First Contact Physiotherapist- Teasdale

You will work across Teesdale PCN which included 6 GP practices, to support the diagnosis and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal conditions. You will act as a first point of contact for patients with new musculoskeletal conditions, offering evidence based treatment to help manage these conditions. You will offer expert advice to other members of the practice team, including GPs and nurses, to support high quality patient care. You will have a minimum of 5 years post graduate MSK experience in an NHS or MSK role, and will be able to work independently without direct supervision in this role.

Job description

Use advanced clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support patients who present with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or mental health and/or pain management needs

Request and progress referrals and investigations to facilitate the diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, considering the limitations of these investigations, interpret and act on results and feedback to aid patients diagnoses and management plans

Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, providing direct clinical/physiotherapeutic care for patients with a range of complex musculo-skeletal conditions and who may have significant other primary or secondary conditions/multi-pathologies

Be able to decide when appropriate to use advanced clinical practice clinical skills that may include:

Joint/soft tissue injection therapy

Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable situations, including when there is incomplete/contradictory information

Demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic interventions on existing conditions and treatment programmes

Ensure physiotherapy interventions are integrated and supportive of the whole treatment aims promoting a holistic approach to condition management

Be able to clinically justify referrals onto appropriate MSK pathways within the community or wider healthcare services, including referral to the appropriate stage of the pathway

Justify clinical referrals to other specialist services. This will include referral to acute and specialist services such as surgical orthopaedics, rheumatology and neurology, other AHP services, nursing services and to the primary care medical teams. This requires advanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health professionals

Recognise Red flags, serious pathology and potential underlying non- MSK related disease, that may present as MSK symptoms and refer appropriately.

When needed, accelerate the patients referral to other health professionals/ services

Work in partnership with the patient at all times to attain maximum participation in treatment programmes. This will include working with patients from diverse social background and cultures and understanding how this will affect treatment proposals and models

Use effective shared decision making with a range of first line management options (appropriate for the persons level of activation)

Assess levels of Patient Activation to confirm levels of knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage

Agree appropriate support for self-management through referral to rehabilitation focussed services and social prescribing provision

Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions

Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects of management of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other health professionals

Be accountable for decisions and actions via Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the HCPC

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review.

Partake in the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the FCP service

Actively participate in the DDHF significant event procedures.

Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance.

Prioritise work load and work efficiently in the FCP service, ensuring delivery in line with service expectations

Work collaboratively with the primary care team, including working across the PCN and other care providers to improve service delivery and meet the identified needs of the local patient population.

Work with the PCN team to support preventative strategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals

Participate in peer networking and support underpinned by active engagement in peer review and embracing evidence-based practice

Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of wider health, healthcare and social care agencies related to MSK conditions and physiotherapy.

Take responsibility for identifying and reporting any risk/ clinical governance issues in the FCP service

Represent the PCNs FCP service at internal primary care meetings

Be aware of and able to demonstrate how the FCP role contributes to the achievement of Key performance Indicators (KPIs) for MSK primary care services

Provide and receive clinical supervision and be an active provider of mentoring and coaching of specialist clinicians from a range of disciplines.

Contribute to training and supervision, some of which maybe to postgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals, including GPs in order for them to develop specialist MSK patient referral and management skills

Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external development opportunities

Person specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience in applying the physiotherapy process to include MSK assessment, interpretation, individual care planning, motivation, monitoring and evaluation of highly specialized MSK treatment
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft and GPIT systems
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders/ providing physiotherapy within the MSK pathway
• Ability to integrate latest evidence based practice into services
• Able to understand and analyse complex issues and balance competing priorities in order to make difficult clinical decisions.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex/ often incomplete information, pre-empt and evaluate issues and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues.
• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• Ability to evidence a sound understanding of the NHS principles and values

Desirable

• Working towards Advanced clinical practitioner status
• Evidence of previous FCP experience and working inline with FCP roadmap
• Strong knowledge of cognitive behavioural and motivational interviewing skills
• Injection Therapy Post graduate Certificate
• Experience of working within a primary care/ GP surgery setting
• Evidence of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
• Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills
• Evidence of inspiring and motivating teams with the ability to communicate passionately, effectively.
• Ability to negotiate effectively within the MDT or across a range of services/providers.

Other

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years post graduate MSK experience

Desirable

• High degree of personal credibility, emotional intelligence, patience and flexibility
• Ability to cope with unpredictable situations
• Confident in facilitating and challenging others

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc degree in Physiotherapy
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• HEE FC Primary care roadmap training completed / working towards advanced level 7 Practice [within the ACP framework]

Desirable

• MSc post graduate degree in Physiotherapy
• Completed or working towards Injection Therapy qualification

About the employer

A group of 12 GP practices across Durham Dales got together, looking for a solution to help them provide the care patients needed, share resources and ideas, and be prepared for the challenges the NHS would face in the future.The answer they came up with was a formal collaboration between the dozen practices: the Durham Dales Health Federation. DDHFs founding principal is to work together to provide high-quality, cost effective primary healthcare services.That means providing a range of services that all GP practices in the area can use to help look after patients.We employ a range of clinical staff pharmacists, dispensers, nurses, emergency care practitioners and social prescribing link workers as well as non-clinical, administration support staff.

Benefits DDHF can offer; paid mileage. NHS pension. A car lease scheme which is transferable. We fully support training & development. Regular 1-2-1 support & appraisal. Dress Down Friday(office workers). Complimentary refreshments. Free Car Park, Health service discounts, Immunisations offered, Eye tests reimbursed