MSK First Contact Physiotherapist (Keswick & Solway)

NHS; Keswick; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare organization in Keswick is seeking an MSK First Contact Physiotherapist to enhance the MSK service. The role involves managing a clinical caseload, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and delivering high-quality care. Ideal candidates will have significant post-registration experience and a relevant physiotherapy qualification. This position offers a competitive salary ranging from £47,810 to £54,710 per annum.

Benefits

27-day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years

NHS Discounts

Salary Sacrifice schemes

Confidential counselling service

Qualifications

• Experience working at a senior level in MSK physiotherapy.
• Evidence of continued professional development in specialist field.
• Radiological Interpretation Course or working towards.

Responsibilities

• Provide MSK related clinical expertise managing your own caseload.
• Deliver high quality MSK FCP service.
• Work closely with GP's and multidisciplinary team.

Skills

Complex problem solving and assessment skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work independently

Team working skills

Education

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recognised Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy

Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered

Job description

MSK First Contact Physiotherapist (Keswick & Solway)

Closing date: 12 December 2025

Do you want to work in a team where self‑compassion and support for colleagues is valued as highly as the compassion we offer our patients? In our team, we judge success by how much our colleagues love their jobs; we know that this leads to better healthcare outcomes for our population.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC) is seeking to recruit 1.0 WTE Musculoskeletal (MSK) First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) to support our FCP service in Keswick and Solway PCN. If successful, you will be responsible for supporting delivery and development of the NCIC FCP service in Primary Care. This is an exciting opportunity to improve clinical quality and operational efficiency; enhance MSK related pathways of care; and advance healthcare delivery for the Keswick and Solway population who suffer with MSK related conditions and disorders.

North Cumbria has so much to offer if you are looking for an exciting work life balance. Carlisle has everything that you would expect from the region’s only city including a rich cultural history and vibrant social scene. There are several Cumbrian market towns across the region, including Keswick and Wigton. If the great outdoors is more your thing, the Lake District National Park offers unrivalled scenery, a multitude of outdoor activities and opportunities to unwind.

If you have the knowledge, skills and expertise to enhance our North Cumbria MSK FCP service, don't hesitate to apply for this fantastic opportunity today.

Main duties of the job

As an FCP, you will provide MSK related clinical expertise, managing your own clinical caseload with varying degrees of clinical complexity and uncertainty. You will deliver and ensure the provision of a high quality MSK FCP service. You will be required to work closely with the FCP leads; GP's and other members of the primary care multidisciplinary team to deliver optimal MSK related care to the local population. You will demonstrate excellent communication skills as you establish relationships within primary care and with other key stakeholders in community and secondary care MSK related and interrelated services. NCIC is committed to delivering high quality, evidence based clinical care and you will be responsible for ensuring that this is the case in our FCP service. You will be able to evidence previous experience of working at a specialist or highly specialist level of clinical practice in the field of MSK related physiotherapy. You should be working towards stage 1 of the MSK FCP Roadmap to Practice with a willingness to complete stage 2.

About us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our 5 key principles demonstrate our belief in the delivery of ’safe, high quality care every time’:

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme or Armed Forces Covenant and you meet all the essential criteria for a post, you will be guaranteed an interview.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Disclosure and Barring Service

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.

The cost of the DBS must be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction. DBS charges are as follows if applicable to the post:

• Standard Check: £21.50 + Administration cost of £5.90 = £27.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.
• Enhanced Check: £49.50 + administration cost of £5.90 = £55.40. Deducted from salary over a 4 month period or a one-off payment.

Benefits

• 27‑day holiday scheme rising to 33 after 10 years
• NHS Discounts*
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work*
• Vivup is a free, confidential counselling and information service to assist with personal or work‑related problems
• *Subject to eligibility

Please ensure that you document evidence of meeting all the essential criteria in the supporting information.

If sufficient response is received this post could be closed earlier than the specified closing date, please apply as soon as possible to ensure that your application is considered.

Candidates who have been successfully shortlisted for interview will be asked via an email notification to log on to their Trac account to select an interview time. This will usually be within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Person Specification

Experience

• Extensive post registration experience working at a senior level within speciality area.
• High level of communication skills
• Experience in managing change
• Experience in providing counselling to patients and to support staff
• Experience of involvement in formal research

Qualifications

• Chartered Society of Physiotherapy recognised Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registered
• To have evidence of continued professional development within the specialist field of MSK Physiotherapy
• Radiological Interpretation Course (or working towards)
• MSc Module in Injection Therapy or Diploma in Injection Therapy
• IRMER / MRI Safety trained

Knowledge

• Awareness of current initiatives within the Local and National health economy.
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development relevant to this post including: completion of the HEE e‑LfH Primary Care modules and Person centreed care modules working towards stage 1 of the MSK Roadmap to Practice
• Knowledge of referral criteria to other specialisms.
• Relevant validated clinical courses applicable to physiotherapy at a specialist level
• In depth knowledge of speciality area of practice
• Knowledge of strategic issues which influence area of practice at a local and national level
• Knowledge of national progress within speciality area
• Knowledge of audit and research processes

Skills and Aptitudes

• Complex problem solving and assessment skills
• Ability to demonstrate analytical skills and judgement when dealing with the management of complex clients
• Specialist knowledge of professional practice and research, to be innovative and proactive in order to enhance the service
• To display effective communication skills, communicating complex, sensitive and contentious information to patients, carers and colleagues
• Ability to work independently, and to pass on knowledge / skills to others within both formal and informal environments.
• Excellent communication and team working skills.
• Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
• Demonstrate an understanding of legal responsibilities within the profession
• Ability to influence change in practice
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to work within an environment with competing demands
• Audit and Presentation skills
• Ability to maintain high standards of concentration
• Experience using electronic records.

Personal Circumstances

• The post holder must be:- professional, responsible, flexible, adaptable, a good communicator and a team player
• Display the ability to problem solve and manage change
• Respond and adapt to the changing needs of the service
• Act appropriately in distressing or emotional circumstances
• Ability to comprehend and work within the Trust's policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet the differing needs of patients.
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes.
• Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.

Other Requirements

• Clear vision of role/commitment to the speciality.
• Access to transportation to attend various locations
• Develop a culture that promotes equality and values diversity (Level 4)

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.

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a yearPer annum pro rata