First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Communication and Working Relationships

a) To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with SCFT policies, professional standards of practice and service guidelines.

b) To be available to present and share information to appropriate forums relevant to the role.

c) To communicate a complexity of information to clients and carers where there may be significant barriers to understanding. This information may be distressing to clients and carers and may be associated with a high degree of emotion and conflict. This requires empathy, reassurance and negotiation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with aggressive, emotionally labile patients or those with psychological problems.

d) To maintain effective lines of communication and effective working relationships with colleagues across the service in the multidisciplinary team, in order to provide optimum patient care.

e) Initiate and maintain contacts with local clinical interest groups appropriate to the role and the Musculoskeletal Service.

f) Attend and actively participate in multi-disciplinary meetings and / or case conferences appropriate to clinical speciality.

g) To communicate effectively with colleagues in primary and secondary care to ensure optimum lines of communication between services and exchange of information regarding individual patients. This will include information regarding the results of the patient’s clinical assessment in relation to on-going clinical management.

Principle Duties & Responsibilities

• Key Responsibilities

a) To utilise highly specialist assessment skills to determine clinical diagnosis with access to investigations under Advanced Practitioner supervision and to formulate treatment plans. This involves triage and onwards referral of some patients to other specialties for opinion, investigation (following discussion with an appropriate Advanced Practitioner) or intervention. This is performed independently or in liaison with an Advanced Practitioner.

b) To initiate medical investigations where appropriate (eg blood tests, x-rays, MRI) under the supervision of an Advanced Practitioner.

c) To discuss the results of clinical investigations with an Advanced Practitioner with the appropriate consultant and follow up the results of these investigations where necessary and communicate the results to the patient when appropriate, arranging further management as necessary.

d) To treat and manage patients appropriately with a range of options including; advice for GP, referring patients onto an Advanced Practitioner for an expert opinion, referring to physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, community services or follow up appointment in Interface clinics as necessary. This requires the analyses of complex information and the evaluation of a range of options, and negotiation with other members of musculoskeletal team regarding ongoing management to provide the most appropriate pathway of care for the patient.

e) To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of a range of musculoskeletal conditions.

f) To demonstrate specialist physical skills inclusive of dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills to carry out assessment and intervention including manual techniques and therapeutic handling.

g) Take a lead role in the comprehensive assessment of patients presenting with complex acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions utilising advanced practice and clinical reasoning skills.

h) Determine diagnosis where possible and formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using a wide range of treatment skills/options to formulate a specialised and progressive programme of care.

i) Participate in benchmarking and audit activities as an essential part of developing clinical effectiveness, monitoring professional standards and lead by example in the process of developing, implementing and maintaining clinical standards within area.

Main Tasks

• Clinical

a) The post holder will participate in triaging, screening and prioritising referrals made to the MSK service (including physiotherapy). In conjunction with other colleagues within the MSK service, the post holder will determine the appropriate clinical pathway for these patients.

b) To discuss the management plan with patients using a Shared Decision Making approach to care.

c) To support research and to contribute to the future development of the musculoskeletal service as a whole.

d) The post holder will assist in the planning, co-ordinating and development of the service and will participate in evaluating newly implemented service plans.

e) The post holder will actively participate in the MSK and physiotherapy clinical network including multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, education and sessions.

f) The postholder will work across both MSK interface clinics and physiotherapy providing rehabilitative expertise and creating a more sustainable specialist workforce.

• Quality/Clinical Governance

a) To have a sound knowledge of the principles of clinical governance and understand the benefits to patients and staff.

b) To understand the clinical governance structure within the organisation and how you may be involved.

c) To participate in clinical governance activities within the service and where applicable across organisational boundaries.

d) To ensure that you continuously look for ways to improve the quality of the service or care you provide to patients or other services/departments, where appropriate.

e) To explore ways to involve and consult with patients, public and carers when developing or evaluating services or the care you provide, where appropriate.

f) To ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all times and that you do not access patient related information (either electronic or paper based) which you do not need during the course of your work.

• Management

a) To contribute to the development, co-ordination and delivery of the service via membership of the multi-disciplinary team.

b) To participate and contribute to the planning and organisation of clinical and service based activity inclusive of the contextual development of government policy as it pertains to the specialism.

c) To determine priorities for own work, balancing other patient related and professional demands.

d) To review policies and procedures and clinical guidelines to ensure they are up to date, as required. This will involve pathways and policies and involvement in multi-disciplinary policy review.

• Teaching and Development

a) To be aware of the level of evidence base pertaining to practice and to always keep up to date with research in order to maintain and develop practice in line with proven methods of care.

b) To continually evaluate practice individually and within the specialist team through relevant audit of professional practices and professional standards.

c) To be aware of research methodology and to participate in research and development activity within the service, linking with regional and national initiatives pertaining to research and development.

d) To adopt and implement the use of outcome measures to audit the clinical effectiveness of the service and facilitate service development.

e) Maintain professional registration and competency to practice at an advanced level, taking responsibility for ensuring own knowledge and skills are up to date by engaging in and directing continuous professional development and lifelong learning, including the maintenance of a CPD portfolio which reflects the development of knowledge and skills.

f) To provide education and training to more junior clinical staff to support their on-going clinical reasoning development and to provide education to referrers via the triage and feedback mechanism.

• Staff Management

a) To provide specialist advice to clinical colleagues and to educate others at post graduate level.

b) To provide specialist advice and training to other health professionals when required and to work closely with the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies.

c) To be responsible for the supervision and performance management of more junior staff or students. This will include the use of formal appraisal and clinical supervision documentation.

Experience

Essential

• Supervisory skills
• Audit / evaluation experience
• 5 years post graduate experience with at least 3 years experience in MSK and/ or equivalent

Desirable

• Experience at band 6/7
• Experience as FCP
• Contributing to clinical education of other physiotherapists, students etc
• Experience of student supervision
• Experience working alongside medical Consultants
• Experience of participating in research
• Experience of supporting staff members and active performance management

Skills

Essential

• Comprehensive evidence of relevant lifelong learning and post
• graduate training
• Excellent communication skills including talking and listening as well as being aware of non-verbal communication i.e. motivational interviewing
• Able to communicate with a range of patients with a range of communication abilities
• IT literate, able to use internet and database
• Evidence of ability to show initiative and be proactive
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Self-directed learning
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to pass on skills / knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Critical appraisal
• Ability to manage own case load
• Commitment, motivation and adaptability
• Clear logical communication skills
• Ability to negotiate compromises and resolve conflict
• Ability to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to contribute to the service developments in MSK

Desirable

• Evidence of participation in research / audit

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent advanced knowledge of musculoskeletal conditions
• Understanding of different treatments / therapists for musculoskeletal pain
• Knowledge of current NHS issues

Desirable

• Advance knowledge of professional practice and research evidence

Other

Essential

• Flexibility
• Physically able to undertake work described and manage a demanding workload
• Vehicle access for travelling

Qualifications

Essential

• Health Professions Council registration
• Evidence of recognised relevant post-graduate course/ CPD

Desirable

• Evidence of relevant MSK post graduate level qualification e.g. MSc, SOM, MACP
• Foundation management training e.g. supervision, appraisal skills
• MSc (MSK) qualification with evidence of training in research methods
• Relevant validated clinical courses
• Relevant teaching qualification
• Evidence of teaching at a multi- professional level

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).