iMSK Advance Practice Physiotherapist

Job overview

This role would suit either an experienced Advance Clinical Practice Physiotherapist looking for a new challenge, or an experienced MSK physiotherapist looking to develop into the Advance Practice role. Although not necessary but having experience of being part of pain management service or independent prescribing or injections will be an advantage.

Our innovative Service offers a unique multidisciplinary triage with pathways aimed at clinical effectiveness and right place at right time, for all MSK referrals across North West Surrey. We have a team of Advance Practitioners with interest in the rheumatology, pain management, Sonography skills, and orthopedics subspecialties like spine, lower limbs and upper limb.

You will need to access, diagnose and initiate referral to right pathway along providing person centered care. The role involves providing treatments, advice on promoting health and wellbeing as clinically appropriate in managing long term musculoskeletal conditions. The advance practice development is inline with the HEE multi-professional framework.

The advance clinical practice role within the team also acts as an expert resource for physiotherapy and hand therapy department, providing input in managing complex musculoskeletal conditions. You will have close working relationships with clinical leadership from our supportive Orthopaedic, Rheumatology and Pain Consultants as well as access to regular MDT meeting to discuss complex cases.

Main duties of the job

• To provide an expert and highly developed musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis and appropriate onward management of patients presenting with chronic and acute musculoskeletal conditions within the orthopaedic clinics.
• To use specialist skills extended beyond the scope of physiotherapy to aid diagnosis and development of treatment plans in the orthopaedic clinic setting working on own. Patients will be assessed by the practitioner as first contact from the GP referral and will not have been seen by a doctor
• To triage secondary care referrals independently and make onward appropriate consultant/clinic/rehabilitation referrals and to discharge patients directly from the clinic
• To undertake delegated responsibility for the regular electronic triage of orthopaedic referral letters on behalf of the orthopaedic consultants
• To lead, in collaboration with the Trust MSK Lead, on the strategic physiotherapy improvement of local services and patient care pathways relating to spine pain.
• To act as a source of professional advice and expertise to physiotherapists and Consultants, GPs and other external health professionals. Internally the post holder will develop effective working relationships with:
• Orthopaedics, therapies, advance clinical practitioners, pain, rheumatology, radiology teams along with IMSK operational team and patient groups.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• Work autonomously as an advanced practitioner within the specialty, managing a caseload of patients delivering individualised direct patient care.
• Direct responsibility for assessment, examination, investigation and diagnosis of patients within their area of work.
• Appropriately treat patients, resulting in the safe management and appropriate referral or discharge of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations.
• Receive referrals via a variety of sources, including direct patient referral. Manage own caseload and clinical priorities according to agreed protocols and working practices.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinics, participate in ward rounds, patient reviews and multidisciplinary team meetings
• Undertake a variety of clinical skills and provide treatment/ advice as per speciality and scope of practice. Using agreed protocols of clinical practice and professional guidelines. This service may be provided within an acute secondary healthcare facility or in primary, community or home care settings.
• Within scope of practice and clinical competence request and / or undertake diagnostic procedures and clinical investigations related to plans of care
• Utilise scope of practice to undertake Non-Medical Prescribing role and provide advice on medicine management issues associated with the patient specialty group. Work within Trust policy for Medicines Management
• Utilise advanced knowledge and skills relating to the speciality to provide specialist advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team based on patient assessment.
• Provide a seamless, high-quality service from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review, referring to other specialists as required. Provide guidance to staff, patients and their families and carers on pathway navigation
• Lead in the development and updating of referral guidelines and policies for the service.
• Use highly developed communication skills to effectively communicate with colleagues, patients and their relatives/carers, making reports and liaising as required with medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team both verbally and in writing.
• Use professional judgement to act as an advocate for patients to ensure a patient focused approach to the delivery of care. Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management. Escalate any concerns via the nursing / professional structures as required
• Work towards safe and timely discharge and/ or transfer of care of patients from or between hospitals and services and healthcare professionals, ensuring barriers to discharge / transfer are identified and acted upon appropriately.
• Report and raise concerns related to Safeguarding, accessing advice and support as required. Be conversant with Trust policies for safeguarding including the assessment of mental Capacity, and consideration of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the application of the principles of Prevent (counter terrorism awareness)
• Ensure effective and accurate verbal or written handover of patients between healthcare professionals
• Ensure that high standards of all documentation are maintained, with accurate, complete and up-to-date information regarding patient care are kept in accordance with Trust standards.
• Monitor the quality and standard of care provided by all members of the team and all staff in clinical areas. Identifying any skills or training gaps and escalating to the appropriate Senior Nurse or Matron.
• Undertake training to develop further advanced clinical practice roles required by the service to provide a high standard of patient care. •

Continues as per the job description