First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP)

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the PCN First Contact Physio. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and employee levels:

To provide clinical expertise and making decisions about the best course of actions for patients care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions) This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.

Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers, including:

o explaining the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment choices available to manage multi-pathology and complex conditions

o communicating limitations on treatment outcomes and managing expectations of patients with chronic or life limiting conditions

Lead on and develop effective communication and relationships between primary care services/GP practices, other community and acute physio teams and wider health and social care agencies.

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. Designing and implementing 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.

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

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, interpret and act on results and feedback to aid patients diagnoses and management plans.

Be able to decide when appropriate to use advanced clinical practice skills that may include:

o Joint/soft tissue injection therapy, including administration of prescription only medication [POM] to aid treatment.

o Joint aspirations

o Non-medical prescribing

Recognise RED flags, serious pathology and potential underlying non-MSK related disease that may present as MSK symptoms and to refer appropriately. When needed accelerate the patients referral to other health professionals/services

Continually 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

Take the lead in communicating and influencing across the PCN the benefits of the FCP role in primary care.

For a full Jobs Description please see attached

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc degree in Physiotherapy
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
• Can demonstrate working at Level 7 [within the ACP framework]
• capability in MSK related areas of practice or equivalent (such as advanced assessment diagnosis and treatment)

Desirable

• MSc degree in Physiotherapy
• Completed or working towards a Supplementary Prescribing qualification
• Non-medical prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience in applying the physiotherapy process to include MSK assessment, interpretation, individual care planning, motivation, monitoring and evaluation of highly specialized MSK treatment
• Working knowledge of Microsoft and GPIT systems, alongside prescribing data monitoring systems
• Experience of contributing to and service delivery/evolving evidence led practice and delivery in a changing environment
• Ability to demonstrate leadership when introducing change

Desirable

• Experience of SystmOne/EMIS/other clinical systems
• Working towards advanced clinical practitioner status
• Previous supervisory experience
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Cognitive behavioural and motivational interviewing approaches / skills

Skills

Essential

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Ability to promote best practice regarding all pharmaceutical matters
• Effective time management (planning and organising)
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure

Desirable

• Ability to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general medicine optimisation issues in core areas for long term condition
• Good clinical system IT knowledge of EMIS/Systmone/Vision

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity
• Flexible and cooperative
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Able to provide leadership and to finish work tasks
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance and health and safety

Other

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home

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).