AddressBand 7 Physiotherapist & First Contact Practitioner JOB TITLE:Band 7 Physiotherapist & First Contact Practitioner RESPONSIBLE TO: Operations Manager ACCOUNTABLE TO: Clinical Director Job Summary: v To act as a specialist physiotherapist in MSK Outpatient conditions and manage patients referred to the Healthshare clinics for assessment, clinical diagnosis and management. v To assess patients in a First contact practitioner role in GP surgeries to assist in early diagnosis and rehabilitation of suitable patients. v To be able to request diagnostic tests for appropriate patients, interpret results and arrange further care for appropriate patients, as an autonomous practitioner. To be able to discuss complex patients with the multidisciplinary team.
v To assist in clinical audits of the Service and contribute to the development of the service in conjunction with the Physiotherapy Management Team. v To contribute to the mentoring and development of junior & senior staff. v To provide expert clinical leadership for the physiotherapists within the team, playing a key role in ensuring that a high standard of physiotherapy is provided for patients, including those with complex multi-pathologies. Principal Duties and Responsibilities Clinical 1.
To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work including the management of individual caseload, working within accepted codes of professional conduct and clinical guidelines to minimise clinical risk. 2. To demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathology and utilise highly developed clinical reasoning skills to accurately determine clinical diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of mixed and complicated conditions requiring outpatient physiotherapy and rehabilitation, resulting in realistic, patient centred goals and treatment plans in line with evidence-based practice. 3.
To use specialist clinical reasoning skills to screen referrals, to secondary care or accident & emergency department, for serious pathologies such as tumour, infection, fracture, cauda equina syndrome. Seek support of senior clinical colleagues when faced with clinical terminology or presentations of a complex nature or out-with clinical experience. 4. To refer for diagnostics (X-Ray) and Interventional Radiology procedures such as guided injection, within the referral rights for the Local Physiotherapy Service pathways.
5. To act in an advisory capacity to all clinical staff members in making an onward referral to additional services. 6. To identify patient concerns related to the clinical presentation and use current evidence to respond to them.
Advise patients and referrers on return to work, sports and other activities. 7. To keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements using departmental IT software systems as required. 8.
To discharge patients appropriately and communicate this with their GPs or referrers. 9. To prescribe appropriate equipment, adhering to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice. 10.
To work closely with the Physiotherapy Management Team to facilitate the translation of national policy into local delivery and to provide an expert MSK perspective in relation to the planning and delivery of an integrated, patient focused service across the care pathway. 11. To oversee the implementation of evidence based care including clinical outcome metrics within the Physiotherapy Service. To use objective markers/outcome measures to evaluate and refine clinical practice.
12. To participate in clinical governance as required. To implement policies and propose changes to practice procedures for own area and monitor implementation change through clinical audit. 13.
To demonstrate high quality research and development skills and lead clinical research and audit for the local Physiotherapy Service. 14. To assist the Physiotherapy Management team in the development and implementation of a comprehensive training and personal development plan for the MSK team in the local service. 15.
To participate in maintaining the training programme for the local MSK team, encouraging improvement and refinement of physical assessment and treatment of patients, and furthering understanding of the conditions and their management. 16. To maintain a clinical case load; whilst being flexible to service needs. Communication 1.
To consistently communicate highly effectively with staff, patients and carers/family via clear verbal, non-verbal and written means to maximise rehabilitation potential. To use good communication skills of negotiation, motivation, explanation and reassurance and to gain informed consent. Confidentiality is maintained at all times. 2.
To provide complex and sensitive information, in simple terms about diagnosis, prognosis, concerns, treatment options and scientific information to patients, carers and others (within and outside own profession), who may find such ideas difficult to understand due to differences in educational or language background, and who may not want to accept information provided. Information needs to be clearly conveyed without causing offence or distress. This must be done whilst ensuring that patients have full understanding. 3.
To facilitate patients attitudinal change towards their condition and thus engage the patient with treatment choices and empower self-management. 4. To communicate with all other healthcare professionals, and professional networks concerning patient care and ensure good working relationships for the effective provision of musculoskeletal management. 5.
To report complaints to the Physiotherapy Management Team in line with Healthshare formal complaints procedure. 6. To attend and actively participate in team's meetings as required. To initiate and /or maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the musculoskeletal and spinal fields.
7. To work in collaboration with other Healthshare Clinical Leads to provide continuity across the both the local and national MSK services. Management 1. To undertake and assist in audits as required under clinical governance and also for service development.
2. To comply with all Healthshare policies and procedures and ensure that all physiotherapists do likewise. This includes participation in the individual performance appraisal system. 3.
To participate in both professional and clinical supervision this might include supervising senior, less experienced physiotherapists or volunteers. 4. To support the Physiotherapy Management team as required. 5.
Although a non-budget holder, the post holder will monitor and assess the needs of the service in order to provide recommendations for service improvement, including the appropriate allocation of resources. 6. To work closely with the Physiotherapy Management team to develop and refine the strategic vision of Healthshare MSK Services. Effort 1.
To carry out assessments and treatments of musculoskeletal conditions, with moderate physical effort involved, on a daily basis and to comply with Healthshare manual handling policies. 2. To deal with patients suffering with pain states, expectations and beliefs, that may lead to anxiety and aggressive / challenging behaviour with support from senior clinicians where required. 3.
Concentration during assessment, analysing documents and assessing patients as well as concentration for long periods daily. This may include reading electronic referrals and clinics with a high volume of new patients. General 1. To identify and contribute to physiotherapy training needs regarding the assessment and management of patients with musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
2. To identify, initiate or participate in research projects relating to physiotherapy or the general management of MSK pain and dysfunction. 3. To keep abreast of relevant clinical research pertinent to the job and implement evidence-based practice.
4. The post holder must be aware of individuals responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act and identify and report, as necessary any untoward incident or accident or potentially hazardous environment. 5. Must be aware of Healthshare infection control policy and encourage all staff to follow the policy.
6. The post holder is accountable for exercising economic and efficient use of Healthshare financial and physical resources as well as ensuring the security of Healthshare property. 7. The post holder must at all times carry out theses duties and responsibilities with due regard to Healthshares equal opportunities policy and is expected to promote and implement the same.
8. To follow absence reporting procedures by emailing the absence line and phoning your line manager in line with Healthshare policy and encourage others to follow.
