First Contact Practitioner (Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner)

Job overview

We are excited to invite applications from experienced MSK physiotherapists seeking to deliver the highest level of clinical care from a general practice setting. The First Contact Practitioner (FCP) model has been designed to support musculoskeletal clinicians in primary care as well as provide a resilient framework for the future of FCP delivery.

The role is 22.50 hours per week, based on a rota pattern Monday - Friday.

As a successful candidate, you will need to have excellent communication skills and be able to negotiate and manage conflicting priorities. You will be able to demonstrate inspirational leadership from your previous leadership roles and be able to drive and deliver improved quality and clinical outcomes for patients. The ability to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internally and externally to the NHS is essential as is the need to be resilient, confident, and committed.

Evidence of qualifications will be requested at interview and during compliance checks.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will take a lead role implementing and managing MSK related changes within the PCN and maintaining an effective FCP service. This will include liaising with PCN managers, clinical directors, PCN board and other primary care staff as required.

The roles will be based predominantly in Primary Care as part of the established FCP team. You will be the first point of contact for patients with undiagnosed MSK disorders and will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently, and effectively. You will direct the care pathway for your patients autonomously, including assessment and diagnostics, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated. You will be familiar with IRMER, which diagnostics are suitable and will be confident in explaining their use and implications to patients. You should have or be currently undertaking Level 7 learning within MSK.

This role is designed to further develop MSK expertise in Primary Care, and as such you will work closely in practices to build excellent working relationships, and develop MSK knowledge, across your PCN.   As part of your role, you will be expected to provide supervision and education to the wider clinical team, including primary care staff and other FCPs.  You will need to have clear evidence of team working and the ability to contribute towards effective and efficient services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Attend and feed back to the PCN at meetings as directed by the PCN board.
• Promote the FCP service both locally and nationally
• Be a point of contact for PCN staff for MSK related issues and MSK training.
• Continually audit their service to ensure best practice
• Provide musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting to the GP practice as a first point of contact.
• To act as a source of expertise on the management of complex and general musculoskeletal patients providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals and medical staff.
• To take a major role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated.
• To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To undertake a  role in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluation of the FCP service provided to the patients within the PCN on a day-to-day basis.
• To educate and train other health professionals, medical staff and students in the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
• To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated for patients who would normally be seen by a GP.