Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner/First Contact Practitioner (FCP)

NHS; Stockton-on-Tees; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job description

Job summary

Advert may close early if sufficient volume of applications is reached

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner to join our iMSK team at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust. As a Band 7 practitioner, you will be responsible for managing an independent caseload, providing specialist assessment, treatment, and diagnostic techniques for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, including complex physical, psychological, and chronic presentations. You will play a key role in patient prioritisation, making appropriate referrals, and ensuring high-quality care. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams and provide expert musculoskeletal advice to healthcare professionals across the Trust. The post-holder will also contribute to clinical education through supervision and mentoring of staff and students. Additionally, you will lead on clinical audits and may have opportunities to engage in research activities. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your expertise, contribute to service development, and make a positive impact on patient outcomes in a dynamic and supportive environment.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will demonstrate significantly skilled and knowledgeable MSK experience and exemplary professionalism as part of the iMSK team. They will provide highly skilled and specialist assessment, treatment and diagnostic techniques within the scope of Physiotherapy and First Contact Practitioner.

They will hold an independent caseload, who may have complex physical, psychological and chronic presentations and needs. Prioritise patients and make onward referrals/escalate care to other healthcare professionals, some of which may be urgent, as appropriate. Please see person specification for full details.

About us

South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust now form University Hospitals Tees and as such you may be required to work at any site across both Trusts.

At North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, our main priority is, and always will be, to provide safe and high-quality care to our patients every day; the kind of care we would want for ourselves and our loved ones. We want our organisation to be the best place to work with the right staff, in the right roles, at the right time, to ensure we deliver exceptional patient care and experience.

We will support staff through providing an inclusive and supportive workplace with health and well-being initiatives, staff benefits and opportunities for personal and professional development. Staff recognition is very important to us; as well as performance reviews and appraisals, we recognise staff through Star and Team of the month, colleague recognition - a note of thanks, Managers Awards, Shining Stars and Service Awards.

We support the Making Every Contact Count approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

We recruit for values and "Together we are North Tees & Hartlepool".

Date posted: 24 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 a year pro rata per annum

Contract: Fixed term

Duration: 12 months

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 345-COM7135028-A

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be required to develop effective communication and good working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, outside agencies, families and carers to maximise patient care and management.

To be able to adapt and use multiple communication strategies to maximise patient engagement and outcome in line with the principles of shared decision making, to ensure understanding of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options as well as maximising outcomes when there are barriers to understanding or engagement (e.g. complex conditions or multiple pathologies including those emotional, physical and psychological conditions such as deafness, dysphasia).

To participate in the effective communication of complex, highly sensitive and emotional information to patients, which requires excellent interpersonal, negotiation counselling skills. This includes information regarding diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options, benefits, risks and potential complications, and rehabilitation.

To provide, receive and communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable format to patients, carers and other staff occasionally including information that may be distressing or unwanted.

To use communication effectively to implement change in relation to clinical standards, professional guidance and national pathways to enhance patient care.

To organise and participate with colleagues in the specialist and wider iMSK team, contributing to the enhancement of the service and role modelling professionalism within the team, and wider teams within and external to the Trust.

To make judgements on a range of complex musculoskeletal problems which require investigation, analysis and assessment.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form a diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of pathologies within scope of practice and to offer information and choice on the most appropriate intervention.

To escalate care to senior clinician where required.

To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients including those with complex presentation. This will include using advanced investigative and analytical clinical skills and reasoning to formulate individualised treatment plan, utilising a wide range of evidence-based treatment skills and options.

To appropriately identify and act in the case of possible urgent red flag presentations to appropriate specialist teams /services as required.

To be responsible for a caseload of complex and highly complex patients within the clinical pathway, working without direct supervision.

To plan, organise and deliver highly specialist care to these patients using advanced clinical reasoning, reflection and analysis to inform practice.

To prioritise own clinical caseload effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical and other priorities and use of time.

Provide day to day support to other members of the team/ as requested by the team lead.

Provide day to day clinical support regarding patient management of caseloads for other members of the team as required.

To maintain own professional development, by keeping abreast of new trends, developments and research and incorporating them as necessary into own work. This will involve personal study, and may include attendance at special interest groups, training course and other CPD opportunities as appropriate and applicable to the post, trust needs, and budgetary constraints.

To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings.

Apply personal effectiveness skills in terms of time management, prioritisation, resource management, self-motivation and teamwork.

To participate in the planning and delivery of in-service training.

To develop clinical practice along best practice guidelines and ensure the service reflects the best elements of what is available nationally.

To demonstrate highly developed physical skills including a high degree of precision dexterity, co-ordination, and sensory skills for assessment and application of specialist treatments.

To be able to work in an environment where frequent moderate physical effort is required for several short or longer periods when moving or manoeuvring patients or equipment.

This role involves frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular basis e.g. bodily fluids, and occupational exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

To be proficient with IT and keyboard skills.

To undertake comprehensive assessment of the patients clinical condition to include diagnosis of presenting problems and subsequent treatment needs of patients including those with highly complex presentations.

To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. This will include screening for red flags, signs of serious pathology and arranging appropriate follow-up.

To develop and deliver specialist personalised treatment programmes for patients, based on knowledge of evidence-based practice, available treatment options, and patient goals, using highly advanced clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide range of available treatments following the principles of shared decision making.

To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be actively involved in the provision of health education and advice to patients, relatives, and carers, and to participate in health training where appropriate.

Create a physical and psychological environment conducive to providing optimum patient care.

Evaluate and monitor patient progress adjusting treatment programmes accordingly ensuring treatment is carried out to the highest possible standard and in the most appropriate and effective way for the individual patient.

To motivate and encourage patients active participation in all aspects of their management.

Person Specification

Essential

• Physiotherapy Degree
• HCPC Registration
• Evidence of Ongoing Professional Development
• Broad Post-Graduate Experience
• Considerable advanced experience of complex musculoskeletal disorders evidenced in professional portfolio
• Experience of Multi-disciplinary working

Desirable

• Completion of stage one of the FCP Roadmap
• To have completed or be working towards stage 2 of the FCP Roadmap

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer name: North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Address: North Tees and Hartlepool Foundation Trust (Cross site), Hardwick Road, Stockton-on-Tees, TS19 8PE

Employer's website: https://www.nth.nhs.uk/