# First Contact Practitioner (MSK) > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/first-contact-practitioner-msk/fa30bff3-223c-489a-a822-24fe5176cd77 - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/first-contact-practitioner-msk/fa30bff3-223c-489a-a822-24fe5176cd77.md ## Summary - **Status:** Archived / closed - **Employer:** Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - **Town:** Wigan - **Region:** North West - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Nurse practitioner - **Grade:** Band 7 - **Salary:** £47,810 - £54,710 Per Annum Pro Rata - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time, Part time, Flexible working, 37.5 hours per week (Full and part time hours are available. Working hours will be negotiable at interview) - **Closing date:** 2025-11-09T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2025-10-28T15:41:27.424Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/UK/Lancashire/Wigan/Wrightington_Wigan_Leigh_Teaching_Hospitals_NHS_Foundation_Trust/Physiotherapy/Physiotherapy-v7529477 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/7529477?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.wwl.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview We are excited to welcome 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. Both full time and part time posts are available. 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. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities ### Duties and Responsibilities Key results from the job holder - To provide clinical leadership for a designated area of work and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time. - To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into the work of the team. - To establish priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensure that they remain in accordance with those of the service as a whole. - To ensure excellent standards of evidence based care are delivered in specialist area of responsibility. - Provide day to day management for designated staff. ### Planning and Organisational Duties - To be responsible for a designated area of work, as agreed with the Clinical Lead/FCP, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patients management and use of time. - To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available. - To be responsible for ordering, monitoring and maintaining equipment used in carrying out duties, and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence t use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through,teaching, training and supervision of practice. - To deputise for the Clinical Lead/FCP in terms of operational issues as required. - To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in form of reports and letters. - To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the PCN. - To comply with the organisational and PCN policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate. - To be actively involved in the recruitment and selection of lower grade staff. - To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work. - To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraise. - To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit and outcome measures,either individually or with Clinical Lead/FCP. Use information gained to make recommendations for change. - To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation - To undertake any other duties as considered appropriate by the Clinical Lead for MSK/FCP. ### Communications and Key Working Relationships - To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care. To ensure high standards of clinical care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise. - Post holders are required to work independently, within broad clinical and professional guidelines. Work is supervised rather than managed and this supervision may be provided by peers who may be internal or external to the organisation. - To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive discharge plans. - To produce informative and detailed information for out of Trust patient transfers for continuing musculoskeletal management. - To deliver the physiotherapy element of care for patients within the PCN locations, and on occasions to deliver appropriate elements of care normally undertaken by other therapy colleagues. - To represent the Trust externally (locally and regionally) regarding musculoskeletal services provided to patients within the speciality. - To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care. - To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. - To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients. - To participate in the development of policy and practice changes within the PCN which will impact on service users. - To communicate complex patient-related information (as well as non-patient information) effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated - multidisciplinary service. - To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Use communication skills such as persuasion, motivation explanation to encourage patients to undertake their management programme. - To use communication tools (verbal and non-verbal) to gain informed consent with patients where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear etc. - To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. ### Responsibility for Human Resources - Provide day to day supervision, management and development for designated staff. - To work with FCPs within the PCN to ensure smooth running of the overall service. - To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation - To accept appropriate responsibility for any tasks delegated to less senior qualified or unqualified staff. - To ensure that designated staff implement policy and service development changes. - To work with the Clinical Lead/FCP and other staff in developing the strategic and operational management of the service. ### Responsibility for Teaching - To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of FCP, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. - To provide specialist and highly specialist advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas (outpatient departments, sub-acute sites and in-patient specialities etc) re: patients with musculoskeletal conditions. - To provide specialist advice, teaching and training, including presentation to other members of the IDT/MDT regarding the physical and medical management of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. - To educate, supervise and performance manage more junior staff, trainee assistant practitioners, assistants and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation. - To educate, supervise and performance manage via the use of competencies qualified and unqualified nursing staff, in specific areas of musculoskeletal management. ## Job Details We are excited to welcome 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. Both full time and part time posts are available. 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. ## Job Description 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. ## Responsibilities Key results from the job holder ## Person Specification ### Skills **Essential** - 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 **Desirable** - Research skills - Presentation skills ### Knowledge **Essential** - 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 **Desirable** - Knowledge of audit/critical appraisal - Knowledge of national policies ### Additional **Essential** - 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 ### Experience **Essential** - 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. **Desirable** - 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 ### Qualifications **Essential** - Diploma/degree in Physiotherapy - Evidence of relevant post graduate clinical education and CPD - HCPC Registration **Desirable** - 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 ## Documents - [302-25-7529477ss ps (pdf, 72.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=9779604) - [302-25-7529477ss jd (pdf, 288.4kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=9779605) - [what wwl can offer you (pdf, 80.8kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2701) - [applying for nhs vacancies guidance (pdf, 241.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=2884) ## Agent Notes - This Markdown page is generated from the same Job Clerk job record as the HTML job detail page. - Use the canonical HTML URL for user-facing references. - Use the application URL when the user wants to apply on the source NHS site.