCPC Registration

Completion of Level 7 Module

Job description

Full time

Part time

Job share

Flexible working

Job ref302-25-7108582SSEmployerWrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustEmployer typeNHSSiteWigan Borough PCN'sTownWiganSalary£46,148 - £52,809 Per Annum Pro RataSalary periodYearlyClosing13/04/2025 23:59

Employer heading

NHS AfC: Band 7

Choose Well - Choose WWL

Job overview

We are excited to invite applications from experienced MSK physiotherapists who are seeking to deliver the highest level of clinical care from a general practice setting. The First Contact Practitioner (FCP) model has been designed to support musculoskeletal clinicians in primary care as well as provide a resilient framework for the future of FCP delivery.

Part time/Flexible Working will be actively encouraged.

Candidates will be required to present original certificates for qualifications at interview stage and during the onboarding process.

Please note this vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of suitable applications are received.

Recent unsuccessful applicants need not reapply.

Main duties of the job

The role will be based predominantly in Primary Care, within the established FCP team within a PCN. You will be the first point of contact for patients with undiagnosed MSK disorders and will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently, and effectively.

You will direct the care pathway for your patients autonomously, including assessment and diagnostics, provision of diagnosis, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated.

You should understand indications for, and limitations of, relevant MSK investigations, and will be confident in explaining their use and implications to patients. You should have or be currently undertaking Level 7 learning within MSK.

This role is designed to establish MSK expertise in Primary Care, and as such you will work closely in practices to build excellent working relationships with the PCN team members. You will bring expert MSK knowledge to your PCN, and as such will be a resource to the wider team. You will work closely with your Band 8a FCP to provide support and training within the PCN and wider FCP team. You will need to have clear evidence of team working and will be expected to support the Band 8a FCP in effective service delivery, audit and improvement. Although the role will be primarily Primary Care based, you will also be a key resource for the wider MSK and Physiotherapy team.

Working for our organisation

Choose Well – Choose WWL

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that ‘happy staff, makes for happy patients’. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values ‘the WWL Way’.

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Provide musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting to the GP practice as a first point of contact.

To act as a source of expertise on the management of complex and general musculoskeletal patients providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals and medical staff.

To take a major role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated.

To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.

To undertake a leadership role in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluation of the FCP service provided to the patients within the PCN on a day to day basis.

To educate and train other health professionals, medical staff and students in the management of musculoskeletal conditions.

To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated for patients who would normally be seen by a GP.

Person specification

Qualifications

Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy

Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education and CPD

HCPC Registration

Clinical Educators course

Active member of relevant special interest group

Completion of FCP Roadmap to Practice Stages 1 and 2

Completion of Level 7 module relevant to area of practice

Experience

Significant experience at Band 6 level or above in relevent areas of practice

Experience of participation in service improvement

Experience of supervising qualified staff

Minimum of five years post graduate experience with at least three of these within an MSK field.

Experience at Band 7 level or above in relevant areas of practice.

Post Graduate Experience in a variety of specialities in range of settings.

Experience of delivering training relevant to area of practice

Experience of Clinical Audit

Skills

Evidence of ability to work independently

Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments

Able to maintain judgement under pressure

Self-directed learning

Evidence of ability to provide leadership

Research skills

Presentation skills

Knowledge

Knowledge of a wide range of conditions and their medical/surgical management relevant to caseload

Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice

Knowledge of the principle elements of clinical governance

Knowledge of audit/critical appraisal

Knowledge of national policies

Additional

Commitment to deliver high standards of care in line with WWL objectives

Ability to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team

Committed to personal and team development

Commitment to speciality/area of practice

Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation

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Recruitment Information for Candidates

Our Trust prefers candidates to submit applications online. Please contact the Recruitment Team on 01942 244000 if you have difficulty applying online.

The Trust reserves the right to close adverts earlier than the stated closing date if there is a high volume of applications.

We endeavour to inform all applicants of the outcome of their application by email or SMS text message.

Guidance on Completing Your Application

Applications are scored against the person specification, therefore we recommend that you use the supporting information section of your application form to demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for the role, providing illustrative examples where possible.

On-Call

Please note that some roles may require you to participate in an on-call rota, if the role is predominantly operational.

Continuous Service

WWL has signed up to the Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment. and will recognise your continuous or ‘unbroken’ service in any Greater Manchester Local Authority or NHS organisation, Transport for Greater Manchester, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service or Greater Manchester Combined Authority; giving you access to our service-related benefits.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

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.