First Contact Practitioner - Surrey Downs Health & Care | Surrey Downs Health and Care

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Leatherhead is seeking a flexible and dynamic First Contact Practitioner to join their team. You will manage MSK conditions, triage patients, and participate in continuous professional development. The role involves direct patient assessments and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team. Ideal candidates should have completed Stage 1 of the FCP framework and provide evidence of this during the interview. This position offers opportunities for education and growth within the NHS framework.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a MSK clinician.
• Demonstrated knowledge of rehabilitation and management strategies.
• Commitment to professional development in the FCP role.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical expertise as an MSK practitioner.
• Assess and manage patients without prior GP contact.
• Develop management plans in collaboration with patients.
• Educate patients on self-management and therapies.
• Collaborate with healthcare teams across pathways.

Skills

Clinical expertise in MSK care

Decision making for patient care

Experience in triaging patients

Knowledge of NICE guidelines

Ability to manage complex cases

Education

Completed Stage 1 of the FCP framework

Job description

Overview

Surrey Downs Health and Care is looking for a flexible, dynamic and forward thinking First Contact Practitioner to join our team in SDHC, working in the Leatherhead PCN Community Hub. You will be the FCP for patients with MSK conditions and will be responsible for triaging them into the most appropriate pathway. This may be to self-care; for further assessment; to community physiotherapy; for appropriate diagnostics or to secondary care. There will be development opportunities in line with the Health Education England recommendations for FCPs in Primary Care. Please ensure that you have completed Stage 1 of the FCP framework and evidence this at the interview.

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Responsibilities

• Provide clinical expertise as a first-contact MSK practitioner and make decisions about the best course of action for patients\' care.
• See patients without prior contact with their GP and perform assessments of presenting problems, interpret findings, develop working and differential diagnoses, and formulate, communicate and implement management plans aligned with individual needs, goals, and local/national guidelines.
• Request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and management, interpret results, and use them to inform management plans.
• Utilise shared decision making to help patients identify priorities, explain options in non-technical language, explore risks/benefits, and support patients in choosing their preferred path forward.
• Electronically triage information from patients via digital primary care platforms and determine the optimum management pathway (self-care, MSK physiotherapy, or FCP appointment).
• Manage a complex caseload across multiple settings, taking into account long-term conditions and comorbidities.
• Educate and encourage behaviour change to improve health and wellbeing (MECC principles).
• Adhere to local protocols, legal and professional requirements; record information concisely and accurately in EMIS or equivalent systems.
• Promote physical activity and provide information on rehabilitative interventions, supervising or advising on a range of interventions including self-management, injections, exercise prescription, and other therapies.
• Refer for surgical opinion when appropriate, in line with NICE guidance and local criteria.
• Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team and maintain relationships with services across MSK pathways and partners.

Organisation and Team

Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people’s communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our partnership of local NHS organisations. We work to provide person-centered care and unify services across GP practices, community settings and hospitals. The partnership includes GP federations (GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network), CSH Surrey, Epsom and St Helier’s University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Surrey Council County.

Leadership, Education and Development

• Demonstrate governance through clinical supervision, mentorship, good record-keeping and reflective practice; contribute to new practice and service redesign as needed.
• Act as a clinical role model, seek feedback, and contribute to a culture of organizational learning to improve care and safety.
• Negotiate an individual scope of practice within policies and procedures; understand personal limitations and maintain a patient-centered approach.
• Represent the service on committees as required and support the management of the musculoskeletal service; engage in appraisal and professional development.
• Encourage learning through supervision, peer review, and evidence-based practice with a focus on ongoing professional development for the FCP role.

Education, Learning and Development

• Engage in peer review and self-directed learning; maintain a portfolio of evidence showing how required capabilities for the FCP role are met.
• Support the wider team to develop competencies through work-based and inter-professional learning; stay up to date with competency frameworks and clinical practice.
• As clinical supervisor and educator, design, develop and deliver learning programmes for peers and the wider primary care MDT.

Research, Audit and Service Evaluation

• Engage in clinical audit, service evaluation and research in line with national/local requirements; evaluate and implement findings to improve practice.
• Generate evidence suitable for local presentation and inform practice through critical appraisal of relevant research and outcomes.

This advert closes on Sunday 14 Sep 2025.