First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapist

West London; Greater London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

West London NHS Trust invites applications for a Band 7 First Contact Physiotherapist and MSK Clinical Lead. The role spans MSK outpatient work and primary care, with a site base at West Middlesex Hospital in London and a day in the Hounslow PCN, delivering high-quality care at the right time and place.

You will lead the team, manage a varied caseload, and participate in the in-house development program to support professional growth within a multidisciplinary setting.

Qualifications

• BSc/Diploma in Physiotherapy with HCPC registration.
• Evidence of Level 7 learning or Master’s modules relevant to MSK.
• Started or completed First Contact Practitioner (FCP) portfolio or development pathway.
• Minimum 3 years’ Band 6 MSK experience with consolidation prior to MSK specific experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload in MSK/outpatient and primary care with supervision.
• Lead supervision, teaching and appraisal of physiotherapists, students.
• Initiate and participate in audits and evidence-based projects; implement changes within the team.

Skills

Clinical reasoning

Holistic assessment

Autonomous decisions

Time management

Communication

Teamwork

Education

BSc/Diploma in Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Level 7/Masters modules

FCP portfolio development

Job description

Use the job search to find and apply for roles using keywords or look at the roles listed below.

First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapist

Band 7

Main area Planned Care Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 222-HCH-058

Site West Middlesex Hospital Town London Salary £55,524 - £62,652 per annum inclusive of HCAS (Outer) Salary period Yearly Closing 15/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 28/10/2026

West London NHS Trust provides a full range of mental health, community and physical healthcare services for children, adults and older people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow.

We also provide some specialist services that are commissioned regionally, such as our medium secure services; and nationally, such as the Cassel Hospital for people with complex and severe personality disorder and our high secure services at Broadmoor Hospital.

Job overview

As a Band 7 First Contact Physiotherapist and MSK Clinical Lead Physiotherapist you will have to opportunity to continue developing your clinical skills for practice. This is split role working primarily within the Hounslow PCN with a day in the MSK Department based as the West Middlesex Hospital. This will allow participation in our inhouse development program which will also equip you with skills and attributes essential to the rest of your career. You will be integrated into a larger team with a focus on delivering high quality care at the right time and place.

As the successful candidate you will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Strong leadership skills. Good organisation skills: able to plan own work but also work effectively within a team. Ability to prioritise and make sound decisions, sometimes under pressure. You will carry a varied caseload of musculoskeletal complaints with a view to utilise all treatment and care options as appropriate, with the support of a named supervisor.

Main duties of the job

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Each Registered Professional shall act at all times, in such a manner as to justify public trust and confidence, to uphold and enhance the good standing and reputation of their profession, to service the interests of society and above all to safeguard the interests of individual patients and clients
• Competence in the key elements of the competency profile of the role
• Be responsible for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of service or a particular patient type, working without direct supervision. (Supervision takes the form of regular formal training, clinical reasoning sessions and peer review.)
• Takes a lead role in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of senior, junior, and assistant physiotherapists, physiotherapy students.
• Initiates and participates in evidence based projects, audit, and is responsible for implementing changes within designated team setting and monitoring standards of practice.

Working for our organisation

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.

Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.

The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overallby the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.

The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.

Person specification

Qualifications

• BSc/Diploma in Physiotherapy or equivalent recognised qualification
• Current HCPC registration as a Physiotherapist
• Evidence of completed Level 7 learning/Master’s modules relevant to the role and MSK practice
• Started or completed First Contact Practitioner (FCP) portfolio/appropriate FCP development pathway

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience working at Band 6 level within an MSK outpatient and/or primary care setting with a minimum of 2 years consolidation prior to MSK specific experience
• Significant experience in the assessment and management of patients with a wide range of complex MSK presentations
• Evidence of working effectively across organisational and professional boundaries/systems
• Experience of working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and other healthcare professionals
• Evidence of managing complex clinical presentations and developing appropriate, holistic management plans including patients with chronic pain and complex socio-economic background
• Previous experience working within a First Contact Practitioner (FCP) role
• Previous experience working within an Emergency Department (ED) or equivalent urgent care setting

Knowledge

• Advanced understanding of MSK assessment and management within an outpatient/primary care environment
• Comprehensive understanding of red flags and sinister pathology screening within a multi-system assessment framework
• Understanding of stakeholder relationships, multidisciplinary working and integrated/multi-system care
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice and relevant national/local clinical guidelines relating to MSK care and FCP
• Basic understanding of common pharmacological interventions used in the management of MSK and non-MSK conditions encountered within primary care
• Understanding of appropriate referral and escalation pathways for patients presenting with conditions outside the scope of MSK physiotherapy

Skills

• Evidence of Level 7 or equivalent clinical reasoning, decision-making and care-planning skills
• Ability to undertake a holistic assessment and formulate a joined-up management plan taking account of MSK and wider health needs
• Ability to demonstrate autonomous clinical decision-making and care planning in line with existing evidence, policies and clinical guidelines
• Excellent time-management, prioritisation and organisational skills
• Ability to process, interpret and synthesise large amounts of complex information and organise this appropriately to inform clinical decisions
• Effective communication skills with the ability to communicate complex clinical information to patients, carers and healthcare professionals
• Ability to recognise own professional limitations and elevate or refer appropriately
• Ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively to a multidisciplinary team

Other Requirements

• Demonstrates a patient-centred, holistic approach to assessment and management
• Commitment to evidence-based practice, continuing professional development and maintaining clinical competence
• Ability to manage competing demands and work effectively in a busy clinical environment
• Demonstrates professional behaviours consistent with Trust values, including care, respect and communication

As an employee of West London NHS Trust, you have a responsibility to maintain a sound understanding of, and a commitment to uphold the National Health Service values and principles set out in the NHS Constitution.

We reserve the right to close adverts prior to the closing date stated should we receive a high volume of applications.

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.

At West London NHS Trust, we want you to support you to build a career you can be proud of and this starts before your first day with us. Our people live our values every day as they deliver, manage and work to improve our services to patients, carers, families and other professionals.

We’re committed to making our recruitment process clear and efficient. It’s in everyone’s interest that we get the very best people on board as soon as we can.