Job responsibilities
Description of Role
The First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are required to have advanced skills to assess, diagnose, treat and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems and 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.
Responsibilities
The First Contact Physiotherapist will:
Take professional responsibility as a first-contact physiotherapist, with high-level decision-making and clinical-reasoning skills to assess, diagnose, triage and refer patients for onward treatment
Support GPs with management of complex caseloads (including patients with long-term conditions, co-morbidities and multi-factorial needs)
Contribute to development of service delivery,
Be accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice
Ensure care is proactive, preventive in focus and population-based, with an emphasis on early intervention
Provide care which is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence
Support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management
Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.
Use a range of clinical skills which may include
non-medical independent prescribing
joint / soft tissue injections
joint aspirations
Provide learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care at network practice level.
Exercise professional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information
Manage interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings
Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Health and Safety
Comply at all times with the practice health and safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents
Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities. 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 developments within the practice.
Equality and Diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feeling priorities and rights.
Confidentiality
While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
Personal/Professional Development
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
