Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities –

• Provide first contact assessment and proactive first line management of appropriately identified patients with MSK conditions.
• Provide early identification of concerns and plan to mitigate or escalate risks as appropriate.
• Triage of referrals received by the service with the support of the Consultant Physiotherapist, Advanced Practice Physiotherapists and GPSIs to decide on the most appropriate pathway for patients referred with musculoskeletal conditions/ problems.
• Assess a patient’s understanding of physiotherapy proposals and gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• Undertake an advanced specialist assessment of patients, provide a diagnosis, formulate an accurate prognosis, discuss treatment options and agree a goal orientated individual treatment programme, with the patient’s informed consent.
• Undertake highly skilled and clinically advanced procedures and interventions within the scope of physiotherapy practice, such as Injection therapy.
• Work with outside agencies, e.g. Sports Centres, to facilitate a patient’s transition to ongoing physical self-management.
• Provide spontaneous and planned advice and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• Be responsible for the comprehensive discharge planning of patients referring them on appropriately if necessary.
• Provide clinical leadership for staff including implementing “in-service development” within area of specialty.
• Be a recognised source of clinical expertise advice and guidance within an area of clinical specialty for senior colleagues working in the team.
• Provide a specialist opinion for physiotherapy/medical colleagues in more complex cases.
• Accept patients with complex needs, for example, those who require advanced interventions, referred to them from senior physiotherapy colleagues, following discussion and with the patient’s agreement to the course of action.
• Assist in the co-ordination of student placements within the Physiotherapy Department in liaison with the Clinical Facilitator and the relevant Team Administrator (Co-ordinator). You may be required to allow a student to observe your working practices as a small part of their placement.
• Be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment utilised in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

Quality Improvement

• Evaluate service provision and develop evidence-based practice forwarding change as needed.
• Be an essential part of the process of developing the clinical effectiveness agenda, liaising with Clinical Lead and clinical colleagues and with support from the management team to identify, initiate and undertake relevant audit topics and research projects.
• Be actively involved in the process of the development, implementation and maintenance of clinical standards, protocols and guidelines within the area of practice.
• Critically appraise evidence from diverse sources to make informed judgements about its quality and application to practice.

 Training and Development

• Act as a leader in “In-Service” activities, journal clubs, tutorials, etc.
• Identify training needs of and provide CPD opportunities for Senior Clinical Staff.
• Identify own training and development needs.
• Provide CPD and training to senior professionals working within the service.
• Contribute to training, supervision, and development of PCN staff

Communication

• Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients. This will include patients who have cognitive and other problems, for example they may be dysphasic, hearing impaired, visually impaired or depressed.
• Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients who have difficulty in coming to terms with diagnosis/prognosis.
• Discuss and communicate with the Team Leader on decisions taken regarding information that needs to be brought to the attention of the Clinical Service Lead.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the Physiotherapy Team Staff on site and also with members of the wider team across the service.
• Maintain and further develop links with Secondary Care colleagues.
• Communicate effectively with patients in order to meet their differing needs.
• Where indicated and in agreement with the patient, to communicate with other members of medical staff, relatives and carers.
• Undertake written communication providing feedback to referring agents or referring patients onto other professionals by compiling clinical written reports.
• Discuss clinical physiotherapy issues with other partners in health when required and in agreement with the Clinical Area Service Lead.
• Communicate effectively with other professionals from Health Care and outside organisations when representing the Physiotherapy Service.
• Communicate with other organisations, etc to ensure information available for patients is current, for example, advice leaflets from voluntary organisations, which the Physiotherapy Service issues to patients.

Professional Responsibilities

• Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care, in accordance with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Core Standards 2005 and Trust clinical guidelines.
• Be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continued professional development activities and the maintenance of a portfolio, keeping up-to-date of any developments and bringing them to the attention of the wider team as appropriate.
• Undertake valuation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice, audit and outcome measures either individually or with other Senior Physiotherapists.
• Undertake relevant post-graduate modules at Masters level and to use knowledge gained from the experience to benefit the Service.
• Maintain and develop skills required to practice at a clinical specialist level.
• Supervise and delegate duties to Assistants, which will involve compiling and giving written instructions, ensuring they are carried out appropriately.
• Act as a clinical lead on clinical governance issues in the area of speciality in liaison with other clinical specialists and the clinical facilitator.
• Complete all mandatory training as stipulated by the organisation.
• Attend “Team Meetings” as required and any absence should be agreed with the Line Manager.

• To be actively involved in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraiser of Band 6 Staff and/or other grades as appropriate. To also be involved in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and to comply with your agreed Personal Development Plan.
• Be proactive in representing the Trust’s Physiotherapy Service regarding your Clinical Speciality; this could be locally, contributing specialist knowledge for strategic planning, regionally at clinical forums or nationally at, for example Conferences.