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.