First Contact Practitioner

Job overview

Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisionsabout the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiatedconditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in orderto establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.

To work as a Musculoskeletal Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner and First Contact Practitioner in a primary care community setting.

To provide an expert and highly developed musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and appropriate onward management of patients presenting with chronic and acute musculoskeletal problems to the service referred via their GP.

Triage orthopaedic and rheumatology secondary care referrals independently on electronic referral management systems.

Make onward appropriate consultant and/or physiotherapy referrals and to discharge patients directly from the clinic.

Provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care (including in relation to undifferentiated conditions). This will involve seeing patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan.

Main duties of the job

To assist the musculoskeletal service manager in the operational management and the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating of the HRCH NHS Trust First Contact physiotherapy service.

To assist the Hounslow Planned Care Divisional Manager, Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager, Consultant Physiotherapist, and other lead physiotherapists in the provision of the Musculoskeletal service as necessary.

To advise other health professionals and provide expert specialist advice regarding type of intervention and its impact related to pathology

To evaluate the role of the First Contact Practitioner with the Musculoskeletal Service Clinical Manager and the Divisional Manager for Hounslow Planned Care.

Comply with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Guidelines and Health Professions Council Code of Professional Conduct and all other relevant national and local policies and procedures.

To have made an effective contribution in delivering the Trust’s vision, strategic objectives and key work programmes.

Undertake highly specialist assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with highly complex presentations. Use advanced clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and advanced musculoskeletal expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising specialist treatment skills and options.

Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner’s professional activities.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached

The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.