Durham Dales Health Federation

First Contact Physiotherapist- Teasdale

The closing date is 15 August 2025

Job summary

You will work across Teesdale PCN which included 6 GP practices, to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. You will act as a first point of contact for patients with new musculoskeletal conditions, offering evidence based treatment to help manage these conditions. You will offer expert advice to other members of the practice team, including GPs and nurses, to support high quality patient care. You will have a minimum of 5 years post graduate MSK experience in an NHS or MSK role, and will be able to work independently without direct supervision in this role.

Main duties of the job

Be the first point of contact for expert clinical assessment and diagnosis of patients presenting with MSK conditions in GP practice. This will include patients who present with a range of multiple needs and underlying pathologies/other primary conditions

Use of advanced clinical assessment tools and application of expert treatment modalities/techniques will be required

The link between primary, community and acute services, This will include provision of triage to other services and/or directly providing management and advice

Demonstrate effective communication between primary care services/GP practices and other relevant care providers. Educate others on the role of the FCP

Work independently, without daily supervision to assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for prioritising and managing a caseload of the PCNs Registered Patients

Receive patients who self-refer or from a clinical professional within the PCN, and where required refer to other health professionals within the PCN

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role, using their expert knowledge of MSK physiotherapy

Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients, providing a range of first line treatment options including self-management, referral to rehabilitation focussed services and social prescribing

About us

A group of 12 GP practices across Durham Dales got together, looking for a solution to help them provide the care patients needed, share resources and ideas, and be prepared for the challenges the NHS would face in the future.The answer they came up with was a formal collaboration between the dozen practices: the Durham Dales Health Federation. DDHFs founding principal is to work together to provide high-quality, cost effective primary healthcare services.That means providing a range of services that all GP practices in the area can use to help look after patients.We employ a range of clinical staff pharmacists, dispensers, nurses, emergency care practitioners and social prescribing link workers as well as non-clinical, administration support staff.

Benefits DDHF can offer; paid mileage. NHS pension. A car lease scheme which is transferable. We fully support training & development. Regular 1-2-1 support & appraisal. Dress Down Friday(office workers). Complimentary refreshments. Free Car Park, Health service discounts, Immunisations offered, Eye tests reimbursed

Date posted

28 July 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£45,708 to £52,308 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

U0041-25-0011

Job locations

Unit 51 Innovation Hse, Longfield Rd

South Church Enterprise Park

Bishop Auckland

Durham

DL14 6XB

Job description

Job responsibilities

Use advanced clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support patients who present with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or mental health and/or pain management needs

Request and progress referrals and investigations to facilitate the diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, considering the limitations of these investigations, interpret and act on results and feedback to aid patients diagnoses and management plans

Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, providing direct clinical/physiotherapeutic care for patients with a range of complex musculo-skeletal conditions and who may have significant other primary or secondary conditions/multi-pathologies

Be able to decide when appropriate to use advanced clinical practice clinical skills that may include:

Joint/soft tissue injection therapy

Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable situations, including when there is incomplete/contradictory information

Demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic interventions on existing conditions and treatment programmes

Ensure physiotherapy interventions are integrated and supportive of the whole treatment aims promoting a holistic approach to condition management

Be able to clinically justify referrals onto appropriate MSK pathways within the community or wider healthcare services, including referral to the appropriate stage of the pathway

Justify clinical referrals to other specialist services. This will include referral to acute and specialist services such as surgical orthopaedics, rheumatology and neurology, other AHP services, nursing services and to the primary care medical teams. This requires advanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health professionals

Recognise Red flags, serious pathology and potential underlying non- MSK related disease, that may present as MSK symptoms and refer appropriately.

When needed, accelerate the patients referral to other health professionals/ services

Work in partnership with the patient at all times to attain maximum participation in treatment programmes. This will include working with patients from diverse social background and cultures and understanding how this will affect treatment proposals and models

Use effective shared decision making with a range of first line management options (appropriate for the persons level of activation)

Assess levels of Patient Activation to confirm levels of knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage

Agree appropriate support for self-management through referral to rehabilitation focussed services and social prescribing provision

Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions

Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects of management of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other health professionals

Be accountable for decisions and actions via Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the HCPC

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review.

Partake in the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the FCP service

Actively participate in the DDHF significant event procedures.

Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance.

Prioritise work load and work efficiently in the FCP service, ensuring delivery in line with service expectations

Work collaboratively with the primary care team, including working across the PCN and other care providers to improve service delivery and meet the identified needs of the local patient population.

Work with the PCN team to support preventative strategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals

Participate in peer networking and support underpinned by active engagement in peer review and embracing evidence-based practice

Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of wider health, healthcare and social care agencies related to MSK conditions and physiotherapy.

Take responsibility for identifying and reporting any risk/ clinical governance issues in the FCP service

Represent the PCNs FCP service at internal primary care meetings

Be aware of and able to demonstrate how the FCP role contributes to the achievement of Key performance Indicators (KPIs) for MSK primary care services

Provide and receive clinical supervision and be an active provider of mentoring and coaching of specialist clinicians from a range of disciplines.

Contribute to training and supervision, some of which maybe to postgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals, including GPs in order for them to develop specialist MSK patient referral and management skills

Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external development opportunities