Outpatient MSK Physiotherapist Employment Contract UK

Responsibilities reflected in the contract

• Assess musculoskeletal pain and functional limitation.
• Identify red flags and diagnostic uncertainty.
• Agree individual rehabilitation and self-management plans.
• Deliver manual or exercise interventions within competence.
• Record clinical reasoning, consent and outcomes.
• Refer or escalate when progress or presentation requires it.

A realistic working scenario

Back pain history includes unexplained systemic symptoms. The physio stops routine treatment and uses the urgent medical pathway.

Outputs to agree

• reasoned MSK assessments
• individual treatment plans
• measured progress and referral

Records and evidence

• History and examination.
• Clinical reasoning.
• Treatment and exercise.
• Outcome and safety-netting.
• Clinical notes.
• Assessment records.

Reporting relationship

Typically reports to Clinical Lead, Therapy Lead, Service Manager or Practice Manager. Confirm the employer's actual reporting structure in the builder.

Authority and escalation

• The physio manages MSK conditions within competence; suspected serious disease and interventions outside scope require referral.
• Obtain approval before committing expenditure, changing contractual commitments or making regulated or staffing decisions outside the assigned role.

Tools and systems

• Clinical systems.
• Patient record systems.
• Therapy or diagnostic equipment where authorised.
• Secure clinical communication tools.
• Incident reporting systems.

Workplace context

• Clinic, therapy, diagnostic, community or approved patient-facing areas.

Training and certification

• Complete employer-required safeguarding training.
• Complete employer-required health and safety training.

Contract priorities

• caseload and appointment time
• red-flag screening
• manual work
• referral pathways

Information the employer should prepare

• the referral sources and patient groups
• the clinic sites and appointment durations
• the treatment techniques and equipment authorised
• the imaging and specialist referral pathways
• the outcome and discharge expectations
• the caseload, supervision and escalation arrangements