First Contact Physiotherapist-Tower Hamlets

Job description

Job responsibilities

As part of this new and exciting patient facing role you will be working in local GP practices as part of a multi-disciplinary team, using your expert knowledge of Musculoskeletal (MSK) issues to:

Act as a first contact physiotherapist, making decisions about the best course of action for General Practice patients' care, including in relation to undifferentiated conditions. This will involve seeing patients, sometimes without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.

Progress and request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests and diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood test, and interpret and act on results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients.

Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in partnership with patients and provide a range of first line treatment options, including self-management and referral to rehabilitation-focused services, social prescribing provision and health coaching initiatives. 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 relationships and a collaborative working approach across the PCN, Locality and health system, supporting the integration of pathways in primary care with MSK services through clinical leadership, teaching and evaluation skills. This will in turn create learning opportunities for the whole multi-professional team within the PCN and support regional and national research and audit programmes to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of the FCP programme.

Communicate effectively and appropriately, with patients and carers, complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology, prognosis, and treatment choices supporting personalised care. Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision, and training.

Offer simple advice to patients within scope of practice

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.

You will also:

Provide highly specialist advice on issues ranging from the provision of expert opinion on individual patient treatment options to be a primary contributor to MSK services and related pathway development.

Encourage collaborative working across the health economy and be a key contributor to the primary care networks providing leadership and support on MSK clinical and service development across the network.

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 where required refer to other health professionals within the PCN.

Work as part of an MDT 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-focused services and social prescribing.

Make use of their full scope of practice, developing skills relating to independent prescribing, injection therapy and investigation to make professional judgements and decisions in unpredictable situations, including when provided with incomplete or contradictory information. Take responsibility for making and justifying these decisions.

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

Implement all aspects of effective clinical governance for own practice, including undertaking regular audit and evaluation, supervision, and training.

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

o effective shared decision-making with a range of first line management options (appropriate for a patients level of activation);

o Assessing levels of Patient Activation to support a patients own level of knowledge, skills, and confidence to self-manage their conditions, ensuring they are able to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of self-management interventions, particularly for those at low levels of activation;

o Agreeing with patients appropriate support for self-management through referral to rehabilitation-focused services and wider social prescribing as appropriate.

Design and implement plans that facilitate behavioural change, optimise patients physical activity and mobility, support fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and reduce the need for pharmacological interventions.

Person Specification

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Articulate, good communication skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma equivalent in physiotherapy. HCPC Registration

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 5 years post graduate experience. Minimum of 3 years experience as senior in musculoskeletal physiotherapy.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches for the management of complex musculoskeletal conditions

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of an MDT.

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

Tower Hamlets GP Care Group

Address

Island Health

145 East Ferry Road

London

E14 3BQ

Employer's website

https://www.gpcaregroup.org/section/387/Home (Opens in a new tab)