First Contact Physiotherapist

Tynemouth Medical Practice; London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Tynemouth Medical Practice is seeking an enthusiastic Advanced Physiotherapist to join our MSK team in primary care. The post holder will lead MSK assessment, diagnosis, and management, directing patient pathways and signposting within the practice.

They will work autonomously with advanced clinical reasoning, supervise junior staff, and contribute to service development and training within the GP network.

Qualifications

• BSc degree in Physiotherapy and HCPC registration.
• Can demonstrate Level 7 capability in MSK practice or equivalent.
• MSc degree in Physiotherapy is desirable.
• Supplementary Prescribing qualification completed or in progress.

Responsibilities

• Provide first point of MSK assessment, diagnosis and management options.
• Apply advanced clinical reasoning for complex MSK cases.
• Order and interpret diagnostic tests (e.g., X-ray, MRI, ultrasound) and tests as needed.
• Lead and manage patient journeys within the MSK pathway and act as focal point within primary care.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Leadership

NHS values

Education

BSc Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Level 7 ACP capability

MSc Physiotherapy

Supplementary Prescribing

Tools

GPIT systems

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic andmotivated Advanced Physiotherapist to join our team.

The first contact physiotherapist role supports the deliveryof MSK assessment and signposting within primary care, working closely with the wider clinical team to help us deliver the highest standards of care for our patients.

Would you like to be part of our supportive, enthusiastic and proactive team?

Main duties of the job

The post holder will bethe first point of contact for expert clinical assessment and diagnosis ofpatients presenting with MSK conditions in the practice. They will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently, and effectively.

They will direct the care pathway for their patients autonomously, including assessment and diagnostics, provision of diagnosis, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated.

They should understand indications for, and limitations of, relevant MSK investigations, and will be confident in explaining their use and implications to patients.

About us

We are a large training practice based in a comfortable purposebuilt premises only minutes away from Tottenham Hale and Seven Sistersstations.

We are passionate about improving outcomes for patients withmusculoskeletal conditions to improve their physical and mental health.

We provide a weekly chair-based exercise class through the PCN atthe local Tottenham leisure centre with a fitness instructor, to helpdeconditioned patients develop baseline mobility and strength to improve theirconditions and reduce their risk of falls with aging.

Our aim is to provide quality services in a caring and friendlyenvironment and offer a supportive working environment to all members of ourteam.

We are keen to support training and personal development and havea GP with an MSc in Sports Medicine able to perform steroid injections.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• - To be the first point of clinical contact for patientspresenting with MSK conditions or symptoms, providing the patient with theprimary assessment, diagnosis and management options for their condition.
• - Use advance clinical practice skills and clinicalreasoning to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support patientswho present with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologiesand/or mental health and/or pain management needs.
• - Independently request diagnostic tests including routineand specialist x-rays, MRI imaging, ultrasound scans and blood and otherpathology tests. Interpret the results alongside traditional physiotherapeuticassessment techniques and non-clinical information to aid clinical diagnosisand decisions on potential treatment options/clinical interventions.
• - Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner,providing direct clinical/physiotherapeutic care for patients with a range ofcomplex musculo-skeletal conditions and who may have significant other primaryor secondary conditions/multipathologies.

Non-medical prescribing

• - Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoningskills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictablesituations, including when there is incomplete/contradictory information.
• - To be able to work autonomously as a lone practitioner.
• - Be able to demonstrate understanding of the impact ofphysiotherapeutic interventions on existing conditions and treatment programmese.g. podiatric treatment, drug therapies, etc. Ensuring physiotherapyinterventions are integrated and supportive of the whole treatment aimspromoting a holistic approach to condition management.
• - Be able to clinically justify referral onto appropriateMSK pathways within the community or wider healthcare services. Includingreferral to the appropriate stage of the pathway and the use of socialprescribing
• - For patients managed as part of own caseload take the leadfor the management of the patients journey on their care pathway, acting as thelink for the patient between primary care and other services/professionals.
• - Be able to justify clinically referrals to otherspecialist services. This will include referral to acute and specialistservices such as surgical orthopaedics, rheumatology and neurology, other AHPservices, nursing services and to the primary care medical teams. This requiresadvanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health professionals.
• - An ability to recognise potential underlying non-MSKrelated disease and conditions that present as MSK symptoms and to referappropriately. When needed accelerate the patients referral to other healthprofessionals/services.
• - Work in partnership with the patient at all times toattain maximum participation in treatment programmes. This will include workingwith patients from diverse social background and cultures and understanding howthis will affect treatment proposals and models.
• - Develop integrated and tailored care programmes inpartnership with patients:
• - Use effective shared decision making with a range of firstline management options (appropriate for the persons level of activation)
• - Assess levels of Patient Activation to confirm levels ofknowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage
• - Agree appropriate support for self-management throughreferral to rehabilitation focused services and social prescribing provision.
• - Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise inthe management of musculoskeletal conditions and provide a specialist advisoryservice to patients, specialist physiotherapists other specialist healthcareprofessionals and members of the primary care team. Including advising GPs onmanagement of MSK conditions.
• - Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects ofmanagement of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other healthprofessionals.
• - Continually review and develop specialist clinical anddiagnostic skills in response to service need.
• - Be accountable for own decisions and actions via HCPCregistration and professional standards. Service/ProfessionalLeadership/Consultancy

Service/ProfessionalLeadership/Consultancy

• - Plan and organise the FCP service efficiently, ensuringdelivery in-line with service expectations.
• - Integrate the FCP role into the wider primary care team,proactively working with the primary care team to build robust relationshipsand integrate working practices. Attending primary care strategic and practicelevel meetings to represent FCP/physiotherapy when appropriate.
• - Contribute to the development of referral guidelines forMSK and MSK related conditions from primary care to other NHS services thatwill direct referrals to other primary care services, community, secondary andtertiary [specialist] services.
• - Work with other specialists to support the development ofMSK pathways across the primary care network. This may include contributing topathways that are not primary MSK pathways, but which have MSK interventionsalong the pathway.
• - Work with the primary care team to support preventativestrategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals.
• - Participate in peer networking and support underpinned byactive 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 andphysiotherapy.
• - Contribute to organisational and service policies thatsupport the maintenance of good clinical governance, manage risk and ensurepatient safety is paramount. Be responsible for identifying and reporting anyrisk/clinical governance issues in the FCP service.
• - Contribute to monitoring and review of service standardsfor MSK primary care services. Including established clinical, professional andservice standards.
• - Be aware of and able to demonstrate how the FCP rolecontributes to the achievement of key performance indicators [KPIs] for MSKprimary care services. Identifying where own FCP role is supporting delivery ofKPIs.
• - Work within the FCP service, contributing to thedevelopment of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and related services across thehealthcare economy.
• - Participate in/support investigations into complaints andclinical errors/incidents when appropriate.

Education/Workforce Development

• - Be responsible for leading and developing education andtraining of specialist physiotherapists up-to post graduate level to supportthe development of advanced clinical practice skills and knowledge within thewider physiotherapy workforce.
• - Provide training and supervision, some of which maybe topostgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals, including GPs inorder for them to develop specialist MSK patient referral and managementskills.
• - Provide and receive clinical supervision and be an activeprovider of mentoring and coaching of specialist clinicians from a range ofdisciplines.
• - Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinicalpractice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and externaldevelopment opportunities.

Research and Evaluation

• - To initiate, design and evaluate an audit strategy andtools to evaluate the effectiveness of the FCP MSK services in collaborationwith the primary care MDT.
• - Promote and lead the integration of evidence-basedpractice and national guidelines into own and local FCP MSK service practice.Use expert knowledge of evidence- based guidelines and national frameworks toinfluence the development of FCP services within the primary care team
• - Lead or participate in research and MDT research projectsas appropriate. This may include participation in cross organisational researchand audit programmes.
• - Present and disseminate research and clinical auditfindings to the primary care team. Providing analysis of local and nationaldata sets to illustrate service improvements and to promote service change.
• - To maintain and up-date audit and data derived from arange of data sets in order provide statistical reports on outcome measures andachievement of KPIs for a range of audiences.
• - Use audit and research to develop and improve serviceguidelines, care protocols, delivery of triage services and referral pathways.Communication/Building Networks

Communication/Building Networks

• - Promote and explain the FCP role and what it can deliverto a range of audiences including patient groups, individual patients and otherprimary care team members, including GPs.
• - Communicate effectively and appropriately with patientsand their carers. This will include explaining the diagnosis, prognosis andtreatment choices available to manage multi-pathology and complex conditions.It will also involve communicating limitations on treatment outcomes andmanaging expectations of patients with chronic or life limiting conditions.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• - BSc degree in Physiotherapy
• - Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• - Can demonstrate working at Level 7 [within the ACP framework] capability in MSK related areas of practice or equivalent (such as advanced assessment diagnosis and treatment)
• - MSc degree in Physiotherapy
• - Completed or working towards a Supplementary Prescribing qualification

Experience

• Knowledge
• - Experience in applying the physiotherapy process to include MSK assessment, interpretation, individual care planning, motivation, monitoring and evaluation of highly specialized MSK treatment
• - Working knowledge of Microsoft and GPIT systems, alongside prescribing data monitoring systems
• - Experience of contributing to and service delivery/evolving evidence led practice and delivery in a changing environment
• - Ability to demonstrate leadership when introducing change.
• Analytical skills
• - Able to understand and analyse complex issues and balance competing priorities in order to make difficult clinical decisions.
• - Support individual patient care by an ability to analyse and interpret complex clinical/ often incomplete information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend and appropriate course of action to address the issues
• Knowledge
• - Working towards advanced clinical practitioner status
• - Previous supervisory experience
• - Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders
• - Cognitive behavioural and motivational interviewing approaches / skills
• Analytical skills
• - Experience of working within a primary care setting
• - Evidence of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
• - Independent thinker with demonstrated good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills

Skills

• - Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• - Ability to evidence a sound understanding of the NHS principles and values
• - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence and persuade others articulating a balanced view and able to constructively question information
• Personal attributes & abilities
• - Ability to co-ordinate and prioritise workloads able to multi-task as well as be self-disciplined and highly motivated
• - Demonstrates a flexible approach in order to ensure patient care is delivered
• - 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.
• Personal attributes & abilities
• - High degree of personal credibility, emotional intelligence, patience and flexibility
• - Ability to cope with unpredictable situations
• - Confident in facilitating and challenging others

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.