Advanced Pain Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To assess, plan and develop treatment programmes for clients with a wide variety of complex physical needs in a clinic setting.

Determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated and maintain records as an autonomous practitioner, working without direct supervision.

Be responsible for continuing the on-going development of high standards of clinical practice and expertise within the service, contributing to implementation of specific changes to practice and service protocols.

Dimensions

To be responsible for the delivery of the persistent pain, CFS/ME and post Covid-19 service, which forms part of the wider MOSAIC service (Musculoskeletal Pain, Orthopaedic, Spinal and Integrated CFS/ME). Clients are referred by their GP, other health professionals, social services or self-referral.

To supervise less experienced members of staff and students. To supervise, educate and contribute to the assessment of undergraduate physiotherapy students if required, ensuring the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.

To work in an extended scope role including but not exclusive to: Spinal, Pain, CFS/ME and post Covid-19 referral triage within the integrated MSK hub.

Referral for diagnostic examinations (e.g. MRI scan, x-ray).

Administering and evaluating outcome of injection therapy.

To monitor and maintain performance of clinical sub-team of multi-professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your work, including the management of clients in your care and to support more junior staff to do likewise.

To have a lead role and determine by assessment and liaison with other relevant agencies the advice, education and treatment requirements of each client.

To undertake the comprehensive, advanced assessment of clients including those with complex and/or chronic presentation using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate the individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning, a wide range of treatment skills and options to devise a specialised, individualised programme of care.

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently, with regard to clinical priorities and time management.

To provide highly specialised advice, teaching and training to other members of the primary health care team regarding pain management of clients with problems related to rehabilitation, ageing and obesity.

To educate, supervise and manage less experienced members of the team along with support staff and students. Using appropriate documentation.

To assess capacity, gain informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack the capacity to make informed decisions.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to clients carers and other professionals to promote an understanding of the aims of pain management and to ensure a consistent approach to client care.

Professional

To participate in the development of good practice for professional members of staff within Nottingham CityCare Partnerships under the guidance of the professional lead for each area.

To participate in the services marketing strategy internally and externally, developing local and regional networks.

Demonstrate a commitment to evidence based practice and make recommendations for change.

To be responsible for your own continued professional development, attend training events, conferences and study days as highlighted within the organisations training strategy and your own professional and personal development.

To demonstrate sound knowledge of clinical Governance and risk management and its application to the work place.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development plans as both supervisor and supervisee.

Organisational

To support the team in implementing targets and objectives, to assist in on-going developments, to participate in service evaluation and highlight to the team manager the needs of the local population.

To be responsible for delegated management duties when requested by the team manager.

To liaise effectively with other professionals and agencies to enhance the management of the client population within the boundaries of Nottingham CityCare Partnerships.

To ensure the health and safety of staff and clients at all times in accordance with health and safety legislation and the organisations policies and procedures.

To participate in identified data collection and statistics and to maintain clear concise and timely records in line with policy.

To undertake any other duties which reasonably be required.

Experience

Essential

• Working at a senior level in a musculoskeletal/pain or CFS/ME service.
• Treating patients with complex and chronic presentations, using a biopsychosocial approach.
• Individual and group rehabilitation.
• Partnership and multi-agency working.
• Service development and audit.
• Providing supervision for less experienced staff and students, including carrying out appraisals.

Desirable

• Working in an Advanced Practice role e.g. Secondary care/community pain service, orthopaedic triage, First Contact Practitioner, carrying out steroid injections, independent prescribing.
• Referral for diagnostic examinations (MRI scan, x-ray).
• Research activity.

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Current local and national policy and practice developments.
• Equality, diversity and inclusion as it applies to employment and service provision.
• Skills :-
• Teaching skills, 1:1 and to groups/teams.
• Advanced clinical decision-making skills.
• Excellent prioritisation, organisation and time management skills.
• Ability to relate well to all groups of people and to create and maintain effective working relationships.
• Good team worker.
• Ability to motivate self and others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable

• Skills:-
• Ability to teach undergraduate students in a group environment e.g. lecturing.
• Confidence and competence to make informed decisions relating to service provision, in the absence of line manager.
• Confidence and competence to offer clinical support, in the absence of the service clinical lead.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
• MSc (or working towards).
• HCPC registered.
• Clinical Educators course.
• Evidence of continued professional development .
• Evidence of achievement of appropriate competencies for clinical grade.

Desirable

• Accredited Injection Therapy (corticosteroid) qualification.
• Other qualifications at Advanced Practice level e.g. MSc module in Advanced Practice, diagnostic requests.
• Accredited Independent prescribing qualification.
• Accredited CFS/ME qualification.

Physical Requirements

Essential

• All appointments are subject to satisfactory occupational health clearance.

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel between clinical locations (could be achieved using public transport).
• Proactive. Use of initiative and aware of own limitations. Flexible and adaptable, innovative and self-reliant with a positive attitude.
• Able to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the service

Desirable

• Full driving licence with access to a car for driving between clinical venues.
• Assertive, good delegations skills, evidence of negotiation and managing conflict.

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).