Job Description

Job Summary:

You will be responsible for delivering a high standard of musculoskeletal (MSk) physiotherapy assessment, triage and decisions of best care to patients presenting with MSk conditions with an emphasis on screening for serious pathology, encouraging self-management, promoting health and triaging to appropriate care.

Patients will be referred directly from receptionists, emergency clinicians and GPs; you will be expected to use advanced clinical assessment, diagnostic and treatment skills to deliver the best evidenced management for patient care.

Clinical Responsibilities & Skills

To abide by HCPC and CSP Codes of Professional Conduct, and work in line with all areas of CSP Core Standards of Practice, as well as Practice policies and procedural framework. As an autonomous practitioner be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including direct and indirect patient care

Clinical Assessment

- Provide expert clinical assessment and reasoning skills (with enhanced knowledge of potential differential diagnoses) in order to determine the optimal treatment pathway. Work autonomously and within a short timeframe.

Communication Skills

- Demonstrate enhanced levels of communication, using shared-decision making skills and motivational interviewing techniques to enable patients to make joint decisions about their care and work towards planned goals. Use both verbal and non-verbal communication tools with those patients who may have communication barriers or impairements (such as non-English speaking, blind, deaf, learning difficulties, dysphagia).

Convey information in a way that avoids jargon and negative descriptors. Be able to communicate unwelcome diagnosis, prognosis or limitations of management to patients and carers where expectations may be unachievable or unavailable.

Be able to manage patients who may be distressed, angry or confused.

Communicate effectively, using a variety of methods, with colleagues and other professionals to ensure information is accurately and appropriately shared to support a pathway of care.

Capacity

Ensure patients have the capacity to understand what is being discussed and are able to give valid, informed consent for treatment and work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

Differential Diagnosis

- Have knowledge of red flags, potential MSk masqueraders and in cases of uncertainty, when to appropriately refer back to the GP. Be aware of the boundaries of one's own scope of practice and manage clinical risk accordingly, understanding the importance of safety netting or monitoring patients at higher risk.

Diagnostic Skills

- Use advanced diagnostic skills to order and act on the appropriate investigation, according to the local pathways, these may include X-ray referral, MRI, US, NCS, and/or blood tests.

Clinical treatment skills

- Use a range of enhanced clinical skills such as:-

joint & soft tissue injection and joint aspiration where indicated

non-medical prescribing

prescribing of evidence-based rehabilitation of common MSK conditions

Provide immediate treatment when indicated and be aware of which patients require monitoring or follow-up.

Triage

- Be aware of all referral pathways including referrals to orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, pain clinic, physiotherapy, podiatry, falls services, exercise therapy, talking therapies and voluntary sectors. Have up-to-date knowledge of current CCG criteria-cased access for orthopaedic surgical referral.

Integration in BNSSG -

The BNSSG Healthier Together partnership are working together on an integrated MSK pathway. First contact practitioners are an integral part of the pathway. FCPs should work to the agreed pathways and protocols as described by the MSK programme board. FCPs should work with the MSK programme board partners, to ensure that these principles are embedded in MSK primary care as described in the MSK model.

Complex Caseload

- Independently manage a wide and varied caseload including complex patients with co-morbidities, frailty and complex needs. Promote self-management of long term conditions, signposting patients to organisations that offer ongoing support. Understand the management of chronic pain and the local pathways available such as referral to Pain clinic, CBT, talking therapies and online rescources. Support the patients understanding of pain and management of their pain in line with these local pathways.

Health Promotion

Be aware of Public Health Initiatives, support preventative interventions and promote health and wellbeing through social prescribing, for example smoking cessation services, weight management and increased physical activity. Use motivational interviewing techniques to facilitate behaviour change.

Record Keeping

- Maintain accurate, comprehensive and timely records in line with legal and professional responsibilities

Governance

- Demonstrating commitment for the role, you must possess a strong desire to continually improve, developing a culture that improves quality initiating, promoting and monitoring systems which govern and improve quality. Contribute to Quality Improvement initiatives.

Competence

- Take individual responsibility for personal development. Through an annual appraisal review will be able to demonstrate MSk Practitioner skills and competence with a portfolio of evidence aligned to the MSK Core Capability Framework. Use a wide range of reflective CPD activities, related to personal development, service development and patient care, as specified in the HCPC Standards. Identify learning needs and set personal goals.

Maintain competence in advanced practice skills by completing additional competency frameworks, this may include injection competencies, IRMER training, RPS NMPcompetencies.

Maintain all core training as required by Local Policy such as Basic Life Support, Infection Control, Medicines Management, Data Protection, Safeguarding Children & Adults, Equality & Diversity, mental capacity

Education

- Be a source of expert MSK advice and contribute to local in-service training nurses, paramedics and GP colleagues. Be actively involved in Patient Groups and development of MSk services.

Research

& Audits

- Where possible actively support National research and contribute to local audits. Use research evidence to maintain quality and best practice for patient care. Identify areas of service improvement and work with patients, GPs and the MDT team to implement change.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: 25.00-30.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10 - 20 per week

Benefits:

Company pension Employee discount On-site parking Work from home
Work Location: In person