NHS
First Contact Practitioner (MSK)
This job is now closed
Job Description
- Req#: C9302-25-0224?language=en&page=411&sort=publicationDateDesc
- Provide musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting to the GP practice as a first point of contact.
- To act as a source of expertise on the management of complex and general musculoskeletal patients providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals and medical staff.
- To take a major role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated.
- To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
- To undertake a leadership role in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluation of the FCP service provided to the patients within the PCN on a day to day basis.
- To educate and train other health professionals, medical staff and students in the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
- To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated for patients who would normally be seen by a GP.
- Provide musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting to the GP practice as a first point of contact.
- To act as a source of expertise on the management of complex and general musculoskeletal patients providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals and medical staff.
- To take a major role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated.
- To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
- To undertake a leadership role in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluation of the FCP service provided to the patients within the PCN on a day to day basis.
- To educate and train other health professionals, medical staff and students in the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
- To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated for patients who would normally be seen by a GP.
- Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy
- Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education and CPD
- HCPC Registration
- Clinical Educators course
- Active member of relevant special interest group
- Completion of FCP Roadmap to Practice Stages 1 and 2
- Completion of Level 7 module relevant to area of practice
- Significant experience at Band 6 level or above in relevent areas of practice
- Experience of participation in service improvement
- Experience of supervising qualified staff
- Minimum of five years post graduate experience with at least three of these within an MSK field.
- Experience at Band 7 level or above in relevant areas of practice.
- Post Graduate Experience in a variety of specialities in range of settings.
- Experience of delivering training relevant to area of practice
- Experience of Clinical Audit
- Evidence of ability to work independently
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Self-directed learning
- Evidence of ability to provide leadership
- Research skills
- Presentation skills
- Knowledge of a wide range of conditions and their medical/surgical management relevant to caseload
- Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice
- Knowledge of the principle elements of clinical governance
- Knowledge of audit/critical appraisal
- Knowledge of national policies
- Commitment to deliver high standards of care in line with WWL objectives
- Ability to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team
- Committed to personal and team development
- Commitment to speciality/area of practice
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
- Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy
- Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education and CPD
- HCPC Registration
- Clinical Educators course
- Active member of relevant special interest group
- Completion of FCP Roadmap to Practice Stages 1 and 2
- Completion of Level 7 module relevant to area of practice
- Significant experience at Band 6 level or above in relevent areas of practice
- Experience of participation in service improvement
- Experience of supervising qualified staff
- Minimum of five years post graduate experience with at least three of these within an MSK field.
- Experience at Band 7 level or above in relevant areas of practice.
- Post Graduate Experience in a variety of specialities in range of settings.
- Experience of delivering training relevant to area of practice
- Experience of Clinical Audit
- Evidence of ability to work independently
- Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments
- Able to maintain judgement under pressure
- Self-directed learning
- Evidence of ability to provide leadership
- Research skills
- Presentation skills
- Knowledge of a wide range of conditions and their medical/surgical management relevant to caseload
- Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice
- Knowledge of the principle elements of clinical governance
- Knowledge of audit/critical appraisal
- Knowledge of national policies
- Commitment to deliver high standards of care in line with WWL objectives
- Ability to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team
- Committed to personal and team development
- Commitment to speciality/area of practice
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
Job summary
We are excited to invite applications from experienced MSK physiotherapists who are seeking to deliver the highest level of clinical care from a general practice setting. The First Contact Practitioner (FCP) model has been designed to support musculoskeletal clinicians in primary care as well as provide a resilient framework for the future of FCP delivery.
Part time/Flexible Working will be actively encouraged.
Candidates will be required to present original certificates for qualifications at interview stage and during the onboarding process.
Please note this vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of suitable applications are received.
Recent unsuccessful applicants need not reapply.
Main duties of the job
The role will be based predominantly in Primary Care, within the established FCP team within a PCN. You will be the first point of contact for patients with undiagnosed MSK disorders and will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently, and effectively.
You will direct the care pathway for your patients autonomously, including assessment and diagnostics, provision of diagnosis, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated.
You should understand indications for, and limitations of, relevant MSK investigations, and will be confident in explaining their use and implications to patients. You should have or be currently undertaking Level 7 learning within MSK.
This role is designed to establish MSK expertise in Primary Care, and as such you will work closely in practices to build excellent working relationships with the PCN team members. You will bring expert MSK knowledge to your PCN, and as such will be a resource to the wider team. You will work closely with your Band 8a FCP to provide support and training within the PCN and wider FCP team. You will need to have clear evidence of team working and will be expected to support the Band 8a FCP in effective service delivery, audit and improvement. Although the role will be primarily Primary Care based, you will also be a key resource for the wider MSK and Physiotherapy team.
About us
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement, and living our values 'the WWL Way'.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
Date posted
08 April 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£46,148 to £52,809 a year Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Reference number
302-25-7108582SS
Job locations
Wigan Borough PCN's
Wigan Borough
Wigan
WN1 1XX
Job descriptionJob description
Job responsibilities
Job responsibilities
Person SpecificationPerson Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Skills
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Additional
Essential
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
Experience
Essential
Desirable
Skills
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Additional
Essential
Additional informationDisclosure 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wigan Borough PCN's
Wigan Borough
Wigan
WN1 1XX
Employer's website
http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Wigan Borough PCN's
Wigan Borough
Wigan
WN1 1XX
Employer's website
http://www.wwl.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
About the company
National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly-funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). The founding principles were that services should be comprehensive, universal and free at the point of delivery—a health service based on clinical need, not ability to pay. Each service provides a comprehensive range of health services, free at the point of use for people ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom apart from dental treatment and optical care.