First Contact Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

Work independently, without day-to-day supervision, to assess, diagnose, triage, and manage patients, taking responsibility for prioritising and managing a caseload of the PCNs registered patients.

Receive patients who self-refer (where systems permit) or from a clinical professional within the PCN and refer to other health professionals within the PCN where required.

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient-facing role, using their expert knowledge of movement and function issues to create stronger links for wider services through clinical leadership, teaching, and evaluation.

Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients, providing a range of first-line treatment options, including self-management, referral to rehabilitation services, and social prescribing.

Using their full scope of practice, developing skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy, and investigation to make professional judgments and decisions in unpredictable situations, including when provided with incomplete or contradictory information. They will take responsibility for creating and justifying these decisions.

Manage undifferentiated, undiagnosed conditions, identify red flags and underlying serious pathology, and take appropriate action

Manage complex interactions, including working with patients with psychosocial and mental health needs, referring onwards as required, and including social prescribing when appropriate.

Use complex decision-making to inform the diagnoses, investigation, and complete management of episodes of care within a broad scope of practice.

Communicate effectively with patients and their carers where applicable, as well as complex and sensitive information regarding diagnoses, pathology, prognosis, and treatment choices supporting personalised care.

Implement all aspects of practical clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audits and evaluations, supervision, and training.

Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients through:

• Effective, shared decision-making with a range of first-line management options (appropriate for a patients activation level).
• Assessing levels of patient activation to support a patients knowledge, skills, and confidence to self-manage their conditions, ensuring they can evaluate and improve the effectiveness of self-management interventions, particularly for those at low activation levels.
• Agreeing with the patients appropriate support for self-management through referral to rehabilitation services and wider social prescribing as appropriate.
• Design and implement plans that facilitate behavioural change, optimise patients' physical activity and mobility, support fulfilling personal goals and independence, and reduce the need for pharmacological interventions.

Request and progress investigations (such as x-rays and blood tests) and referrals to facilitate the diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, including considering the limitations of these investigations, interpreting, and acting on results and feedback to aid patients diagnoses and management plans.

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

Liaising with secondary and community care services and secondary and community MSK services where required, using local social and community interventions to support managing patients within the PCN.

Take professional responsibility as a first-contact physiotherapist, with high-level decision-making and clinical reasoning skills to assess, diagnose, and triage patients.

Manage a complex caseload (including patients with long-term conditions, co-morbidities, and multi-factorial needs).

Ensure care is proactive, preventive in focus, and population-based, emphasising early intervention.

Support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management.

Qualities and attributes

Essential

• Confident attitude
• Excellent organisation
• Willingness to learn new skills and rise to new challenges
• The persistence to work hard to achieve the best for every patient under difficult circumstances

Desirable

• Display leadership qualities

Qualifications

Essential

• Diploma/degree/masters degree in Physiotherapy
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
• Registration with the Health & Care Professionals Council (HPC)

Desirable

• Strong evidence of continued professional development
• May hold or be working towards a prescribing qualification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work independently
• Knowledge of treatment options and pathways for neurological conditions
• A clear understanding of the CSP professional code of conduct and relevant professional guidelines
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Competent IT skills
• Excellent time management skills
• Excellent musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and management skills (with the understanding of local and national guidelines)

Desirable

• Knowledge of the roles physiotherapists play in private practice
• Advanced computer skills
• Ability to work under pressure

Experience

Essential

• Experience working with a range of clients
• 2 years of MSK experience
• Experience working in the NHS and understanding of local pathways
• Working towards or have completed the FCP roadmap

Desirable

• Experience in inpatient / out-patient / community neurological rehabilitation

Other requirements

Essential

• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical activity throughout the working day
• Willingness to work improved access hours, which will include some evening work and Saturday mornings

Desirable

• Desire for development
• Hold a full driving licence. Car owner

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.

UK Registration

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