Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioner

Band 8a -Clinical Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist/First Contact Practitioner

Due to the expansion of our service we have an exciting opportunity for a permanent Band 8a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist to join the Integrated First Contact Practitioner (FCP) / MSK Outpatient Physiotherapy Team at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care Foundation Trust. Our integrated MSK Physiotherapy Team provides physiotherapy in the community primary Care centres and within GP surgeries in Tameside and Glossop.

As an integrated service physiotherapists can see patients who are directly signposted to FCP clinics via their GP practice to provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment or within the community setting within Primary Care Centres in Ashton and Glossop.

We are committed to developing our physiotherapists in line with the FCP roadmap with in service training, peer review and supervision with our MSK Consultant Physiotherapist.

To provide a first point of contact musculoskeletal assessment and defined treatment within Primary Care GP Practices to provide a first contact physiotherapy service.

To provide patients with a diagnostic service, treatment plans and support self-management by GP referral or without prior GP contact.

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a community of 250,000 people across Tameside & Glossop. We provide a range of services both within the hospital and across our community for both adults and children. Our vision is to improve health outcomes for our population and influence wider determinants of health through collaboration with our health & care partners.

We have a clear set of values & behaviours which we expect all of our staff to demonstrate:

- Safety
- Care
- Respect
- Communication
- Learning

We believe that the best organisations are those that reflect the communities they serve. We are therefore seeking to improve the diversity of our workforce to make it truly representative of our local population.

Benefits include; flexible working, 27-33 days annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, free eye tests and health checks, gym discount, free bicycle loan scheme, salary sacrifice car scheme, support with stress, bereavement, relationships, finance, and much more.

Clinical

To lead, organise and plan the specialist service known as First Contact Practitioner.

To perform first point of contact musculoskeletal clinical assessment, defined treatment and triage within a General Practice (GP) setting within a 20-30 minute appointment for adults. These assessments will be highly developed physical skills.

To undertake advanced musculoskeletal clinical assessment of patients identified at reception/triage as appropriate for the FCP service using highly specialise knowledge, highly developed physical skills and reasoning of a broad spectrum of patients including some with highly complex presentations.

To request and evaluate the results of appropriate investigations (bloods, X-Rays, ultrasound, MRI) in line with the primary care process. To maintain competency as a referrer.

To analyse and reason sometimes complex information in conjunction with clinical assessment and appropriate diagnostic tests to formulate a clinical diagnosis. This will require concentration and attention throughout the patients’ appointment and requires the assimilation of information within a restricted timeframe.

To support the routine identification and management of frailty in primary care in line with NICE and local guidelines

To communicate the clinical diagnosis and facilitate the formation of mutually agreed treatment plans using motivational interviewing and shared decision making.

To prescribe appropriate analgesic medication in line with local prescribing guidelines (either PGD or NMP)

To administer intra muscular and intra-articular joint and injections as appropriate

To support the integration of local MSK pathways into Primary Care including self-referral to core, specialist community services, and secondary care services in line with Tameside & Glossop’s MSK pathway.

To liaise with the patient’s GP and ensure appropriate transfer of care when non-musculoskeletal pathology is suspected.

To maintain clear, accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous clinical records using the Primary Care electronic patient record, in line with service and professional standards including outcome measures and the writing of patient reports and letters

Professional

To provide professional support and education to Primary Care colleagues across a range of levels and disciplines, including active involvement with relevant multidisciplinary teams.

To lead audit and evaluation of the role and the implementation of appropriate recommendations

To build and manage relationships across the range of Primary Care practice professionals and support colleagues.

To be actively involved in the development and implementation of local and regional musc