First Contact Physiotherapist/Clinical Lead Physiotherapist
| Posting date: | 11 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £47,810 - £54,710 per annum, pro rata |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 10 September 2025 |
| Location: | Halifax, HX3 0PW |
| Company: | Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7382566/372-COM2550 |
Summary
A Vacancy at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.
Hours available 30
MSK Physiotherapy Services at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust are excited to recruit permanent part time First Contact Physiotherapists/Clinical Lead Physiotherapist to join our MSK and FCP Team.
Our integrated MSK Service provides First Contact Practitioners to the Calderdale GPs as well as the Calderdale MSK Service and Outpatient Physiotherapy, working flexibly across a number of sites in Calderdale and Huddersfield.
We seek motivated and passionate individuals who can demonstrate excellent assessment, diagnostic and clinical skills across a variety of musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and general health conditions. Good communication, an ability to work independently and time management skills are essential.
We can offer you highly specialist, dedicated training across a full range of MSK conditions with support from our senior clinical team.
To be eligible to apply for this role, candidates must have undergraduate and/or postgraduate experience in the NHS as a physiotherapist.
Candidates must be able to attend a face-to-face interview on Wednesday 10thSeptember2025
To act as a First Contact Physiotherapist within GP practices and as a clinical lead for the Physiotherapy Out-Patient Service with responsibility for advancing evidence-based clinical practice.
Main Tasks
· To provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist 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.
· To progress and request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information and limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests/diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood tests. Interpret and act upon results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients.
· To deliver programmes of supported patient self-management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and that minimise the need for pharmacological interventions.
· To work within the out-patient team in a variety of Clinical areas providing highly specialist physiotherapeutic assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice for a range of frequently complex conditions for patients on their caseload.
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Clinical Duties
To work as a First Contact Practitioner in GP practice to demonstrate highly specialist clinical reasoning and decision-making skills to assess, diagnose and triage MSK patients.
· To manage a complex caseload of patients, including those with long-term conditions, co-morbidities and multi-factorial needs.
· To work within the Physiotherapy Out-Patient Service leading, co-ordinating and developing effective clinical practice across the service in line with the current evidence base.
· To be accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration supported by peer networking and review and engagement with evidence-based practice.
· To streamline pathways of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care
· To ensure care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention. This should include advice on/signposting eg weight management, smoking cessation, physical activity.
· To provide care that is tailored to the needs of the individual. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence).
· To use shared-decision making to support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management.
· To use shared decision making to agree the best pathway of care following patient assessment and working in partnership with patients and their carers, informed by the urgency and severity of patient need, patient acuity and dependency, and the most appropriate deployment of resources.
· To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers including complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology, results of investigations, prognosis and treatment options. This may require skills in motivation, reassurance or persuasion, often with barriers to understanding.
· To use a range of clinical skills which may include:
a) non-medical independent prescribing
b) joint / soft tissue injections
c) joint aspirations
d) physical rehabilitation through manual therapy
e) physical rehabilitation through exercise and function
f) Physical rehabilitation through pain relief which could include acupuncture, electrotherapy etc.
g) complex bio-psychosocial assessment of patients
h) cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person
i) falls assessment
· To work with the MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.
· To provide learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care.
· To exerciseprofessional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information.
· To manage interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings.
· To demonstrate an understanding of personal scope of practice and the ability to identify when a patient needs referring on.
· To manage risk in unpredictable, uncertain situations to uphold patient safety, including by referring on to other primary care team members and to specialist services, as needed.
· To act as a resource to provide highly specialised advice for relevant members of staff about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients / clients within the integrated MSK pathway.
· To work collaboratively with other providers involved in the patients care including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care, community and acutecolleagues to ensure effective care pathwaysand timely transfer of care/discharges.
· To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.
· To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
· To use networks locally, regionally and nationally where appropriate in order to share information and good practice.
Professional Duties
· To demonstrate behaviours and attitudes that creates a role model within the team.
· To comply with and,along with the team leader,write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on themanagement and care of Out-Patient Physiotherapy Patients
· To lead/participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Physiotherapy Out-Patient teams’ clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, clinical audit and service activity data and research and development.
· To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients/clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.
· To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.
· To support members of the Physiotherapy and assistant team to enable them to meet their objectives and development needs and assist the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner to manage their performance.
· To identify, develop, deliver and evaluate training programmes for out-patient physiotherapy which addresses the needs of the Physiotherapy service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.
· To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with peers. To share learning effectively to all appropriate members of staff.
· To participate in the Trust’s supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.
· To participate in the Trust appraisal process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.
· To undergo additional appraisal with a designated GP to evaluate service quality and identify learning needs within the FCP role.
· To provide highly specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.
· To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of student Physiotherapists to graduate levelin the role of clinical educator.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of students from other professional groups e.g. Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists in as required.
· To make links with HEI and be instrumental in influencing undergraduate and post graduate training within the field of Physiotherapy Out-Patients.
Managerial Duties
· To support and advise on the delivery of the FCP and Physiotherapy Out-Patient service across the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To provide the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner with advice/information on the planning and development of the service and to identify and evaluate potential areas for service and quality improvement, taking into account the views of service users.
· To ensure adequate staffing levels within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and reporting sickness absence to the Team Leader/practise manager, where appropriate.
· To assist the Head of Therapies/Team Leader in achieving the serviceobjectives.
· To actively participate in the professional development programme of the FCP and Physiotherapy services.
· To assist the Head of Therapies/Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist in the implementation of change as appropriate.
· To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating processes as appropriate.
· To participate in the staff recruitment process and facilitate staff retention.
· To maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
· To initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of their job description.
· To comply with all Trust policies and procedures.
· To ensure attendance at induction and regular training updates on risk management policies and procedures.
· To ensure, through risk assessment, identification of any risks within the department or in community settings.
· To ensure accurate completion of Datix reports as appropriate. To work with the Team Leader to assist in the management of complaints and incidents.
This advert closes on Wednesday 27 Aug 2025
Hours available 30
MSK Physiotherapy Services at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust are excited to recruit permanent part time First Contact Physiotherapists/Clinical Lead Physiotherapist to join our MSK and FCP Team.
Our integrated MSK Service provides First Contact Practitioners to the Calderdale GPs as well as the Calderdale MSK Service and Outpatient Physiotherapy, working flexibly across a number of sites in Calderdale and Huddersfield.
We seek motivated and passionate individuals who can demonstrate excellent assessment, diagnostic and clinical skills across a variety of musculoskeletal, orthopaedic and general health conditions. Good communication, an ability to work independently and time management skills are essential.
We can offer you highly specialist, dedicated training across a full range of MSK conditions with support from our senior clinical team.
To be eligible to apply for this role, candidates must have undergraduate and/or postgraduate experience in the NHS as a physiotherapist.
Candidates must be able to attend a face-to-face interview on Wednesday 10thSeptember2025
To act as a First Contact Physiotherapist within GP practices and as a clinical lead for the Physiotherapy Out-Patient Service with responsibility for advancing evidence-based clinical practice.
Main Tasks
· To provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist 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.
· To progress and request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information and limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests/diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood tests. Interpret and act upon results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients.
· To deliver programmes of supported patient self-management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and that minimise the need for pharmacological interventions.
· To work within the out-patient team in a variety of Clinical areas providing highly specialist physiotherapeutic assessment, diagnosis, treatment and advice for a range of frequently complex conditions for patients on their caseload.
We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients’ homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.
We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children’s and young people’s services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.
We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.
We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS – yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members – patients, staff and the local community.
Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.
Clinical Duties
To work as a First Contact Practitioner in GP practice to demonstrate highly specialist clinical reasoning and decision-making skills to assess, diagnose and triage MSK patients.
· To manage a complex caseload of patients, including those with long-term conditions, co-morbidities and multi-factorial needs.
· To work within the Physiotherapy Out-Patient Service leading, co-ordinating and developing effective clinical practice across the service in line with the current evidence base.
· To be accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration supported by peer networking and review and engagement with evidence-based practice.
· To streamline pathways of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care
· To ensure care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention. This should include advice on/signposting eg weight management, smoking cessation, physical activity.
· To provide care that is tailored to the needs of the individual. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence).
· To use shared-decision making to support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management.
· To use shared decision making to agree the best pathway of care following patient assessment and working in partnership with patients and their carers, informed by the urgency and severity of patient need, patient acuity and dependency, and the most appropriate deployment of resources.
· To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers including complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology, results of investigations, prognosis and treatment options. This may require skills in motivation, reassurance or persuasion, often with barriers to understanding.
· To use a range of clinical skills which may include:
a) non-medical independent prescribing
b) joint / soft tissue injections
c) joint aspirations
d) physical rehabilitation through manual therapy
e) physical rehabilitation through exercise and function
f) Physical rehabilitation through pain relief which could include acupuncture, electrotherapy etc.
g) complex bio-psychosocial assessment of patients
h) cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person
i) falls assessment
· To work with the MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.
· To provide learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care.
· To exerciseprofessional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information.
· To manage interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings.
· To demonstrate an understanding of personal scope of practice and the ability to identify when a patient needs referring on.
· To manage risk in unpredictable, uncertain situations to uphold patient safety, including by referring on to other primary care team members and to specialist services, as needed.
· To act as a resource to provide highly specialised advice for relevant members of staff about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients / clients within the integrated MSK pathway.
· To work collaboratively with other providers involved in the patients care including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care, community and acutecolleagues to ensure effective care pathwaysand timely transfer of care/discharges.
· To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.
· To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
· To use networks locally, regionally and nationally where appropriate in order to share information and good practice.
Professional Duties
· To demonstrate behaviours and attitudes that creates a role model within the team.
· To comply with and,along with the team leader,write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on themanagement and care of Out-Patient Physiotherapy Patients
· To lead/participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Physiotherapy Out-Patient teams’ clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, clinical audit and service activity data and research and development.
· To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients/clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.
· To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.
· To support members of the Physiotherapy and assistant team to enable them to meet their objectives and development needs and assist the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner to manage their performance.
· To identify, develop, deliver and evaluate training programmes for out-patient physiotherapy which addresses the needs of the Physiotherapy service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.
· To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with peers. To share learning effectively to all appropriate members of staff.
· To participate in the Trust’s supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.
· To participate in the Trust appraisal process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.
· To undergo additional appraisal with a designated GP to evaluate service quality and identify learning needs within the FCP role.
· To provide highly specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.
· To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of student Physiotherapists to graduate levelin the role of clinical educator.
· To be responsible for the supervision and education of students from other professional groups e.g. Nurses, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists in as required.
· To make links with HEI and be instrumental in influencing undergraduate and post graduate training within the field of Physiotherapy Out-Patients.
Managerial Duties
· To support and advise on the delivery of the FCP and Physiotherapy Out-Patient service across the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
· To provide the Team Leader/Advanced Practitioner with advice/information on the planning and development of the service and to identify and evaluate potential areas for service and quality improvement, taking into account the views of service users.
· To ensure adequate staffing levels within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and reporting sickness absence to the Team Leader/practise manager, where appropriate.
· To assist the Head of Therapies/Team Leader in achieving the serviceobjectives.
· To actively participate in the professional development programme of the FCP and Physiotherapy services.
· To assist the Head of Therapies/Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist in the implementation of change as appropriate.
· To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating processes as appropriate.
· To participate in the staff recruitment process and facilitate staff retention.
· To maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.
· To initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of their job description.
· To comply with all Trust policies and procedures.
· To ensure attendance at induction and regular training updates on risk management policies and procedures.
· To ensure, through risk assessment, identification of any risks within the department or in community settings.
· To ensure accurate completion of Datix reports as appropriate. To work with the Team Leader to assist in the management of complaints and incidents.
This advert closes on Wednesday 27 Aug 2025