# First Contact Practitioner > NHS job listing from Job Clerk for West London NHS Trust. ## Canonical URLs - **HTML:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/first-contact-practitioner/19d7ec8e-c5bf-4cc9-b88c-2aca3d7cbb8e - **Markdown:** https://www.jobclerk.com/job/first-contact-practitioner/19d7ec8e-c5bf-4cc9-b88c-2aca3d7cbb8e.md ## Summary - **Status:** Live - **Employer:** West London NHS Trust - **Town:** Southall - **Region:** London - **Country:** England - **Profession:** Nurse practitioner - **Grade:** Band 8 - **Salary:** £63,665 - £70,887 per annum - **Contract type:** Permanent - **Employment type:** Full time - 37.5 hours per week - **Closing date:** 2026-06-10T23:59:00.000Z - **Posted:** 2026-05-27T09:22:26.721Z - **Source information URL:** https://www.healthjobsuk.com/job/-v8038548 - **Application URL:** https://apps.trac.jobs/job-advert/8038548?ShowJobAdvert=&feedid=9002 - **Employer website:** https://www.westlondon.nhs.uk ## Job Content ### Job overview Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisionsabout the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiatedconditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in orderto establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. To work as a Musculoskeletal Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner and First Contact Practitioner in a primary care community setting. To provide an expert and highly developed musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and appropriate onward management of patients presenting with chronic and acute musculoskeletal problems to the service referred via their GP. Triage orthopaedic and rheumatology secondary care referrals independently on electronic referral management systems. Make onward appropriate consultant and/or physiotherapy referrals and to discharge patients directly from the clinic. Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. ### Main duties of the job To assist the musculoskeletal service manager in the operational management and the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating of the HRCH NHS Trust First Contact physiotherapy service. To assist the Hounslow Planned Care Divisional Manager, Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager, Consultant Physiotherapist, and other lead physiotherapists in the provision of the Musculoskeletal service as necessary. To advise other health professionals and provide expert specialist advice regarding type of intervention and its impact related to pathology To evaluate the role of the First Contact Practitioner with the Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager and the Divisional Manager for Hounslow Planned Care. Comply with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Guidelines and Health Professions Council Code of Professional Conduct and all other relevant national and local policies and procedures. To have made an effective contribution in delivering the Trust’s vision, strategic objectives and key work programmes. Undertake highly specialist assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations. Use advanced clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and advanced musculoskeletal expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising specialist treatment skills and options. Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner’s professional activities. ### Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed. ## Job Details Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisionsabout the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiatedconditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in orderto establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. To work as a Musculoskeletal Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner and First Contact Practitioner in a primary care community setting. To provide an expert and highly developed musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and appropriate onward management of patients presenting with chronic and acute musculoskeletal problems to the service referred via their GP. Triage orthopaedic and rheumatology secondary care referrals independently on electronic referral management systems. Make onward appropriate consultant and/or physiotherapy referrals and to discharge patients directly from the clinic. Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. ## Job Description To assist the musculoskeletal service manager in the operational management and the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating of the HRCH NHS Trust First Contact physiotherapy service. To assist the Hounslow Planned Care Divisional Manager, Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager, Consultant Physiotherapist, and other lead physiotherapists in the provision of the Musculoskeletal service as necessary. To advise other health professionals and provide expert specialist advice regarding type of intervention and its impact related to pathology To evaluate the role of the First Contact Practitioner with the Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager and the Divisional Manager for Hounslow Planned Care. Comply with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Guidelines and Health Professions Council Code of Professional Conduct and all other relevant national and local policies and procedures. To have made an effective contribution in delivering the Trust’s vision, strategic objectives and key work programmes. Undertake highly specialist assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations. Use advanced clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and advanced musculoskeletal expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising specialist treatment skills and options. Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner’s professional activities. ## Responsibilities The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed. ## Person Specification ### Knowledge **Essential** - Underpinning and advanced knowledge to assess and diagnose a range of highly complex conditions using holistic assessment; identifying risk factors; mental health assessments; requesting, undertaking and/or interpreting diagnostic tests; providing appropriate advanced treatment options - Advance knowledge of anatomy and physiology underlying MSK injuries - Good knowledge of complex pain syndromes - Strategies to act on learning and make improvements. - Engaging in horizon scanning for future developments (e.g. impacts of genomics, new treatments and changing social challenges). - Good working knowledge of all areas of clinical governance including quality, safety and risk management - Understands the legal responsibilities of NHS professionals - Good understanding of statistics and their evaluation and experience of their use - Knowledge of CQC standards and how they relate to outstanding community services **Desirable** - Understanding of local population health needs, agencies and networks - Health Education England’s framework to promote person-centred approaches in health and care. ### Experience **Essential** - Significant experience in musculoskeletal speciality of Physiotherapy, including experience at band 7 (ACP) level or equivalent. - Expert clinical skills in MSK conditions and ability to work outside traditional boundaries - Collaborative working with a range of multi-agency and inter professional resources - Ability to influence and enhance patient care in highly complex circumstances and where information on life changing or limiting conditions/impacts are involved - Evidence of teaching at an advanced level - Experience of developing and implementing care pathways and protocols, policies and procedures - Leading new clinical practice and service redesign solutions with a focus on productivity, efficiency and clinical impact - Continually developing practice in response to changing population health needs, changing commissioner requirements and future developments - Evaluation, audit and improvement of own and others’ clinical practice - Disseminating best practice research findings and quality improvement projects through appropriate media and fora - Experience of operational team management - Facilitating collaborative links between clinical practice and research **Desirable** - Evidence of publication or ability to write to this standard - Building capacity and capability through work based and inter-professional learning - Experience of managing employee relations issues e.g. disciplinary, grievance - Experience of investigating complaints and incidents with recommendations for improvement ### Qualifications **Essential** - Degree or equivalent in Physiotherapy - HCPC registration - Master’s degree in advanced clinical education, or equivalent level 7 education or training relevant to role - IMER qualification - Supervision / Coaching / Mentoring - Formal management training or willing to undertake training within 6 months - IELTS Level 7 (Overseas candidates only) - Completion and recognition gained of Stage 1 of the ‘Road Map to FCP’ as detailed by HEE. **Desirable** - Relevant injection therapy qualification, or willing to undertake training within 6 months - Relevant prescribing qualification or willing to undertake training within 6 months - Member of the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists / Relevant special interest group membership ### Skills and Abilities **Essential** - Good IT skills, including use of Excel, presentation software, electronic patient record systems and digital health solutions - Able to organise, chair and facilitate meetings - Patient focused and person-centred approach, working in partnership with individuals, families and carers - Using expertise and decision-making skills to inform advanced clinical reasoning approaches, synthesising information from multiple sources to make appropriate, evidence-based judgements and/or diagnoses - Critical reflection on own practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and openness to challenge and change - Excellent organisation skills and ability to multitask, prioritise effectively and meet delivery standards - Ability to undertake risk assessment and risk management especially with complex and unpredictable events; implementing solutions to immediate problems - Use excellent prioritising and time management skills to meet the unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service. ## Documents - [job description (docx, 664.2kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?vdoc=10326887) - [occupational health requirements (pdf, 376.0kb)](https://www.healthjobsuk.com/documents?edoc=3003) ## 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.