Fracture Liaison Service Practitioner

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity in developing an exciting service in Hywel Dda University Health Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) closes the care gap for fracture patients, by successfully and cost-effectively case-finding patients with fragility fractures who are at risk of osteoporosis. Over three million people in the UK have osteoporosis and these people are at a substantially increased risk of fragility fractures.

The post holder will provide clinical leadership in the delivery of the Fracture Liaison Service within Hywel Dda University Health Board. They will lead on aspects of the delivery plan for the specialty with the support the Clinical Lead for Bone Health for Hywel Dda. This post is opened to a variety of disciplines, for example AHP's, Nurses, Pharmacists and Physician Associates.

This post is a Fixed Term/ Secondment until 01/07/2026 due to funding. If you are a Hywel Dda University Health Board employee and are applying for this post as a secondment, agreement for the secondment is needed from your current manager prior to application.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a quality service by practicing as a highly specialist autonomous practitioner. This will involve autonomously managing a varied patient caseload where the post holder is required to plan, modify and carry out complex assessment, diagnosis and intervention, demonstrating autonomous clinical judgments where expert opinion differs due to an ambiguous or absent evidence base.

Define a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessments, including interpretation of diagnostic procedures and physical signs and symptoms. Assess, develop, implement and modify highly specialist programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of clients underpinned by current evidence-based practice and national guidance. This will include identifying and advising medical colleagues on theneed for further intervention and will require physical skills to carry out patient examinations and interventions safely.

About us

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 12,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;

Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;

48 general practices (six of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;

Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;

Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to exercise a high degree of personal professional autonomy and make critical judgments to satisfy the expectations and demands of the role, within a defined framework.

Expected results are defined but the post holder will decide how they are best achieved and will be guided by principles and broad occupational policies. He/she will be expected to work at a clinical level within their level of competence and to work flexibly as part of the team.

They will play a key clinical leadership role in supporting the Bone Health service in modernisation processes by contributing, planning, developing and evaluating the service within their area of specialism. This will include leading in aspects of audit and evaluation.

This will be undertaken in collaboration with the Clinical post holder will also lead on the development and maintenance of clinical standards across the Health Board as agreed through job planning processes. This will include performance management, providing skills-based training and developing competency based frameworks for FLS practitioners. In association with these processes, they will undertake critical analysis, appraisal and synthesis of current research outcomes and/or relevant literature in order to maintain expert levels of knowledge and practice within specialty area.

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The Health Board is committed to supporting its staff to fully embrace the need for bilingualism thereby enhancing patient and service user experiences. In our commitment to increase the number of staff who are able to communicate in Welsh with patients and professionals, we welcome applications from Welsh speakers.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 14/05/2024

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

Essential

Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience. Evidence of leadership courses/ qualifications. Master's Degree or equivalent level of specialist experience in area of clinical expertise Professional registration ( NMC, HCPC, GPhC, PAMVR)

Desirable

Non-medical prescriber

Experience

Essential

Experience of working within Medicine, Orthopaedics or related speciality Evidence of MDT working Experience in consultant led clinics Significant experience working as an autonomous practitioner Experience managing a complex caseload using an advanced clinical reasoning process. Experience in delivering audit Experience in delivering training to staff on complex matters Evidence of advanced clinical practice in area of speciality.

Desirable

Experience of referring for and analysing the results of tests Experience in assisting in leading service developments

Language Skills

Desirable

Welsh Speaker (Level 1)

Aptitude and Abilities

Essential

Evidence of further education or development in relation to osteoporosis and fracture care Experience of supervising junior staff/students Advanced clinical decision and assessment skills Teaching and presentation skills Good IT and computer skills Identify and participate in audit/research process Ability to work independently Ability to organise and prioritise competing service needs Awareness of structure and organisation of the wider NHS Proactive in developing and improving service provision

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