Before you start applying for jobs, it's important that you understand the healthcare system in which you plan to work and the grading system within the NHS.
Understanding the UK health system
The UK has a national health service (NHS), which means that access to services is based on clinical need rather than ability to pay. It is publicly funded, meaning paid for via the tax system and aspires to be available to all.
However, since it began in 1948 healthcare has come a long way; people live longer, with more co-morbidities, research and new technology means that new funding is always needed to ensure the best care can be offered to all.
The nation has struggled to agree on the best way to pay for and deliver a comprehensive service. As a result, waiting times for NHS investigations and treatments have grown significantly in recent years.
Many people have sought to take our private medical insurance or seek to pay privately when they require healthcare to prevent delays in treatment and enable them to get back to work or have a better quality of life. The number of private physiotherapy clinics and hospitals has therefore increased in recent years.
NHS health care services are devolved, meaning that the systems differ in each of the four home countries; England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You must understand the healthcare system in which you plan to work.
- Kings Fund Course on understanding the NHS
- European Health Observatory: UK Health System
- World Physiotherapy
Understanding the NHS grading system and roles
You must understand the NHS pay bands and grading system so that you know what roles your experience allows you to apply for.
The NHS banding system categorises roles based on the required level of experience, education, and responsibilities. It determines the pay, benefits, and opportunities for professional development for physiotherapists working in the UK.
Band 5 is the entry-level position and Band 9 is the most senior. Almost all qualified physiotherapists will start at Band 5 and can move up the bands by furthering their skills and experiences in the workplace. Those in higher bands have more responsibilities but are also paid more.
There is variation across the UK as to what level each band is but broadly speaking, they can be described as:
- Band 5: Entry level
- Band 6: Experienced physiotherapist
- Band 7: Advanced practice level
- Band 8: Consultant Level
First Contact Practitioners (FCP)
First Contact Practitioner physiotherapists work in GP practices seeing patients with musculoskeletal conditions, who would in the past have been seen initially by the GP. They ensure timely access to diagnosis, early management and onward referral if necessary.
These roles work at an advanced level, and it is essential for those employed to deliver them fully understand the system and the pathways in which they are working.
Regardless of experience, this takes a significant level of upskilling and training and is extremely difficult if you have not worked in this system before.
The CSP does not encourage those with no previous experience of working in the UK health system to apply for such roles