PCN First Contact Physiotherapist Hillingdon, England
Job description
About Us:
The Confederation, Hillingdon CIC works with general practice and other healthcare providers in Hillingdon to deliver high quality clinical services to patients. Our aim is to improve care for patients by working collaboratively across primary care and our partners as part of the Integrated Care Partnership. The Confederation team also work to develop and support individual GP practices, PCNs and Neighbourhoods and their changing needs. We are of the NHS but independent, innovative and transformational.
General capacity across primary care is being expanded rapidly. The Confederation is determined to develop as an attractive place to work that provides rewarding roles and opportunities to grow in order to attract and retain great staff that in turn provides the highest quality care.
Our Values:
Job Summary:
As a First Contact Physiotherapist, the post holder will work as part of a multidisciplinary team across the practices of a Primary Care Network (PCN), with the PCNs GPs and other clinicians and staff, as well as staff and clinicians from community, acute, social and voluntary sectors. They will work directly with patients to assess and treat conditions, manage long-term conditions as well as promote self-care. They will be part of a significant team of PCN First Contact Physiotherapists working under the supervision and support of a First Contact Physiotherapist Manager.
Primary Responsibilities:
- 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.
- Progress and request investigations to facilitate diagnosis and choice of treatment regime, understanding the information limitations derived from these and the relative sensitivity and specificity of particular tests diagnostic services such as x-rays and blood test, and interpret and act on results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients.
- Deliver programmes of supported patient self-management, in ways that facilitate behavioural change, optimise individuals' physical activity, mobility, fulfilment of personal goals and independence, and that minimise the need for pharmacological interventions.
-
To independently assimilate and respond in a timely and professional manner to the patient referrals. This includes introducing themselves and the service to the patient in order to create service expectation.
-
To allow sufficient space for a patients history to ascertain relevant information in order to guide treatment options or further investigation or referral.
-
To perform appropriate physical examination to assess patients with a wide range of clinical musculoskeletal conditions in order to reach a clinical decision. Assessment may be made on a variety of systems including the musculoskeletal system. Screening for other systems such as Cardiovascular, Neural or Respiratory will be required.
-
To make clinical judgments as to the best course of action or treatment, accepting the risk for decisions that do not lead to further patient assessment. This involves making a specific plan for ongoing care with appropriate differential diagnosis considered.
-
To provide appropriate healthcare advice which contributes to the diagnosis, care or treatment specific to a wide range of clinical musculoskeletal conditions.
-
Provide brief interventions of assessment, advice and exercise, reducing the need for same day or week GP appointments.
-
To be proactive in encouraging the use of a range of self-management strategies to patients or their carer/relative and in doing so overcome potential barriers. This will frequently require negotiation with patients on the return to activities where cognitive, behavioural and motivational issues may be significant barriers to change.
-
To incorporate relevant extended practice skills into first contact clinics and follow ups as required.
-
To communicate effectively with secondary care providers ensuring that patients are signposted appropriately, building close links between the services.
-
To liaise with on-site staff as appropriate for ongoing care including reception staff, practice nurse, health care assistant and GP.
-
To use the computer system to ensure that appropriate and accurate documentation of all episodes of patient assessment, including any adverse events, Safeguarding issues and other important matters.
-
To encourage and provide relevant feedback into the service from users and other relevant staff. This includes using case studies to improve service design and strategic care management.
- To meet the HCPC Standards of proficiency and work within the Values and Behaviours.
- Contribute physiotherapy advice for the development and implementation of new pathways and services that have physiotherapy components (e.g. advice on treatment pathways and patient information leaflets).
- Provide education, training and awareness advice to the primary healthcare team on physiotherapy matters.
- Work with the general practice team to ensure the practice is compliant with CQC standards.
Collaborative Working Relationships:
- Participates in the Primary Care Network Multidisciplinary Team
- Liaises with CCG colleagues including CCG commissioners, to ensure consistency of patient care and benefit in surgeries.
- Foster and maintain strong links with all services across the PCN and neighbouring networks.
- Explores the potential for collaborative working and takes opportunities to initiate and sustain such relationships.
- Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the organisation and their role to patient care.
- Can recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary.
- Demonstrates ability to integrate general practice with community and hospital physiotherapy teams.
Liaises and demonstrates effective communication with other stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not limited to:
- Patients and their representatives.
- GP, nurses and other practice staff.
- Other healthcare professionals including community pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social prescribers, first contact physiotherapists, physicians associate and paramedics.
- Community nurses and other allied health professionals.
- Hospital staff with responsibilities for physiotherapy.
- Community nurses and other allied health professionals.
Person Specification:
Essential Criteria:
- Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
- BSc/Grad Dip in Physiotherapy
- Evidence of CPD and post registration portfolio
- CPD pertaining to Primary Care and MSK management
- Minimum of 2 years post-qualification experience.
- Experience as Senior Physiotherapist working in autonomous MSK role.
- Clinical experience of triage and care planning.
- Excellent Physical examination skills and prioritisation of relevant screening.
Desirable Criteria:
- MSc or MSc modules for advanced practice
- Extended Scope competencies around bloods, imaging and prescribing
- Experience of working in Primary care and first contact roles.
- Knowledge of other specialities common with pain (Rheumatology, Vascular, Endocrinology etc).
