Trainee First Contact Physiotherapist | Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust in Ealing

An exciting development opportunity for an exceptional candidate, with demonstrable potential, to progress into a Band 8a Advanced Practice First Contact Physiotherapist role. The post is hosted by CNWL and candidates will work within the local PCN. The development programme offers the successful candidate the opportunity, as a Band 7, to successfully complete the associated training package / FCP Portfolio and to work through the competencies for the HEE MSK FCP. Upon successful completion, the successful candidate will be promoted to the Band 8a role. There are multiple roles in South Southall and Acton PCN and this is a full-time role based either in Southall or Acton area in Ealing.

The first contact physiotherapist will work in the PCN whilst also being part of the MSK team. The FCP service in Ealing is well established and provides a high level of training, clinical supervision and support. An agreed time frame will be established during the interview for completion. Should the candidate not successfully complete the development package, then a role as a substantive, permanent Band 7 Physiotherapist will be offered.

As an NHS Trust, we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working in our healthcare settings.

The main duties of the job will be to provide clinical expertise, acting as first-contact physiotherapist and making decisions about the best course of action for patients' care in the area of musculoskeletal, rheumatological and pain management. This will include screening and assessment of patients with undifferentiated conditions to determine that they meet the criteria for self-management, local MSK or community service criteria or to ensure that those with medical needs are rerouted to the appropriate clinician. This will involve face-to-face, telephone or virtual contact with patients, without prior contact with their GP, in order to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan. Onward referral to community or specialist services may be required.

The successful candidate may need to 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 tests, and interpret and act on results to aid diagnosis and the management plans of patients. They will also be expected to 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.

Central and North West London NHS Trust expects all First Contact or Advanced Clinical Practitioners to act in a way which shows you understand our core values and are willing to put them into practice with service users, their friends, family and carers and also other staff members. We expect you to show COMPASSION, contribute to a caring and kind environment and recognise that what you do and say helps can make the lives of others better. We expect you to show RESPECT for everyone and acknowledge and welcome people’s differences rather than ignore them or see them as problematic. We expect you to EMPOWER others and continually try to provide information, resources and support to help others make their own decisions and meet their own needs. We expect you to work in PARTNERSHIP and behave in a way that shows that you recognise that commissioners and users of our services are the people who generate and pay for our work.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

• The First Contact Physiotherapist will work autonomously using highly specialist knowledge and skills to provide care within the musculoskeletal sphere. They will take professional responsibility as a first-contact physiotherapist (FCP), with high-level decision-making and clinical-reasoning skills to assess, diagnose and triage patients. The FCP is accountable for independent clinical management of patients with undiagnosed and undifferentiated conditions. In addition to this, the FCP is also responsible for appropriately referring patients to relevant specialities for any necessary inpatient or outpatient investigations.
• To manage a complex caseload (including patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions, comorbidities and multi-factorial needs).
• To lead, manage and contribute to service delivery and the development of MSK care within the primary care network driving and innovating changes in practice for the benefit of patient care in line with current trust and local needs.
• To be accountable for decisions and actions via HCPC registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice.
• To streamline pathways of care by providing a responsive service so that patients receive timely access to care. To be responsible for promoting clinical excellence in MSK care and provide clinical advice and support to other health care professionals.
• To ensure that care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention and self-management.
• To provide care which is tailored to the individual needs of the patient. This would include appraising the impact of individuals' clinical status on their general health, well-being, employment status (including in relation to function, physical activity, mobility and independence). This may include providing professional and independent clinical care which enables the coordination of a multi-professional seamless service for patients.
• To support patients to set their own goals and be confident in their approach to self-management.
• To communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.
• To use a range of clinical skills which may include: non-medical independent prescribing, joint / soft tissue injections, joint aspiration as the primary care network requires.
• To provide learning opportunities for the whole multi-professional team within primary care.
• To work with the MDT to develop more effective and streamlined clinical pathways and services.
• To exercise professional judgement, justifying and taking responsibility for decisions in unpredictable situations, including in the context of incomplete/contradictory information.
• To manage interactions in complex or conflict situations, including with individuals with particular psychosocial and mental health needs and with colleagues across the primary health care team, sectors and settings. You may need to visit patients in their own home to complete the MSK assessment.