Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner

Principal Duties and Responsibilities To triage, assess, diagnose and manage patients referred to the service from GPs, Consultants and other AHPs and arrange investigations and organise onward referral where appropriate To treat and manage patients appropriately within a range of options including referring for diagnostics, referring patients onto a consultant for an expert medical opinion, referring patients to physiotherapy, podiatry, surgical appliances and any other community and secondary care services. To undertake highly specialised assessment of routine and highly complex patients presenting with spinal, peripheral and chronic pain problems using advanced management and treatment plans utilising a range of specialist treatments. To interpret and analyse tests and investigations to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis for a wide range of specialist treatments To recommend the evidence based/best practise intervention for routine, complex and some highly complex conditions. This may include direct referral to secondary care consultants or allied health professionals and specialist investigations or the decision that no further treatment is required To determine clinical indication and independently request specific diagnostic investigations e.g.

X-ray, MRI, US, nerve conduction tests. To follow up on the results with patients and arrange further management as necessary To determine and set agreed and realistic outcomes with patients to achieve anticipated outcome of treatment To independently triage patients into the service referred by GPs, Consultants and AHPs To perform steroid injections as appropriateManagement To manage a caseload of patients with varying diagnosis and/or complex needs, using evidence based/patients centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate in a defined area. To hold responsibility for own caseload working without direct supervision. Supervision taking the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences.

Access to advice and support from Clinical Lead, ESPs, GPwSI and externally by local Consultants Surgeon To be professionally accountable and responsible for own work and to maintain a high standard of clinical care for patients in accordance with recognised standards, guidelines or best practise To induct and mentor physiotherapists and AHPs and to ensure competencies are completed in a timely fashion To work within the CSP and Healthshare guidelines to maintain knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and colleagues safe and competent practise. To undertake and assist in audits of the OPD, Extended Scope clinics and other services as required. To participate in both professional and clinical supervision this might include supervising senior, less experienced physiotherapists and students. This will involve mentoring more than one member of staff.Communication To receive and interpret complex information about patients musculoskeletal health, the impact on their quality of life.

To facilitate patients to disclose sensitive information relevant to the presenting problem, this may include exploring work ability, sphincter disturbance and sexual function. Confidentiality is maintained at all times. To provide complex and sensitive information, in simple terms about diagnosis, prognosis, concerns, treatment options and scientific information to patients, carers and others (within and outside own profession), who may find such ideas difficult to understand due to differences in educational or language background, and who may not want to accept information provided. Information needs to be clearly conveyed without causing offence or distress.

This must be done whilst ensuring that patients have full understanding. To facilitate patients attitudinal change towards their condition and thus engage the patient with treatment choices and empower self-management.Education To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through undertaking appropriate CP To maintain membership of and participate in Special Interest Groups as appropriate. To provide advice to patients relatives, carers and other AHPs to promote understanding of the aims of the care pathway Assess patient understanding of assessment/treatment proposals to gain valid consent and have the capacity to work within the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to connect to treatmentEffort To provide advice to patients relatives, carers and other AHPs to promote understanding of the aims of the care pathway Assess patient understanding of assessment/treatment proposals to gain valid consent and have the capacity to work within the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to connect to treatmentGeneral Healthshare has the performance review/appraisal for the purpose of agreeing performance objectives and discussing development needs in line with requirements of service need in the operational plan To have responsibility