First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapy: Sponsorship Available

  • Full Time
  • United Kingdom
  • 49,387 to 56,515 £ / Year

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (WHH)

Job summary

Previous unsuccessful applicants at shortlisting and interview stage need not apply.

North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Trust are recruiting for a 22.5 hours First Contact Practitioner- Physiotherapist (FCP) within the Runcorn area.

Working as part of the well-established Musculoskeletal Clinical Assessment and Triage Service (MSKCATS) , you will integrate with the current team of highly skilled Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practitioners (AMPP) and First Contact Practitioners (FCP) that currently deliver FCP services to the population of Runcorn in North West England.

You will be based in Runcorn across the bases that provide FCP services- Halton Hospital, Halton Healthcare Hub and GP practices. Currently, not all Runcorn GP practices have an FCP working on base, but all FCPs will be a link person with a specific GP practice to help facilitate relationships within the practice team. This combined working means that the post holder is not isolated from colleagues and will work as part of the wider MSKCATS team.

You will be expected to cover GP practices in the Runcorn Primary Care Network if service needs require.

Halton has had a FCP service for over 5 years and an interface service for 15 plus years before that. We have excellent working relationships with our primary and secondary care colleagues as well as the ICB.

We have a long history of providing a high class, forward thinking, dynamic service based on the patient centred approach.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for highly motivated, confident, experienced MSK physiotherapist with a high level of clinical reasoning skills within the MSK field to join our friendly, supportive team.

They must have already completed Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Roadmap to Practice and gained the digital badge or be exempt from roadmap due to having a relevant Masters degree or member of the MACP.

Main duties:

Provide high level assessment of patients with undiagnosed MSK conditions using advanced clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills.

Provide expert advice using patient centred approach and Shared decision-making skills to aid appropriate signposting of patients to services

Refer appropriately for diagnostic investigations and use advanced clinical reasoning skills in understanding the interventions required and the outcomes of them

  • Provide early supported self-care advice and advice on community services to aid patient outcomes
  • Be an active part of the MDT within the GP practice attending practice meetings, involved in education of GP practice colleagues.
  • Be an active part of the MSKCATS team involved in service audits, pathway developments and education of physiotherapy colleagues.

Person Specification

Essential

Essential

  • Holds Degree or Degree Equivalent in Physiotherapy
  • HCPC registered
  • Previous work in MSK field of Physiotherapy
  • Previous experience in NHS
  • Advanced clinical knowledge and expertise in MSK
  • Post Graduate course in MSK

Essential

Essential

  • Evidence of an MSK portfolio
  • Knowledge of biopsychosocial model of assessment
  • Knowledge of audit and Quality Improvement Projects
  • Working knowledge of diagnostics in MSK field
  • Evidence of teaching and presenting skills
  • Evidence of supervision of other staff

Essential

Essential

  • Completion of Stage 1 and 2 of HEE Roadmap to Practice for FCP Physiotherapists
  • Basic knowledge of IT software- Word, Excel, MS Forms
  • Team Player
  • Ability to work alone
  • Able to drive and has access to own transport
  • Evidence of working in FCP role or Triage role previously

Desirable

Desirable

  • Previous experience working on EMIS or a Primary Care EPR system
  • Evidence of diagnostic interpretation courses completed
  • Injection Therapy
  • Non Medical Prescribing Course completed
  • Previous work in GP Practice
  • Advanced IT knowledge
  • Knowledge of community services inc voluntary sector
  • Motivational Interviewing techniques

Essential

Essential

  • Good communication skills
  • Professional Standards

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).

Closing Date: 5 September 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.