First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapy

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust; Runcorn; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting a First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapist (NHS AfC Band 7) for 22.5 hours per week across Halton sites in Runcorn. The post forms part of the MSKCATS team delivering MSK triage and autonomous assessment.

You will be based across Halton Hospital, Halton Healthcare Hub and GP practices, collaborating with AMPP and FCP colleagues, and covering GP practices in the Runcorn Primary Care Network as required.

Qualifications

• Holds Degree or Degree Equivalent in Physiotherapy.
• HCPC registered.
• Previous NHS experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide high level assessment of MSK conditions with advanced clinical reasoning.
• Signpost patients to appropriate services and provide guidance.
• Work as part of the MSKCATS team and cover GP practices as required.
• Collaborate with GP practice staff and MDT to improve pathways.

Skills

MSK physiotherapist

Autonomous practitioner

Clinical reasoning

HCPC registered

Education

Degree in Physiotherapy

Tools

EMIS

Job description

Main area First Contact Practitioner- MSK Physiotherapy Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 22.5 hours per week (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) Job ref 370-AHP7THE-2023

Employer North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Halton Hospital Town Runcorn Salary £49,387 - £56,515 pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 05/09/2026 23:59 Interview date 22/09/2026

First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapy

NHS AfC: Band 7

Job overview

Previous unsuccessful applicants at shortlisting and interview stage need not apply.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Trust are recruiting for a 22.5 hours First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapist (FCP) within the Runcorn area.

Working as part of the well-established Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Triage Service (MSKCATS) , you will integrate with the current team of highly skilled Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practitioners (AMPP) and First Contact Practitioners (FCP) that currently deliver FCP services to the population of Runcorn in North West England.

You will be based in Runcorn across the bases that provide FCP services- Halton Hospital, Halton Healthcare Hub and GP practices. Currently, not all Runcorn GP practices have an FCP working on base, but all FCPs will be a link person with a specific GP practice to help facilitate relationships within the practice team. This combined working means that the post holder is not isolated from colleagues and will work as part of the wider MSKCATS team.

You will be expected to cover GP practices in the Runcorn Primary Care Network if service needs require.

Halton has had a FCP service for over 5 years and an interface service for 15 plus years before that. We have excellent working relationships with our primary and secondary care colleagues as well as the ICB.

We have a long history of providing a high class, forward thinking, dynamic service based on the patient centred approach.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for highly motivated, confident, experienced MSK physiotherapist with a high level of clinical reasoning skills within the MSK field to join our friendly, supportive team.

They must have already completed Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Roadmap to Practice and gained the digital badge or be exempt from roadmap due to having a relevant Masters degree or member of the MACP.

· Provide high level assessment of patients with undiagnosed MSK conditions using advanced clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills.

· Provide expert advice using patient centred approach and Shared decision-making skills to aid appropriate signposting of patients to services

· Refer appropriately for diagnostic investigations and use advanced clinical reasoning skills in understanding the interventions required and the outcomes of them

• Provide early supported self-care advice and advice on community services to aid patient outcomes
• Be an active part of the MDT within the GP practice attending practice meetings, involved in education of GP practice colleagues.
• Be an active part of the MSKCATS team involved in service audits, pathway developments and education of physiotherapy colleagues.

Working for our organisation

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn.

Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.

Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.

A CQC-rated ‘good’ organisation with ‘outstanding’ features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.

We employ nearly 5,000 people from over 80 nationalities, striving to be a diverse, inclusive employer and recognised leader in equality. We support flexible working, welcoming flexible applications. Proud of our many accreditations, we are embedding an anti-racist approach in all we do.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Role summary

The post holder will be an experienced MSK physiotherapist who works as an autonomous practitioner in Halton General Hospital, community bases and GP practices as required.

They will have completed both stages of thew FCP Roadmap.

They will use advanced clinical reasoning and highly developed diagnostic skills during the assessment of patients with undiagnosed MSK conditions to diagnose, advise and signpost patients to the most appropriate form of management, whether that be supported self-care, community programmes, therapy setting or secondary care. They must be able to recognise red flags and masquerades of MSK conditions and be able to appropriately manage the patient with these conditions.

The post holder will have the ability to request investigations to aid with clinical diagnosis and effective onward management of the patient’s condition.

The post holder will be responsible for developing the relationship between the GP practice staff and be an active member of the practice MDT offering advice, guidance, education and support as required.

The post holder is expected to supervise less experienced staff and students.

Full Job Description Attached

Person specification

• Holds Degree or Degree Equivalent in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registered
• Previous work in MSK field of Physiotherapy
• Previous experience in NHS
• Advanced clinical knowledge and expertise in MSK
• Post Graduate course in MSK
• Evidence of an MSK portfolio
• Knowledge of biopsychosocial model of assessment
• Knowledge of audit and Quality Improvement Projects
• Working knowledge of diagnostics in MSK field
• Evidence of teaching and presenting skills
• Evidence of supervision of other staff
• Completion of Stage 1 and 2 of HEE Roadmap to Practice for FCP Physiotherapists
• Basic knowledge of IT software- Word, Excel, MS Forms
• Team Player
• Ability to work alone
• Able to drive and has access to own transport
• Evidence of working in FCP role or Triage role previously
• Previous experience working on EMIS or a Primary Care EPR system
• Evidence of diagnostic interpretation courses completed
• Injection Therapy
• Non Medical Prescribing Course completed
• Previous work in GP Practice
• Advanced IT knowledge
• Knowledge of community services inc voluntary sector
• Motivational Interviewing techniques
• Professional Standards