First Contact Practitioner

Suffolk Primary Care (SPC) is at-scale primary care provider in Suffolk that operates a demand-led model. This role will primarily focus on initial identification and triage of patients contacting us via an online system - AskMyGP. This role will be primarily providing a remote service to patients, with an opportunity for face to face clinics, if desired. Part of a virtual practice you will work alongside patient contact coordinators, pharmacists and GPs to ensure safe and efficient management of cases; this may involve triage to other services or providing assessment, management and advice.

You will be an experienced practitioner able to work autonomously. You will provide expertise and leadership in your role supporting wider multidisciplinary colleagues. Key Responsibilities To be the first point of contact for expert clinical triage, assessment and diagnosis of patients presenting with MSK conditions. This will include patients who present with a range of multiple needs and underlying pathologies/other primary conditions.

Where appropriate develop relationships with wider health and social care agencies. Contribute to the development of MSK pathways across the organisation. This includes contributing to pathways that are not primary MSK pathways, but which have MSK interventions along the pathway. Responsibilities underpinning the role To be the first point of clinical contact for patients presenting with MSK conditions or symptoms, providing the patient with the primary triage, sign-posting, assessment, diagnosis and management options for their condition.

An ability to recognise RED flags, serious pathology and potential underlying non MSK related disease, which may present as MSK symptoms and to refer appropriately. When needed accelerate the patients referral to other health professionals/services. Use advanced clinical practice skills and clinical reasoning to provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment support to patients who present with complex musculoskeletal conditions and/or multiple pathologies and/or mental health and/or pain management needs. Independently request diagnostic tests including routine and specialist x-rays, MRI imaging, ultrasound scans and blood and other pathology tests.

Interpret the results alongside traditional physiotherapeutic assessment techniques and nonclinical information to aid clinical diagnosis and decisions on potential treatment options/clinical interventions Carry own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, providing direct clinical/physiotherapeutic care for patients with a range of complex musculoskeletal conditions and who may have significant other primary or secondary conditions/multi-pathologies. Be able to decide when appropriate to use advanced clinical practice skills that may include: - Joint/soft tissue injection therapy, including administration of prescription only medication [POM] to aid treatment. - Joint aspirations - Non-medical prescribing Use professional judgement and advanced clinical reasoning skills to make decisions about safe and effective patient care in unpredictable situations, including when there is incomplete/contradictory information To be able to work autonomously as a lone practitioner. Be able to demonstrate understanding of the impact of physiotherapeutic interventions on existing conditions and treatment programmes e.g.

podiatric treatment, drug therapies, etc. Ensuring physiotherapy interventions are integrated and supportive of the whole treatment aims promoting a holistic approach to condition management. Be able to clinically justify referral onto appropriate MSK pathways within the community or wider healthcare services. Including referral to the appropriate stage of the pathway and the use of social prescribing For patients that remain the responsibility of primary care services, take the lead for the management of the patients journey on their care pathway, acting as the link for the patient between primary care and other services/professionals Be able to justify clinically referrals to other specialist services.

This will include referral to acute and specialist services such as surgical orthopaedics, rheumatology and neurology, other AHP services, nursing services and to the primary care medical teams. This requires advanced knowledge of the role of other specialist health professionals Provide expert advice and act as source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions and provide a specialist advisory service to patients, specialist physiotherapists other specialist healthcare professionals and members of the primary care team. Including advising GPs on management of MSK conditions. Provide advice, instruction and teaching on aspects of management of a condition to patients, relatives, carers and other health professionals.

Continually review and develop specialist clinical and diagnostic skills in response to service need. Be accountable for own decisions and actions via HCPC registrat