Self-Employed First Contact Physiotherapist

NHS; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in West Yorkshire seeks an experienced First Contact Physiotherapist for remote and face-to-face assessments of musculoskeletal conditions. Responsibilities include patient management, thorough assessments, and collaborating with a team of healthcare professionals. Candidates must hold FCP sign off and demonstrate high CPD standards. This self-employed role offers flexible working arrangements within multiple local networks.

Qualifications

• Must be experienced MSK clinician with FCP sign off.
• Maintain high level of CPD and MSK practice knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Conduct first contact assessments for MSK conditions.
• Provide differential diagnosis and initiate investigations.
• Manage a caseload of registered patients.

Skills

Clinical assessment

Diagnosis of MSK conditions

Patient management

Evidence-based practice

Communication skills

Education

FCP Sign Off

Job description

Self-Employed First Contact Physiotherapist

Leeds GP Confederation invite applications for qualified MSK FCP Physiotherapists to work on a self‑employed basis with opportunities to work both remotely and/or face‑to‑face within multiple PCNs within Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Main duties of the job

The role is only open to experienced MSK clinicians with FCP sign off, who maintain a high level of CPD and knowledge of current MSK practice, to join our experienced and dynamic clinicians supported by a devoted MSK Professional Lead.

Key responsibilities include first contact assessment of undifferentiated MSK conditions within primary care settings, both remote and face‑to‑face to provide differential diagnosis, first line management and initiate investigations and onward referrals as clinically reasoned.

About us

Leeds GP Confederation is a collective of GP practices working together to deliver high-quality, patient‑centred primary care across the city. By collaborating, we share resources, expertise, and innovation to improve services for our communities. Our mission is to support general practice, strengthen local healthcare, and ensure every patient in Leeds receives the right care, at the right time, from the right people.

Job responsibilities

Enhanced Access (EA) MSK Job Descriptions for First Contact Physiotherapists (Musculoskeletal roles)

Job Title: EA First Contact Physiotherapist (musculoskeletal conditions)

Responsible to: Leeds GP Confederation EA Service Associate Director of Clinical Professions

Accountable to: Leeds GP Confederation EA MSK Professional Lead

Responsible for: Delivery of EA FCP MSK Patient Assessment & Management

Hours of work: No contracted hours by application through TeamNet.

Supervision

The role is supported by the MSK Professional Lead for Leeds GP Confederation and Associate Director of Clinical Professions.

Scope of the Clinical Role

1. Be the first point of contact for expert clinical assessment and diagnosis of patients presenting with MSK conditions in primary care/GP practices using the EA service. This will include patients who present with a range of complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or mental health and/or pain management needs and underlying pathologies/other primary conditions and may be via remote access (telephone) or face‑to‑face service provision.
2. Receive patients who self‑refer (where systems permit) or from a member of reception team or clinical professional within the Leeds GP Confed EA service, and where required refer to other health professionals within the EA service, PCNs or other providers.
3. Use advanced clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning to provide comprehensive treatment support to patients who present with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or mental health and/or pain management needs.
4. Work independently, without in‑person day‑to‑day supervision, to assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for prioritising and managing a caseload of the PCNs Registered Patients whilst liaising with the EA MSK Professional Lead where appropriate.
5. Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients through:
   • a. Effective shared decision‑making with a range of first‑line management options (appropriate for a patient’s level of activation)
   • b. Assess levels of Patient Activation to support a patient’s own level of knowledge, skills and confidence to self‑manage their conditions, ensuring they are able to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of self‑management interventions, particularly for those at low levels of activation
   • c. Agreeing with patients appropriate support for self‑management through referral to rehabilitation‑focused services and wider social prescribing as appropriate
   • d. Designing and implementing plans that facilitate behavioural change, optimise patients’ physical activity and mobility, support fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and reduce the need for pharmacological interventions
   • e. Utilisation of physiotec exercise program platform for patients treatment programs with supportive SMS.
   • f. Book patients into follow‑up or face‑to‑face appointments with yourself or another clinician as clinically justified utilising SMS services to communicate these appointments
6. Independently recognise where diagnostic tests including routine and specialist x‑rays, MRI imaging, ultrasound scans and blood and other pathology tests are required. Interpret the results alongside traditional physiotherapeutic assessment techniques and non‑clinical information to aid clinical diagnosis and decisions on potential treatment options/clinical interventions.
7. Be able to clinically justify referral onto appropriate MSK pathways (e.g. joint injections) or community care spinal treatment service, rehabilitation services or secondary care services such as rheumatology, orthopaedic and neurology.
8. Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable situations, including when there is incomplete/contradictory information.
9. Demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic interventions on existing conditions and treatment programmes e.g. podiatric treatment, drug therapies, etc. Ensuring that physiotherapy interventions are integrated and supportive of the whole treatment aims promoting a holistic approach to condition management.
10. Recognise potential underlying non‑MSK related disease and conditions that present as MSK symptoms and to refer appropriately.
11. Work in partnership with the patient at all times to attain maximum participation in treatment programmes. This will include working with patients from diverse social background and cultures and understanding how this will affect treatment proposals and models.
12. Be accountable for decisions and actions via Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration, supported by a professional culture of peer‑networking/review and engagement in evidence‑based practice.
13. Integrate the FCP role into the wider primary care team, proactively working with the primary care team to build robust relationships and practices where practicable by providing expert advice and source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions to specialist healthcare professionals and members of the primary care team, including advising GPs on management of MSK conditions.
14. Contribute to the development of referral guidelines for MSK and MSK related conditions from primary care to other NHS services that will direct referrals to other primary care services, community, secondary and tertiary (specialist) services through feedback to the MSK Professional Lead.
15. Work with the PCN team to support preventative strategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals.
16. Active engagement in annual development review processes and peer review, embracing evidence‑based practice.
17. Contribute to monitoring and review of service standards for MSK primary care services through feedback back on EA service of peers to MSK professional Lead if best practice has not been followed.
18. Participate in/support investigations into complaints and clinical errors/incidents when appropriate.
19. Participate in developing education and training of specialist physiotherapists up to post‑graduate level to support the development of advanced clinical practice skills and knowledge within the wider physiotherapy workforce if mutually agreeable.
20. Provide ad‑hoc training and supervision, some of which may be to postgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals, including GPs in order for them to develop specialist MSK patient referral and management skills.
21. Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision and mandatory training.
22. Provide and receive clinical supervision through supportive WhatsApp groups for the EA service.
23. Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
24. Promote and lead the integration of evidence‑based practice and national guidelines into own and local FCP MSK service practice.
25. Use expert knowledge of evidence‑based guidelines and national frameworks to influence the development of FCP services within the primary care team.
26. Lead or participate in research and MDT research projects as appropriate. This may include participation in cross organisational research and audit programmes.
27. Present and disseminate research and clinical audit findings to the primary care team as required.
28. Use audit and research to develop and improve service guidelines, care protocols, delivery of triage services and referral pathways.
29. When opportunities present, take the lead in communicating and influencing across the PCN the benefits of the FCP role in primary care.
30. Promote and explain the FCP role and what it can deliver to a range of audiences including patient groups, individual patients and other primary care team members, including GPs.
31. Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and their carers. This will include explaining the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment choices available to manage multi‑pathology and complex conditions. It will also involve communicating limitations on treatment outcomes and managing expectations of patients with chronic or life‑limiting conditions.

This job description is not meant to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post. It may be subject to change in the light of developing organisational and service needs and where ever possible change will follow consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• FCP Sign Off

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.