First Contact Musculoskeletal Practice

This module explores the key knowledge and skills required to achieve competence as a First Contact Musculoskeletal Practitioner. It is suitable for clinicians already working in First Contact Practitioner (FCP) roles within Primary Care and for those clinicians working towards a future FCP role.

The module has been developed and mapped to the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes required to meet Stage 1 of the of the 'First Contact Practitioners and Advanced Practitioners in Primary Care: (Musculoskeletal) A Roadmap to Practice' (.PDF), by Health Education England.

The module has been designed to be as accessible as possible to busy musculoskeletal clinicians. It is run remotely using an online learning platform for independent study and a digital platform for live teaching sessions.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this module you are expected to be able to:

• Demonstrate an advanced level of patient assessment, clinical reasoning and decision making relevant to a musculoskeletal first contact role, including choice of appropriate investigations, treatment, care planning (including onward referral as appropriate).
• Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the role and application of the wider determinants of health within a musculoskeletal first contact role, including return to work, health promotion, prevention & lifestyle interventions, social prescribing, self-management and behaviour change.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on your personal professional, developmental and educational needs in relation to embarking on or fulfilling a musculoskeletal first contact role.
• Demonstrate an advanced level of communication and person-centred care relevant to a musculoskeletal first contact role.
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate the role of evidence based practice and service development within a musculoskeletal first contact role, including approaches to service design, planning, and measurement of value and impact within primary care.

Our expert staff

The lead tutors for this module are Caroline Kerry and Dr Sue Innes.

Other external tutors including a rheumatologist and clinicians working in First Contact Roles.

It is expected that enrolling clinicians will already have clinical expertise in the field of musculoskeletal health and regular exposure to a musculoskeletal patient caseload.

Applicants should have a relevant first degree OR a relevant professional experience or qualifications that demonstrates ability to study at Level 7, as well as:

• A minimum of 5 years post-registration experience.
• Current Registration with the relevant UK or equivalent professional body.

Module Outline

This module commences with four weeks of learning via our online learning platform, Moodle. This online content can be completed remotely in evenings, weekends, or any time convenient for you in each given week, thus minimising disruption to clinical time. Students are expected to dedicate the equivalent of one day a week in time each week to complete this content.

This is followed by three subsequent consecutive days of teaching delivered live, but remotely via a digital platform.

Teaching and content is aligned with Domains A-D in the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes section of the Roadmap for FCPs, covering the following topics:

• A. Personalised Approaches.
• B. Assessment, Investigation and Diagnosis.
• C. Condition Management, Interventions and Prevention.
• D. Service and Professional Development.

Teaching methods include presentations, case studies, group work, peer discussion. External expert clinicians will be invited to teach and lead some of the taught sessions.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision for you. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities as described on our website. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to significant disruption, or in response to COVID-19, we’ll let our applicants and students know as soon as possible.

Assessment strategy

Assessment for this module is made up of two components:

1. An evidence-based Portfolio developed in response to a personal development plan, aligned and mapped to the Knowledge, Skills and Attributes outlined in the FCP Roadmap (50% weighting). This component is designed to meet Learning Outcomes 1, 3, 4 and 5.
2. An evidence-based Oral Case Presentation of one patient you have assessment and managed using a first contact approach (50% weighting). This component is designed to meet Learning Outcomes 1 and 2.

This module is currently funded by NHSEngland for eligible students.

• Fees for 2024-25 (.PDF).

If you have any questions about the module fees please email msk@essex.ac.uk.

In the first instance approach your Education Liaison Manager to see if funding can be secured via the organisation you are working for.

To apply for an individual module please complete the module application form (.docx) and email to msk@essex.ac.uk for the attention of Sophie Young.