Northolt PCN

Musculoskeletal First Contact Physiotherapist Primary Care

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Job summary

Northolt PCN is currently seeking experienced physiotherapists with extended scope MSK skills to join us as first contact practitioners working in a primary care setting. You would be expected to develop extended skills such as injection therapy and non-medical prescribing, for which training will be agreed and supported in conjunction with the successful candidate if these have not been previously completed.

The position is offered as full time, 37.5hrs a week, however part time applications would be considered, and we are able to support working flexibly with early starts and extending the working day to meet the needs of the service. The roles are Monday to Friday and are based within the local GP practices.

Main duties of the job

As a highly skilled autonomous expert musculoskeletal (MSK) practitioner the post holder will be expected to work independently in the primary care setting, assessing, triaging and managing a wide range of complex MSK patients. They will also act as a point of clinical expertise within the primary care setting supporting and working with General Practitioners (GPs), nurse practitioners and other medical professionals to enable effective management of MSK conditions.

The posts create a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidates to work within a primary care setting providing clinical expertise in a role that will require the therapist to make decisions about the best course of action for a patients presenting with MSK conditions. The role would involve the use of advance knowledge and skills to rapidly assess, manage, investigate or triage to the appropriate hospital based specialties for further management. The role requires successful candidates to be able to communicate confidently and effectively across professions ensuring the seamless flow of patients across boundaries with the community, hospital Trust, social prescribers, pharmacy and other PCN related services. The post holder will be responsible for working collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure that an effective and evidenced based service is delivered.

About us

Northolt Primary Care Network started in the year 2019. We have 6 GP practices in the PCN. You will be working with 1 or more practices within the PCN.

You will be reporting to the PCN clinical Director and the PCN Board. Your Day to day clinical supervision is received from the Partner or their Nominated Deputy in the practice in which you are working or attach to.

Date posted

22 July 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,000 to £47,000 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

M0043-23-0003

Job locations

Grand Union Village Health Centre

Taywood Road

Northolt

Middlesex

UB56WL

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties

1. Leading and providing clinical expertise as a first contact physiotherapist, making decisions about the best course of action for patients including those with undifferentiated conditions. This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.

2. Implementing evidence-based management plans and requesting any investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime. Understanding the information limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular diagnostic tests such as x-rays and blood tests. Interpretation and actions required on test results to aid diagnosis and the management plans for patients.

3. To deliver programmes of supported patient self-management whilst facilitating behavioural changes, optimising individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfillment of personal goals and independence. Ensuring the need for pharmacological interventions is minimised.

4. Determine a treatment plan which includes an appropriate referral to musculoskeletal consultants and surgeons for their management if required.

5. To lead service development / service change from a clinical perspective

6. To lead in the development of an effective and safe GP based reception triage system.

7. To maintain clinical records in line with the trust, professional and local clinical commissioning groups (CCG) standards, providing reports as required and to monitor the documentation of other therapy staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Takes professional responsibility as a first-contact physiotherapist with advance-level decision-making and clinical-reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage patients. Demonstrates high levels of physical assessment skills and manual handling techniques.

2. Manages a highly complex caseload including patients with long-term conditions, comorbidities and multi-factorial needs.

3. To lead, manage and implement service delivery.

4. To be accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration. Supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice.

5. Implement and review pathways of care, providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care.

6. Ensures care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based with an emphasis on early intervention

7. Implement care that is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being and employment status. Considering function, physical activity, mobility and independence at all stages of care.

8. Communicates effectively and appropriately, with patients and carers, highly complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.

9. Demonstrates a range of highly specialized clinical skills which may include; non-medical independent prescribing, joint / soft tissue injections and joint aspirations in primary care and acute trust settings.

10. Lead and provides learning opportunities for the whole multi-disciplinary (MDT) team within primary care.

11. Lead the MDT to develop more highly effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.

12. Demonstrates professional judgement. Making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information

13. Leads and demonstrates interactions in complex situations including, individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings

14. Implement the standards of practice in line with the governing and professional bodies.

15. Accountable to work in partnership with the patient, family and carers as appropriate and other health care professionals in resolving formal and informal complaints.

16. Lead integration of Patient and Public Involvement agenda within sphere of responsibility.

17. Demonstrates organizational boundaries in order to enhance professional practice and support a care pathway approach to the provision of care.