Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust
First Contact Physiotherapist / Advanced MSK Practitioner
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First Contact Physiotherapist / Advanced MSK Practitioner
Clinical Physiotherapist – Musculoskeletal (MSK) Bank Role
(Hybrid Bank, MSK & Primary Care, Advanced Clinical Scope)
We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled physiotherapist to join our dynamic Musculoskeletal (MSK) service in a hybrid bank role, working across MSK and Primary Care. This opportunity offers you the chance to operate at an advanced level, delivering an extended-scope physiotherapy service with a key emphasis on assessing, diagnosing, and efficiently triaging patients.
About the Role
As part of our forward-thinking, collaborative team, you will actively contribute to the development of innovative service models in MSK and Primary Care. The role engages with autonomy—providing rapid diagnosis and management directly to patients (even without prior GP referral) while leveraging strong clinical leadership and peer support.
You will work at the front door of primary care as a Bank First Contact Practitioner, employing expert clinical reasoning to swiftly determine treatment pathways for patients with undifferentiated musculoskeletal conditions. This ensures optimal redistribution of resources, reducing patient waiting times while delivering evidence-based, self-management approaches.
Key Responsibilities
Patient Assessment & Treatment
- Assess, diagnose, and determine the most effective treatment for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, independently directing patients to the best care pathway.
- Act as a first point of contact in Primary Care, making autonomous decisions on subsequent healthcare actions (diagnostic investigations, physiotherapy interventions, or GP redirection).
- Provide rapid, accurate diagnosis and management plans by interpreting imaging (e.g. X-rays, ultrasounds, MRI/CT scans) and laboratory results, while acknowledging their limitations.
- Empower patients to self-manage conditions through behavioural change, mobility enhancement, and non-pharmacological strategies to reduce medication dependency.
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Service Development & Innovation
- Participate in shaping new ways of working—collaborate with teams to develop patient-centred pathways and progressive MSK/primary care models.
- Support clinical governance initiatives, ensuring adherence to evidence-based guidelines and the seamless implementation of professional feedback loops.
Person Specification Requirements
- BSc (Hons) or equivalent qualification in Physiotherapy (State Registration essential).
- Postgraduate qualifications or expertise in MSK practice (e.g. DCPS or equivalent) is desirable.
- Experience advising patients without GP involvement, demonstrating skill in undifferentiated presentation management.
- Proven ability to interpret diagnostic tests (imaging, bloods) confidently and safely.
- Keen to deliver self-management and non-pharmacological interventions, aligning with future NHS priorities.
- Committed to innovative service models, with an enthusiasm for continuous professional development (CPDs or similar).
- Nurse / “ Bandaid and saying goodbye” mindset welcome but physiotherapy financial or diagnostic reasoning excessored preferred.
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What We Offer
Organisation Mission
Mersey Care is one of the UK’s largest NHS trusts providing physical and mental health services to over 1.4 million people in the North West. We’re commissioned services for the North West, North Wales, and the Midlands, including high-secure mental health care.
Our ethos is ‘perfect care’—driven by safety, effectiveness, equity and efficiency—and we consistently invest in our workforce to lead the future of health transformation.
Career Development
- Support to work autonomously within a collaborative culture—your ideas help shape services.
- Flexible working arrangements will be considered for this bank role.
- A progressive, people-first organisation setting the foundation for safe service evolution.
How to Apply
For further details or to arrange an informal visit, contact:
Shperti Joshi
Clinical Team Manager (MSK) | Mersey Care Email: shruti.joshi@merseycare.nhs.uk 📞 01744 857787
| Ruth Sephton |
|---|
| Consultant Physiotherapist (MSK St. Helen’s) |
| 📞 01744 857787 |
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