Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioner

JOB PURPOSE 1. Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact practitioner and making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. 2.

Progress and request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood test, and interpret and act on results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients. 3. Deliver programmes of supported patient self-management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and that minimise the need for pharmacological interventions. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES 1.

Takes professional responsibility as a first-contact physiotherapist, with high-level decision-making and clinical-reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage of patients 2. Manages a complex caseload (including patients with long-term conditions, comorbidities and multi-factorial needs), 3. Leads, manages and contributes to service delivery, 4. Accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice 5.

Streamlines pathway of care by 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. Provides care which 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 8. Supports patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management 9. Communicates effectively and appropriately with patients and carers complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis. 10.Uses a range of clinical skills which may include a.

non-medical independent prescribing b. joint / soft tissue injections c. joint aspirations 11.Provides learning opportunities for the whole multi professional team within primary care. 12.Works with MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services 13.Exercises professional judgement, making, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information 14.Manages interactions in complex situations, including with individuals with psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary care team, sectors and settings.

EXPERT PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 1. Demonstrates general physiotherapy skills and knowledge in core areas 2. Is able to plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general physiotherapy care programmes for patients in core areas, including disease states / long term conditions identified by local Needs Assessment 3. Demonstrates accountability for delivering professional expertise and direct service provision 4.Exercise a critical understanding of personal scope of practice and to identify when a patient needs referring on and where there are opportunities for developing the scope and competence of the wider MDT to meet patient care needs 5.

Integrates a broad range of interventions into practice, including injection therapy and independent prescribing, while also promoting non-pharmacological solutions to patient care 6. Through patient assessment and working in partnership with patients and their carers, make decisions about the best pathway of care, informed by the urgency and severity of patient need, patient acuity and dependency, and the most appropriate deployment of resources 7. Manage risk in unpredictable, uncertain situations to uphold patient safety, including by referring on to other primary care team members and to specialist services, as needed 8. Able to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct 9.

Involves patients in decision making and supporting adherence as per NICE guidance. COLLABORATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Operate as a full member of the primary care team, including contributing to leadership, service evaluation/improvement and research activity Manage and co-ordinate the care that individual patients receive, including through liaising with other members of the MDT and with patients' carers Lead primary care 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) Con