Specialist Musculoskeletal Practitioner and First Contact Practitioner

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities:

Clinical

1. The post holder will deliver high level and complex clinical skills in the assessment, diagnosis and initial treatment of musculoskeletal conditions including patients with long-term conditions, co-morbidities and multi-factorial needs, working with a high level of autonomy.

2. Based on comprehensive assessment, to make high level clinical decisions on the most appropriate care pathway for patients referred to the service through use of specialist knowledge and liaison with other key professionals. This will be informed by the urgency and severity of patient need, patient acuity and dependency, and the most appropriate deployment of resources.

3. To take professional responsibility as a first contact physiotherapist, with high level decision making and clinical reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage patients

4. To streamline pathways of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care.

5. To involve patients in decision making and to support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management.

6. To provide care that is tailored to the individual needs. This would include, appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence).

7. To demonstrate advanced understanding of the biopsychosocial model of patient care and implement this model in the early intervention phase for patients.

8. To work as a lone practitioner when required and be comfortable with own skills and knowledge.

9. To ensure care is proactive, preventative in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention.

10. To communicate effectively and appropriately with patient’s complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.

11. To request diagnostic tests including radiology and pathology following period of training.

12. To use a range of clinical skills which may include: a. Non-medical Independent prescribing.

A)   Joint/soft tissue injections

B)   B) non-pharmacological solutions

13. To interpret clinical diagnosis and prognosis for patients with complex problems which may include the appropriate recommendation of intervention outside the scope of physiotherapy.

14. To use outcome measures as part of their clinical approach.

15. To provide learning opportunities for the multi professional team within primary care and act as a resource to other professions seeking guidance on the management of musculoskeletal conditions.

16. To exercise professional judgement and manage risk, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete or contradictory information.

17. To manage interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings.

18. To maintain accurate records.

19. To communicate effectively, using a variety of methods, with all service users, members of the team and those outside the service.

20. To operate as a member of the primary care team and musculoskeletal team, including contributing to leadership, service evaluation/improvement and research activity.

21. To manage and co-ordinate the care that individual patients receive, including through liaising with other members of the MDT and with patients' carers.

22. To contribute to primary care and musculoskeletal team activity, with a strong emphasis on prevention and early intervention, including through the delivery of public health advice (e.g. relating to physical activity, weight management and smoking cessation).

23. To contribute to the use of healthcare technologies to optimise the integration of service delivery (across teams, sectors and settings) and patients’ access and continuity of care.

24. To provide specialist musculoskeletal advice to less experienced physiotherapy staff and other health professionals involved in patient care.

25. To streamline pathways of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care.

26. To represent the physiotherapy service on relevant committees and meetings, as a lead physiotherapy clinician, provide input in relation to specialist issues and clinical matters as required.

27. To assist in the development and implementation of innovative practices that are evidence based and influence standards of care.

Education and Development

28. To provide learning opportunities for the multi professional team within primary care and MSK specialities.

29. To work with MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.

30. To understand and demonstrate the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service.

31. To conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan with supervision from a more experienced colleague.

32. To self-develop through continuous professional development activity.

33. To participate in the delivery of formal education programmes.

34. To demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keep up to date with relevant clinical practice.

35. As clinical supervisor and educator, to design, develop and deliver programmes of specialised learning in line with evidence based practice to peers and less experienced physiotherapy staff.

36. To attend appropriate courses as directed by an individual personal development plan and the needs of the musculoskeletal service and to disseminate this information to colleagues to support best practice. 

Research and Audit

37. To contribute to audit and research, identifying areas for development and implementing change.

38. To maintain own CPD by keeping abreast of any new research and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.

39. To critically evaluate and review literature and to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice.

40. To generate evidence suitable for presentation at local level and to apply the research evidence base into working practice.

41. To understand the principles of research governance and work to support the research objectives of the service.

42. The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users’ and their carers.

43. The post holder will embrace the core values of the organisation. These principles will recognise the need to: Promote safe practices, value the aims of service users, work in partnership and offer meaningful choice, be optimistic about the possibilities of meaningful change, and value social inclusion. 

Responsibilities for all staff:

All post holders will agree to:

1.       Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care and learning disability care.

2.       Role model the values of the Trust – Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm, and Support – in all activities and interactions.

3.       Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning disabilities.

4.       Comply with the Duty of Candour, working across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services.

5.       Uphold and protect the reputation of the Trust both inside and outside of work, ensuring that actions and behaviours reflect the values and standards of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust at all times.

6.       Value the contribution of the patient and service user’s voice, as well as the views of families and carers.

7.       Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.

8.       Observe statutory duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults and children.

9.       Actively participate in creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels equally valued, respected and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

10.    Commit to Mersey Care’s mission of being an actively anti-racist health care provider and employer.

11.    Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data.

12.    Operate within organisational codes of practice, comply with all health and safety legislation, organisational policies and operating procedures.

13.    Understand and embrace the role of digital technology in the workplace.

14.    Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to staff responsibilities.

15.    Support the creation of a positive environment and Restorative Just and Learning Culture, participate in related events, share concerns about safety and quality, and speak up against incivility while taking a collaborative approach to improve civility and respect.

This job description provides an outline of general activities and is not exhaustive. It will be reviewed as the Trust’s needs change, in consultation with the post holder.