Job summary
Are you motivated to work as a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) for a supportive and dynamic independent physiotherapy provider?
Are you an autonomous and experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist looking to deliver high quality MSK assessment and management of patients in primary care?
Are you excited to be part of a diverse and dynamic primary care team?
Would you like to work in a close, supportive team that is responsive to your ideas and development needs?
Have you found that working in larger organisations limits your potential and your ability to make effective change?
We are looking for an experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapist to join our small team of highly experienced and specialist FCPs.
Main duties of the job
The following skills and attributes are expected of a First Contact Physiotherapist in primary care:
- Manage a substantial caseload of patients with acute and chronic musculoskeletal issues.
- Use effective clinical reasoning skills to triage, assess, differentiate and diagnose simple and complex musculoskeletal issues.
- Perform safe and effective joint and soft tissue injections / aspirations (with relevant training)
- Refer patients for appropriate further clinical investigations.
- Support patients at first contact with digital exercise prescription software, and give advice, where appropriate, to promote patient self-management.
- Meet all current and relevant quality standards and statutory regulations to deliver a service against performance indicators.
About us
About Great Northern Physiotherapys FCP services:
We are a passionate and professional small independent first contact physiotherapy provider that is focused on quality over quantity. We work closely with a selection of GP practice groups in South West Lincolnshire to provide an integrated service for managing potentially undifferentiated and undiagnosed MSK presentations, both simple and complex.
Working for Great Northern Physiotherapy you will receive a supportive, friendly and professional working environment, Band 7 equivalent wage dependent on experience and skill base, company pension, 5.6 weeks annual leave, training and CPD opportunities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is expected to be able to work at an
advanced clinical practice level as an autonomous practitioner. A part of this
may be managing and leading the FCP service within the primary care team. The
post holder will not work in clinical or managerial isolation, and will have
access to support from leaders within their own profession and from the senior
primary care team. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate
outcomes/achievement of key results for the FCP contract. Developing strong
relationships with local clinical specialists within the field of primary care
and advanced MSK practice is an expectation of the role.
SCOPE OF THE FCP ROLE:
- To be the first point of contact for expert clinical
assessment and diagnosis of patients presenting with MSK conditions in primary
care/GP practices.
- This will include patients who present with a range of
multiple needs and underlying pathologies/other primary conditions.
- You will be the link between primary, community and acute
services where it is necessary to meet patient needs. This will include
provision of triage to other services and/or directly providing management and
advice.
- To lead on and develop effective communication between
primary care services/GP practices and other relevant care providers.
- Educate on the role of the FCP, its impact on referral and
patient care pathways.
- Maintain sound relationships with orthopaedic consultant
teams, relevant MDT and physiotherapy services in community and acute settings.
- Where appropriate develop relationships with wider health
and social care agencies, for example mental health teams and patient groups.
- To provide leadership to primary care multi-disciplinary
teams on physiotherapeutic management of MSK conditions. This will include the
provision of highly specialist advice on issues ranging from the provision of
expert opinion on individual patient treatment options to be a contributor to
MSK services and related pathway development.
- Work with other FCPs and primary care teams to develop collaborative
working within the primary care multi-disciplinary team.
- Use local and national evidence-based practice to develop
suitable research and audit programmes evaluating the effectiveness of the FCP
programme.
- Contribute where appropriate to formal research projects
evaluating the FCP role, including multi-provider and academic led research
projects.
- Provide education and expert training to clinicians from a
range of disciplines
- To be the first point of clinical contact for patients
presenting with MSK conditions or symptoms, for primary assessment, diagnosis
and management options for their condition.
- Use advance clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning
to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support patients who present
with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or
mental health and/or pain management needs.
- Independently request diagnostic tests including routine and
specialist x-rays, MRI imaging, ultrasound scans and blood and other pathology
tests.
- Interpret the results alongside traditional
physiotherapeutic assessment techniques and non-clinical information.
- Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, for
patients with a range of complex musculoskeletal conditions and who may have
significant other multi- pathologies.
- Decide on the appropriate use of advanced clinical practice
clinical skills that may include: Joint/soft tissue injection therapy,
including administration of prescription only medication; Non-medical
prescribing
- Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning
skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable
situations.
- To be able to work autonomously as a lone practitioner.
- Be able to demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic
interventions on existing conditions e.g. podiatric treatment or drug therapies;
promoting a holistic approach to condition management.
- Be able to clinically justify referral onto appropriate MSK
pathways within the community or wider healthcare services, including social prescribing.
- For patients managed as part of own caseload take the lead
for the management of the patients journey on their care pathway.
- Be able to justify referrals to other specialist services, including
to acute and specialist services such as surgical orthopaedics, or rheumatology.
This requires advanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health
professionals.
- An ability to recognise potential underlying non-MSK related
disease and conditions that present as MSK symptoms and to refer appropriately.
- Work in partnership with the patient at all times to attain
maximum participation in treatment programmes, involving patients from diverse
social background and cultures.
- Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in
partnership with patients that are based on shared decision making processes.
- Assess levels of Patient Activation to confirm levels of
knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage, to agree appropriate support
for self-management.
- Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise in the
management of musculoskeletal conditions.
- Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects of
management of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other health
professionals.
- Review and develop specialist clinical and diagnostic skills
in response to service need.
- Be accountable for own decisions and actions via HCPC
registration and professional standards.
- Plan and organise the FCP service efficiently, ensuring
delivery in-line with service expectations.
- Proactively integrate the FCP role into the wider primary
care team.
- Attending primary care strategic and practice level meetings
to represent FCP/physiotherapy when appropriate.
- Contribute to the development of service and referral
guidelines for MSK and MSK related conditions.
- Work with other specialists to support the development of
MSK and MSK-related pathways across the primary care network.
- Work collaboratively with the primary care team, and across
the Primary Care Network, to improve service delivery and meet the identified
needs of the local patient population.
- Use influence and contribution to the PCN to promote the
contribution of FCPs to MSK services in primary care and to the wider related services
in the health economy.
- Work with the primary care team to support preventative
strategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals.
- Participate in peer networking and support.
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of wider health, healthcare
and social care agencies related to MSK conditions and physiotherapy.
- Contribute to good clinical governance, manage risk and
ensure patient safety is paramount.
- Be responsible for identifying and reporting any
risk/clinical governance issues in the FCP service.
- Contribute to monitoring and review of service standards for
MSK primary care services.
- Be able to demonstrate how the FCP role contributes to the
achievement of key performance indicators for MSK primary care services
- Work within the FCP service, contributing to the development
of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and related services across the healthcare
economy.
- Represent the FCP primary care service at internal primary
care meetings and at external forums/service meetings including CCG and other
strategic regional forums involved in the development of FCPs and/or MSK
pathways.
- Participate in/support investigations into complaints and
clinical errors/incidents when appropriate.
- Be prepared and able to work towards the HEE FCP
accreditation pathway.
- Support the development of advanced clinical practice skills
and knowledge within the wider physiotherapy workforce.
- Provide specialist MSK training and supervision, some of
which maybe to postgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals,
including GPs.
- Provide and receive clinical supervision and be an active
provider of mentoring and coaching of specialist clinicians from a range of
disciplines.
- Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinical
practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external
development opportunities.
- To undertake audit strategy and tools to evaluate the effectiveness
of the FCP MSK services.
- Promote and lead the integration of evidence-based practice
and national guidelines into own and local FCP MSK service practice, and within
the wider primary care team.
- Lead or participate in research and MDT research projects as
appropriate.
- Present and disseminate research and clinical audit findings
to the primary care team, using local and national data to promote service
change.
- Use audit and data to provide statistical reports on outcome
measures and achievement of KPIs for a range of audiences.
- Use audit and research to develop and improve service
guidelines, care protocols, delivery of triage services and referral pathways.
- Participate in PCNs to influence support for and knowledge
of the FCP role in primary care.
- Promote and explain the FCP role and what it can deliver to
a range of audiences.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and
their carers. This will include explaining the diagnosis, prognosis and
treatment choices available. It may also involve communicating limitations on
treatment outcomes and managing expectations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post holder is expected to be able to work at an
advanced clinical practice level as an autonomous practitioner. A part of this
may be managing and leading the FCP service within the primary care team. The
post holder will not work in clinical or managerial isolation, and will have
access to support from leaders within their own profession and from the senior
primary care team. The post holder will be expected to demonstrate
outcomes/achievement of key results for the FCP contract. Developing strong
relationships with local clinical specialists within the field of primary care
and advanced MSK practice is an expectation of the role.
SCOPE OF THE FCP ROLE:
- To be the first point of contact for expert clinical
assessment and diagnosis of patients presenting with MSK conditions in primary
care/GP practices.
- This will include patients who present with a range of
multiple needs and underlying pathologies/other primary conditions.
- You will be the link between primary, community and acute
services where it is necessary to meet patient needs. This will include
provision of triage to other services and/or directly providing management and
advice.
- To lead on and develop effective communication between
primary care services/GP practices and other relevant care providers.
- Educate on the role of the FCP, its impact on referral and
patient care pathways.
- Maintain sound relationships with orthopaedic consultant
teams, relevant MDT and physiotherapy services in community and acute settings.
- Where appropriate develop relationships with wider health
and social care agencies, for example mental health teams and patient groups.
- To provide leadership to primary care multi-disciplinary
teams on physiotherapeutic management of MSK conditions. This will include the
provision of highly specialist advice on issues ranging from the provision of
expert opinion on individual patient treatment options to be a contributor to
MSK services and related pathway development.
- Work with other FCPs and primary care teams to develop collaborative
working within the primary care multi-disciplinary team.
- Use local and national evidence-based practice to develop
suitable research and audit programmes evaluating the effectiveness of the FCP
programme.
- Contribute where appropriate to formal research projects
evaluating the FCP role, including multi-provider and academic led research
projects.
- Provide education and expert training to clinicians from a
range of disciplines
- To be the first point of clinical contact for patients
presenting with MSK conditions or symptoms, for primary assessment, diagnosis
and management options for their condition.
- Use advance clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning
to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support patients who present
with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or
mental health and/or pain management needs.
- Independently request diagnostic tests including routine and
specialist x-rays, MRI imaging, ultrasound scans and blood and other pathology
tests.
- Interpret the results alongside traditional
physiotherapeutic assessment techniques and non-clinical information.
- Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, for
patients with a range of complex musculoskeletal conditions and who may have
significant other multi- pathologies.
- Decide on the appropriate use of advanced clinical practice
clinical skills that may include: Joint/soft tissue injection therapy,
including administration of prescription only medication; Non-medical
prescribing
- Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning
skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable
situations.
- To be able to work autonomously as a lone practitioner.
- Be able to demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic
interventions on existing conditions e.g. podiatric treatment or drug therapies;
promoting a holistic approach to condition management.
- Be able to clinically justify referral onto appropriate MSK
pathways within the community or wider healthcare services, including social prescribing.
- For patients managed as part of own caseload take the lead
for the management of the patients journey on their care pathway.
- Be able to justify referrals to other specialist services, including
to acute and specialist services such as surgical orthopaedics, or rheumatology.
This requires advanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health
professionals.
- An ability to recognise potential underlying non-MSK related
disease and conditions that present as MSK symptoms and to refer appropriately.
- Work in partnership with the patient at all times to attain
maximum participation in treatment programmes, involving patients from diverse
social background and cultures.
- Develop integrated and tailored care programmes in
partnership with patients that are based on shared decision making processes.
- Assess levels of Patient Activation to confirm levels of
knowledge, skills and confidence to self-manage, to agree appropriate support
for self-management.
- Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise in the
management of musculoskeletal conditions.
- Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects of
management of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other health
professionals.
- Review and develop specialist clinical and diagnostic skills
in response to service need.
- Be accountable for own decisions and actions via HCPC
registration and professional standards.
- Plan and organise the FCP service efficiently, ensuring
delivery in-line with service expectations.
- Proactively integrate the FCP role into the wider primary
care team.
- Attending primary care strategic and practice level meetings
to represent FCP/physiotherapy when appropriate.
- Contribute to the development of service and referral
guidelines for MSK and MSK related conditions.
- Work with other specialists to support the development of
MSK and MSK-related pathways across the primary care network.
- Work collaboratively with the primary care team, and across
the Primary Care Network, to improve service delivery and meet the identified
needs of the local patient population.
- Use influence and contribution to the PCN to promote the
contribution of FCPs to MSK services in primary care and to the wider related services
in the health economy.
- Work with the primary care team to support preventative
strategies for local populations, patient groups and individuals.
- Participate in peer networking and support.
- Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of wider health, healthcare
and social care agencies related to MSK conditions and physiotherapy.
- Contribute to good clinical governance, manage risk and
ensure patient safety is paramount.
- Be responsible for identifying and reporting any
risk/clinical governance issues in the FCP service.
- Contribute to monitoring and review of service standards for
MSK primary care services.
- Be able to demonstrate how the FCP role contributes to the
achievement of key performance indicators for MSK primary care services
- Work within the FCP service, contributing to the development
of musculoskeletal physiotherapy and related services across the healthcare
economy.
- Represent the FCP primary care service at internal primary
care meetings and at external forums/service meetings including CCG and other
strategic regional forums involved in the development of FCPs and/or MSK
pathways.
- Participate in/support investigations into complaints and
clinical errors/incidents when appropriate.
- Be prepared and able to work towards the HEE FCP
accreditation pathway.
- Support the development of advanced clinical practice skills
and knowledge within the wider physiotherapy workforce.
- Provide specialist MSK training and supervision, some of
which maybe to postgraduate level, for specialist primary care professionals,
including GPs.
- Provide and receive clinical supervision and be an active
provider of mentoring and coaching of specialist clinicians from a range of
disciplines.
- Maintain a professional portfolio of advanced clinical
practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external
development opportunities.
- To undertake audit strategy and tools to evaluate the effectiveness
of the FCP MSK services.
- Promote and lead the integration of evidence-based practice
and national guidelines into own and local FCP MSK service practice, and within
the wider primary care team.
- Lead or participate in research and MDT research projects as
appropriate.
- Present and disseminate research and clinical audit findings
to the primary care team, using local and national data to promote service
change.
- Use audit and data to provide statistical reports on outcome
measures and achievement of KPIs for a range of audiences.
- Use audit and research to develop and improve service
guidelines, care protocols, delivery of triage services and referral pathways.
- Participate in PCNs to influence support for and knowledge
of the FCP role in primary care.
- Promote and explain the FCP role and what it can deliver to
a range of audiences.
- Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and
their carers. This will include explaining the diagnosis, prognosis and
treatment choices available. It may also involve communicating limitations on
treatment outcomes and managing expectations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registration (Application and Interview)
- CSP registration (application)
- Master's degree or equivalent professional experience in a musculoskeletal field, with evidence of successful study at level 7 (e.g. module, PgCert, PgDip) (Application and Interview)
- Willingness to undertake the FCP accreditation process, with support and supervision
Desirable
- Injection Therapy (joint and soft tissue) qualification (application)
- Non-medical prescribing qualification (application)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 3 years post-registration experience in a
- musculoskeletal area (Application and Interview)
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge of MSK conditions and ability
- to differentiate non-MSK conditions (Application and Interview)
Desirable
- Evidence of orthopaedic / MSK triage (application and interview)
- Evidence of clinical leadership (application and interview)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- HCPC registration (Application and Interview)
- CSP registration (application)
- Master's degree or equivalent professional experience in a musculoskeletal field, with evidence of successful study at level 7 (e.g. module, PgCert, PgDip) (Application and Interview)
- Willingness to undertake the FCP accreditation process, with support and supervision
Desirable
- Injection Therapy (joint and soft tissue) qualification (application)
- Non-medical prescribing qualification (application)
Experience
Essential
- A minimum of 3 years post-registration experience in a
- musculoskeletal area (Application and Interview)
- Demonstrate specialist knowledge of MSK conditions and ability
- to differentiate non-MSK conditions (Application and Interview)
Desirable
- Evidence of orthopaedic / MSK triage (application and interview)
- Evidence of clinical leadership (application and interview)
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).
Additional information
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).
