Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner/First Contact Practitioner (FCP)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will be required to develop effective communication and good working relationships with all members of the multi-disciplinary team, outside agencies, families and carers to maximise patient care and management.

To be able to adapt and use multiple communication strategies to maximise patient engagement and outcome in line with the principles of shared decision making, to ensure understanding of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options as well as maximising outcomes when there are barriers to understanding or engagement (e.g. complex conditions or multiple pathologies including those emotional, physical and psychological conditions such as deafness, dysphasia).

To participate in the effective communication of complex, highly sensitive and emotional information to patients, which requires excellent interpersonal, negotiation counselling skills. This includes information regarding diagnosis, prognosis, treatment options, benefits, risks and potential complications, and rehabilitation.

To provide, receive and communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable format to patients, carers and other staff occasionally including information that may be distressing or unwanted.

To use communication effectively to implement change in relation to clinical standards, professional guidance and national pathways to enhance patient care.

To organise and participate with colleagues in the specialist and wider iMSK team, contributing to the enhancement of the service and role modelling professionalism within the team, and wider teams within and external to the Trust.

To make judgements on a range of complex musculoskeletal problems which require investigation, analysis and assessment.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form a diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of pathologies within scope of practice and to offer information and choice on the most appropriate intervention.

To escalate care to senior clinician where required.

To undertake a comprehensive specialist assessment of patients including those with complex presentation. This will include using advanced investigative and analytical clinical skills and reasoning to formulate individualised treatment plan, utilising a wide range of evidence-based treatment skills and options.

To appropriately identify and act in the case of possible urgent red flag presentations to appropriate specialist teams /services as required.

To be responsible for a caseload of complex and highly complex patients within the clinical pathway, working without direct supervision.

To plan, organise and deliver highly specialist care to these patients using advanced clinical reasoning, reflection and analysis to inform practice.

To prioritise own clinical caseload effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical and other priorities and use of time.

Provide day to day support to other members of the team/ as requested by the team lead.

Provide day to day clinical support regarding patient management of caseloads for other members of the team as required.

To maintain own professional development, by keeping abreast of new trends, developments and research and incorporating them as necessary into own work. This will involve personal study, and may include attendance at special interest groups, training course and other CPD opportunities as appropriate and applicable to the post, trust needs, and budgetary constraints.

To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings.

Apply personal effectiveness skills in terms of time management, prioritisation, resource management, self-motivation and team work

To participate in the planning and delivery of in-service training.

To develop clinical practice along best practice guidelines and ensure the service reflects the best elements of what is available nationally.

To demonstrate highly developed physical skills including a high degree of precision dexterity, co-ordination, and sensory skills for assessment and application of specialist treatments.

To be able to work in an environment where frequent moderate physical effort is required for several short or longer periods when moving or manoeuvring patients or equipment.

This role involves frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular basis e.g. bodily fluids, and occupational exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

To be proficient with IT and keyboard skills

To undertake comprehensive assessment of the patients’ clinical condition to include diagnosis of presenting problems and subsequent treatment needs of patients including those with highly complex presentations.

To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload. This will include screening for red flags, signs of serious pathology and arranging appropriate follow-up.

To develop and deliver specialist personalised treatment programmes for patients, based on knowledge of evidence-based practice, available treatment options, and patient goals, using highly advanced clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of a wide range of available treatments following the principles of shared decision making.

To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be actively involved in the provision of health education and advice to patients, relatives, and carers, and to participate in health training where appropriate.

Create a physical and psychological environment conducive to providing optimum patient care.

Evaluate and monitor patient progress adjusting treatment programmes accordingly ensuring treatment is carried out to the highest possible standard and in the most appropriate and effective way for the individual patient.

To motivate and encourage patient’s active participation in all aspects of their management.

The post will be aligned to the Integrated Musculoskeletal service, and based partially in GP Practices within the regional ICB.

The post is part of a strategic service development enhancing the collaboration between Primary and Secondary Care by providing First Contact Practitioners (FCPs) within GP Practices while maintaining links with the iMSK Service to allow specialised assessment and seamless care for patients with MSK conditions. There will be a link and opportunities to work with the wider iMSK Team.

FCP’s allow specialised assessment in an acute setting with appropriate advice and timely onward referral to the right service when needed. This reduces pressure on the GP Service and improves patient experience in a more cost effective way.

FCP

The FCP role will be aligned to the Integrated Musculoskeletal service, and based partially in GP Practices within the regional ICB.

The post is part of a strategic service development enhancing the collaboration between Primary and Secondary Care by providing First Contact Practitioners (FCPs) within GP Practices while maintaining links with the iMSK Service to allow specialised assessment and seamless care for patients with MSK conditions. There will be a link and opportunities to work with the wider iMSK Team.

FCP’s allow specialised assessment in an acute setting with appropriate advice and timely onward referral to the right service when needed. This reduces pressure on the GP Service and improves patient experience in a more cost effective way.

Elements of the role will lead the post holder to be the first point of contact and to complete highly developed musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic neuromusculoskeletal problems. This will include considering appropriate investigations and facilitating patient choice of treatment regime from supported self-management (including behavioural change, weight loss and activity modification) to rehab or onward referral in order to fulfil personal goals and independence while minimising the need for pharmacological interventions.