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Job overview
Join our Musculoskeletal (MSK) service as an MSK First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapist based within Healthwest PCN. You’ll play a key role in delivering expert care at the first point of contact within Primary Care, working closely with GP teams to assess and support patients with musculoskeletal conditions.
As part of the wider Sirona MSK service across Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire - including physiotherapy, podiatry, and orthopaedic interface teams, you’ll provide high-quality, patient-centred care within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.
Clinics are delivered Monday to Friday between 8am–8pm, with some weekend sessions supporting improved access services.
Within Sirona care & health, this role is recognised as an ‘MSK FCP Physiotherapist’ and is aligned to Band 7 on the Agenda for Change pay scale.
Main duties of the job
As an MSK First Contact Practitioner (FCP) Physiotherapist, you will provide expert assessment and management for patients presenting with musculoskeletal conditions within Primary Care. Working closely with GP teams and the wider BNSSG MSK service, you will use advanced clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and skilled physical assessment to support patients with complex physical and emotional needs.
You will assess patients via self-referral and Primary Care referral pathways, developing personalised management plans through shared decision making. The role includes recognising when further investigations or specialist referrals are required, while developing competency in the referral and interpretation of diagnostic investigations including imaging, blood tests, and diagnostic injections.
Working alongside the Advanced MSK FCP Physiotherapist, you will develop knowledge across specialist MSK pathways including orthopaedics, rheumatology, pain services, neurology, neurosurgery, and community services. You will support patients with treatment choices, self-management, and long-term condition management.
The role also includes contributing to service development, audit, quality improvement, mentorship, and pathway evaluation across the PCN and wider Sirona MSK service.
We are looking for a clinician with excellent communication, strong clinical reasoning skills, and a commitment to high-quality patient-centred care within a multidisciplinary environment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for a full list of duties and responsibilities before applying for this position.
If you refer to qualifications or employment within your supporting statement, that has not been included in your Qualifications, Training or Employment History, this information may be discounted.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Person specification
professional qualifications
Essential
- Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy with current HCPC registration.
Desirable
- Non-medical prescriber
- Injection trained
Skills, Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Highly developed MSK clinical reasoning, assessment, and differential diagnosis skills across spinal and peripheral conditions.
- Experience managing complex MSK patients within Primary Care and multidisciplinary pathways.
- Ability to recognise red flags, manage clinical risk, and work within professional scope of practice.
- Excellent communication, patient education, and report-writing skills, including managing sensitive or challenging situations.
- Experience teaching, mentoring, supervising, or supporting the development of colleagues and students
- Experience contributing to service improvement, audit, quality assurance, or pathway development.
Desirable
- Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
- Masters Level/Level 7 qualification or equivalent postgraduate training.
- Experience requesting and interpreting diagnostic investigations such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, or blood tests.
- Experience referring into specialist pathways including orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, or pain services.
- Leadership or management training and experience supporting service or workforce development.
- Experience contributing to research, clinical trials, pathway redesign, or publication of audit/research findings.
- Experience in operational or line management responsibilities within MSK services
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for First Contact Physiotherapist, Band 7 with Sirona care & health CIC in Healthwest PCN,. It is listed as a Band 7 Physiotherapist role. The advertised salary is £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro rata. The contract type is 8 months (fixed term / secondment until April 2027). The application deadline is 24 Aug 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (10 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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