First Contact Physiotherapist, Band 7

Join our Musculoskeletal (MSK) service as an MSK First Contact Practitioner Physiotherapist based within Healthwest PCN. You’ll play a key role in delivering expert care at the first point of contact within Primary Care, working closely with GP teams to assess and support patients with musculoskeletal conditions. As part of the wider Sirona MSK service across Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire - including physiotherapy, podiatry, and orthopaedic interface teams, you’ll provide high-quality, patient-centred care within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment. Clinics are delivered Monday to Friday between 8am–8pm, with some weekend sessions supporting improved access services.

Main duties of the job:

• Provide expert assessment and management for patients presenting with musculoskeletal conditions within Primary Care.
• Work closely with GP teams and the wider BNSSG MSK service, using advanced clinical reasoning, differential diagnosis, and skilled physical assessment.
• Assess patients via self-referral and Primary Care referral pathways, developing personalised management plans through shared decision making.
• Recognise when further investigations or specialist referrals are required, while developing competency in the referral and interpretation of diagnostic investigations including imaging, blood tests, and diagnostic injections.
• Support patients with treatment choices, self-management, and long-term condition management.
• Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement, mentorship, and pathway evaluation across the PCN and wider Sirona MSK service.

We are looking for a clinician with excellent communication, strong clinical reasoning skills, and a commitment to high-quality patient-centred care within a multidisciplinary environment.

Working for our organisation:

Ever dreamt about a career that sparks excitement and fosters your professional growth? Picture yourself waking up eager to make a real difference in our community, surrounded by teams who value your unique ideas. We are Sirona care & health – England’s largest provider of Adult’s and Children’s Community Services and we’d love for you to join us in Bristol, North Somerset or South Gloucestershire. Agenda for Change Salary, full NHS benefits, 27+ days’ annual leave, and participation in the NHS Pension Scheme – just a glimpse of the benefits you’ll receive.

We welcome and encourage all applicants. We are committed to having a workforce that reflects the communities we support and are proactively seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce. We know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong.

Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

• Highly developed MSK clinical reasoning, assessment, and differential diagnosis skills across spinal and peripheral conditions.
• Experience managing complex MSK patients within Primary Care and multidisciplinary pathways.
• Ability to recognise red flags, manage clinical risk, and work within professional scope of practice.
• Excellent communication, patient education, and report-writing skills, including managing sensitive or challenging situations.
• Experience teaching, mentoring, supervising, or supporting the development of colleagues and students.
• Experience contributing to service improvement, audit, quality assurance, or pathway development.
• Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
• Masters Level/Level 7 qualification or equivalent postgraduate training.
• Experience requesting and interpreting diagnostic investigations such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, or blood tests.
• Experience referring into specialist pathways including orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, or pain services.
• Leadership or management training and experience supporting service or workforce development.
• Experience contributing to research, clinical trials, pathway redesign, or publication of audit/research findings.
• Experience in operational or line management responsibilities within MSK services.
• Degree or Diploma in Physiotherapy with current HCPC registration.
• Non-medical prescriber.