Advanced Practice Physiotherapist

Job overview

This is an excellent opportunity to join our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Advanced Physiotherapy team at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT), where we are looking for a highly skilled Specialist MSK Physiotherapist to join our senior team .

You will need to be an experienced, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

You must have relevant clinical experience, teaching and organisational skills, with evidence of CPD.

The post holder(s) will work autonomously within MCATS clinics. As such you should have previous experience of working as an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in an MSK Triage and Treat Service or be ready to make this step with our support.

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

Main duties of the job

You will also provide expert patient assessment and treatment and senior clinical support to the physiotherapy team.

The post holder(s) will assist the MSK Team Lead in developing physiotherapy services within the MSK pathway, where they will hold a clinical caseload comprising of patients referred to the MSK department.

You should be a dynamic and motivated physiotherapist, who can provide decisive and effective Physiotherapy input and can demonstrate leadership qualities, effective communication skills, a flexible approach and an ability to work under pressure, both as part of a team and independently.

In LGT you will join a friendly and dedicated Physiotherapy and Therapies team, driven to provide a quality, innovative and person-centred service. We will support you with a supervision, training and appraisal structure to enhance your professional development.

The post holder will input into clinical governance activity, supervision and the development of Band 7, 6 and 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistant staff working within the MSK outpatients setting and will assist in coordinating a rolling programme of audit and training within the pathway.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder’s key responsibility is to work autonomously as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) and Physiotherapist on behalf of LGT.

The APP is a highly experienced clinician who independently manages a significant and highly specialised clinical caseload. Areas of work might include the Musculoskeletal Community Assessment, Triage and Treat Service (MCATS) based at UHL, the MSK physiotherapy departments based at Queen Elizabeth or Lewisham hospital, or other areas as required. APP staff provide clinical leadership to physiotherapy staff working in the musculoskeletal outpatient team. To achieve this, the post holder works in close collaboration with the Physiotherapy Outpatient Team Lead (as applicable), and APP colleagues.

The post holder assists in leading a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research across the speciality.

7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and the post holder may be required to undertake a different working pattern, including weekends, in the future.

Staff working in UCC will be required to work weekends.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Physiotherapy B7 Outpatient pathway Leads, Rheumatology consultants, A&E Clinical Lead Consultants, Trauma & Orthopaedic Consultants, Patient Management Centres in all Boroughs, Local Commissioners, L&G Information Department, Senior Therapists in Occupational Therapy / Speech and Language Therapy / Dietetics, All Physiotherapy Staff Working in Musculoskeletal Pathway, ESP staff working in MCATS services in Community, Nursing Leads in associated specialities, Referring Hospitals, Social Services, Community Services, GPs, Voluntary Services, Academic Institutions, Musculoskeletal Specialists external to L&G.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLINICAL

1          To be responsible for the delivery of advanced physiotherapy clinics, working autonomously.

2          To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and skills beyond the scope of Physiotherapy ie requesting x-rays, MRI, US scans and blood tests, to aid diagnosis and plan management of patients.

3          To act as a source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions and provide an advisory service to patients, other ESPs, senior Physiotherapists, other healthcare professionals, GPs and consultants.

4          To be involved in triaging of referrals as required.

5          To be an autonomous practitioner and an expert clinician in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients.

6          To develop and maintain skills required to work at a level beyond the scope of practice of Physiotherapy.  This includes referring patients for x-rays, blood tests, MRI scans, ultrasound scans blood tests etc. Where applicable, to be skilled and competent in injection therapy and independent prescribing.

Please read the attached job description for full details