FCP - First Contact Physiotherapist

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description: First Contact Physiotherapist

Job Title: First Contact Physiotherapist

Salary: Indicative Agenda for Change Band 6 8A

(based on experience and qualification)

Term: Permanent

Base: PCN Network

Hours: Up to 37.5 hours per week

Responsible to: PCN & Member Practices in North Riding Community Health Network.

Job Purpose:

The First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) will have advanced skills to assess, diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems and associated undifferentiated conditions. This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan, thus streamlining pathways of care. They can work independently and do not require supervision, thus helping to release workload currently undertaken by GPs. Patients can either self-refer or be referred by the networks members. The FCP will have a key role in supporting delivery of the new Network Contract DES Service specifications.

Core Duties:

The First Contact Physiotherapist will:

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role, using their expert knowledge of Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues, to create stronger links for wider MSK services.

• Assess, diagnosis, triage and treat patients either via patient self-referrals or referrals from a professional within the network, and take responsibility for managing those referrals.

• Progress and request investigations (such as x-rays and blood tests) to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime.

• Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients and provide a range of treatment options, including self-management, exercise groups or individual treatment sessions. These programmes will facilitate behavioural change, optimise patients physical activity and mobility, support fulfilment of personal goals and independence and reduce the need for pharmacological interventions.

• Develop and make use of their scope of practice and clinical skills, including those relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy and imaging referral rights (where qualified/experienced).

• Provide learning opportunities for the whole multi-professional team within primary care. They will also work across the multi-disciplinary team to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.

• Liaise with secondary care MSK services, as required, to support the management of patients in primary care.

• Using their professional judgement, take responsibility for making and justifying decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information.

• 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.

Collaborative Working Relationships

Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care

Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)

Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team

Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary

Actively work toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within and outside the practice and locality

Foster and maintain strong links with all services across our locality

Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships

Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community teams

Liaises with CCG and secondary care colleagues including Physiotherapists working in those services on related matters to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit

Liaises with other local FCPs to benefit from peer support

Liaises with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to:

o Patients

o GP, nurses and other practice staff

o Other primary and secondary care healthcare professionals

o Locality / GP prescribing lead

o Locality managers

o Community nurses and other allied health professionals

o Community and hospital physiotherapy teams

o Hospital staff with responsibilities for physiotherapy services

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

Completion of an undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy and registration health Care and Professions Council or appropriate professional body.

Recognises priorities when problem-solving and identifies deviations from normal pattern and is able to refer to seniors or GPs when appropriate

Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct

Involves patients in decisions about treatment plans and supporting adherence as per NICE guidelines.

Leadership:

Demonstrate understanding of the FCP role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace.

Demonstrate understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision

Engages with Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) and involves PPGs in development of the role and practices

Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service

Reviews yearly progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.

Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals

Promotes diversity and equality in people management techniques and leads by example.

Management:

Demonstrate understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service

Demonstrate understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation

Demonstrate understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice

Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol

Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management

Demonstrate ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team

Education, Training and Development:

Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service

Demonstrates understanding of the mentorship process

Demonstrates ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from more experience colleague

Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity and will identifying areas to develop

Participates in the delivery of formal education programmes

Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice.

Ensures appropriate clinical supervision is in place to support development

Enrolled into review and appraisal systems within the practice

Research and Evaluation:

Demonstrates ability to critically evaluate and review literature

Demonstrates ability to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice

Demonstrates ability to generate evidence suitable for presentations at practice and local level

Demonstrates ability to apply research evidence base into working place

Demonstrates understanding of principles of research governance.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practices Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The post-holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between practice sites (where applicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies.

The post-holder will have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates; urine etc. while in clinical practice.

Job Description Agreement

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position.

This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account development within the Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of the Practice.

This job description is intended as a basic guide to the scope and responsibilities of the post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Professional Qualifications/ Training/ EducationPost-graduate qualifications relevant to MSK & Orthopaedic speciality to Masters level or equivalent
• Membership of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Management/leadership qualification or equivalent
• Current Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) Registration

Desirable

• Non-medical prescribing or willingness to complete

Experience

Essential

• More than 5 years post-graduate experience either in acute sector/primary/secondary care, specialising in MSK
• Using standardised assessments and development of relevant outcome measures
• Demonstrates knowledge of equipment available and able to assess and fit where applicable
• Understanding of national legislation, guidance and regulatory framework including NSF, NICE, Information Governance, Equality and Diversity, Data Protection, Safeguarding, Professional and Clinical Guidelines
• Participation in clinical audit and evidence gathering methods
• Continuous improvement through benchmarking and sharing and utilising best practice
• Understanding of Health & Safety in the work environment and implications for service area including relevant health and Social Care legislation
• Research and/or publications or contributions to
• Evidence of up to date continuing professional development within MSK & Orthopaedics Physiotherapy
• Experience in working in sole charge

Skills

Essential

• Ability to relate and communicate with patients and staff at all levels and from different professionals.
• IT skills, including accurate written/electronic records and documents
• Prioritise own and team workload and meet required timescales
• Reflect and critically appraise own performance through continuous professional development activity
• Demonstrates a commitment to service development and implementation of action plans to address
• Convey sensitive information in an empathetic manner to patient/clients/clients relative/ carers and staff.
• Effective written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution skills
• Provide learning and development to other professionals within own work area and other clinical areas/agencies
• Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice
• Demonstrates a commitment to supporting and valuing equality and diversity as well as an awareness and sensitivity of cultural issues
• Ability to perform manual handling of patients

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Ayton & Snainton Medical Practice

Address

53 Pickering Road

West Ayton

Scarborough

North Yorkshire

YO13 9JF

Employer's website

https://ayton-snainton.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)