Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner - Chronic Pain

Job responsibilities

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To hold responsibility for own caseload within a defined area of the service, working as part of the MDT.

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations, to provide a diagnosis and develop and deliver a specialised treatment plan, based on evidenced based practice.

To maintain associated records.

To be involved in peer review sessions as necessary.

Clinical

Act as an expert clinician within the Pain MDT Service undertaking comprehensive assessments of patients with diverse and complex presentations. Use advanced clinical reasoning and assessment skills to formulate an accurate clinical diagnosis and individual specific management and evidence based treatment objectives.

To be competent in referring for diagnostic tests (i.e. x-ray, MRI, ultrasound, EMG studies and blood tests) and be able to competently interpret results as required, communicate outcomes professionally to patients, sometimes delivering difficult news.

To possess specialist clinical knowledge related to Complex Pain acquired through Masters level (or equivalent) study, supplemented by specialist training experience.

Act as an expert clinician for pain related conditions offering advice, support and guidance and acting in a consultancy role for other staff.

To support the tiered Pain Management treatment programs working in close collaboration with the Pain Team Lead, Physiotherapy staff and other disciplines (i.e. psychology & pain consultants).

To work closely with SWFT Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Departments and SWIMS (South Warwickshire Integrated Musculoskeletal Service) to ensure Complex Pain patients are offered an equitable service across South Warwickshire.

To work within CSP, Departmental & Trust Guidelines, National Clinical Guidelines and National Service Frameworks and to monitor own and others standards of practice, as appropriate.

Managerial / Organisational

Together with the Specialist Outpatient Pathway Lead and Pain Team Lead, deputise for the operational management and co-ordination of the Pain MDT Service, in line with Trust policies and procedures.

To work with the Specialist Outpatient Pathway Lead and the Pain Team Lead to evaluate Complex Pain Services and undertake strategic and operational planning and implementation of service developments to provide patients with the best evidenced care within resources available.

To take a role in the development of South Warwickshire evidence based clinical guidelines for Complex Pain Care.

Work with the Pain Team Lead to collect activity and clinical audit data relevant to the Pain MDT Service. Analyse and interpret data to provide reports and recommendations to the Musculoskeletal Pathway Leads.

The post holder will help ensure that the Complex Pain Service delivers effective healthcare that is evidence based and in line with professional and trust policies using accredited outcome measures in order to provide a high quality service and will support the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Team to achieve this.

Liaising with the Pain Team Lead to ensure that the Pain MDT Service is coordinated and integrated effectively conforming to professional and trust standards, in line with the principles of Healthcare Governance and the Quality Care Commission Standards.

To assess and manage clinical risk within the limits of own scope of practice. To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of work and implement any trust policies, including prompt recording and reporting of incidents using the Trust incident reporting system.

To provide support, teaching and highly specialist advice to other staff within the Physiotherapy team on a planned and spontaneous basis. E.g. peers, less experienced physiotherapists; assistants or physiotherapy, medical or work experience students on observational visits or staff from other clinical areas.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work.

To set a high personal standard of work and professional attitude and encourage others to do likewise.

To maintain assessment, treatment and discharge records/reports and follow guidelines, protocols and procedures in accordance with professional (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy), legal and departmental standards.

To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Re-adjusting plans as situations change/arise.

To have an active role in facilitating quality care by contribution towards development of clinical guidelines or pathways, education, standard-setting, audit and research.

To contribute to meeting the requirements of the Trusts Corporate Governance agenda.

To be committed to a team approach in order to provide continuity and efficiency of service provision.

To maintain high morale and sound staff relations within the department.

To actively participate regularly in clinical trials, relevant to area of practice, within the physiotherapy and multi-disciplinary teams.

Professional / Educational

To maintain and further develop own clinical Professional Development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, evidence based practice and incorporate them as appropriate into own clinical practice to maintain competency to practice. Provide evidence of how learning is applied.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attending and delivering presentations and training. To attend external courses as well as practising reflective practice, peer review and personal study.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Review (PDR) as both an appraiser and appraisee and to be responsible for complying with the agreed personal development plan.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practice through the use of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) projects, audit, outcome measures, either individually, within the clinical speciality or with a manager. Make recommendations for change.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply these principles to the work situation.

To attend Physiotherapy professional meetings, and departmental team meetings as required.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims and goals relating to physiotherapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care to such a level that where appropriate relatives and carers are able to carry out the therapy programme including discussing the implications of diagnosis and long term rehabilitation with clients and their relatives.

To provide highly specialist advice to physiotherapy colleagues working within other clinical areas in clinical matters relating to your specialist area.

To provide expert specialist advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the physical / rehabilitation management of patients with a diversity of highly complex conditions in work place and domiciliary setting if required in specialist area.

To give advice and provide clinical supervision for bands 5 and 6, to provide clinical supervision to other Band 7s.

To induct, train, supervise and manage performance of more junior staff, support workers and physiotherapy students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation in relation to physiotherapy staff.

To take on the role of clinical educator and participate in education of physiotherapy students on placement from local universities. To include recording of activities and undertaking clinical reasoning, in conjunction with university clinical staff.

Communications and Working Relationships

To communicate the clinical diagnosis and facilitate understanding of mutually agreed treatment plans. To gain informed consent to treatment in accordance with trust policy. This will frequently involve communication with patients/carers who have complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions (e.g. deafness, dysphasia, depression) and will require expert use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools.

To communicate effectively with patients, relatives on an individual basis in order to maximise rehabilitation potential. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance or use of behavioural modification techniques.

To communicate with other relevant professionals (e.g. GP, Consultants, Psychologists) and provide highly specialist advice regarding patient needs.

To be aware of the need for sensitivity and understanding when communicating with patients who may be anxious or hostile especially when imparting information about chronic pain.

To be legally accountable for all aspects of your role and produce accurate, legible, comprehensive and contemporaneous documentation, in line with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Core Standards, Trust policies and legal requirements.

Use digital dictation to compile clinic letters according to CSP, HPC and Trust standards, ensuring reports are completed timely and compiled professionally.

Qualifications

Essential

• Physiotherapy diploma/Degree
• Membership of professional body
• Affiliation with HCPC
• Evidence of CPD maintained and demonstrated in a portfolio to level 7 to include:
• Evidence of validated relevant clinical courses in relation to Chronic pain
• Experiential learning with case studies
• Evidence of Supervisory management training working towards or at masters level
• Post graduate qualification in Non -medical prescribing
• Evidence of X-ray, MRI and Blood test Interpretation

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification in Injection Therapy

Experience

Essential

• In Depth Postgraduate experience including experience in chosen speciality at band 7 level
• Experience of NHS Management
• Highly specialist knowledge of a broad range of conditions within complex pain
• Experience of working as a team leader within Physiotherapy
• Evidence of involvement in audit, research and understanding of quality improvement
• Evidence of supervision and clinical education of less experienced staff or students in the area of Chronic pain

Desirable

• Evidence of risk management experience

Skills

Essential

• Able to make decisions involving complex facts and situations, which may encompass the need to reconcile conflict
• Evidence of advanced clinical reasoning skills
• Ability to pass on advanced skills and communicate highly specialist knowledge in both formal and informal environments
• Remain updated with professional practice and new research
• Able to present information written and orally in a professional manner for both patients and health professionals
• Understanding of the legal responsibilities and delivery of professional standards
• Understanding of the role of Clinical governance, research, audit and QUIP and their implications for service
• Ability to work within Trust and professional guidelines and Policies for Data protection, Information Governance, Health and safety while meeting the needs of the patient
• Ability to keep accurate, comprehensive patient records
• Excellent command of English language
• Excellent, written, verbal and Non- verbal communication skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary team taking on a team leader role
• Flexible, empathetic, reliable
• Ability to work under pressure and frequently within difficult/distressing circumstances
• Willing to develop clinically and managerially
• Willing to demonstrate reflective practice

Other

Essential

• Passes Occupational health Clearance and police checks (CRB)
• Commitment to continued development of self and the speciality within the service
• Able to carry out moderate to Intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
• Independent means of transport

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).