Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and dedicated individual with good communication and interpersonal skills to join our physiotherapy team. This fixed term post covering maternity leave offers an exciting opportunity to work as an advanced physiotherapy practitioner, specialising in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. The post holder will work autonomously within specialist MSK clinics, in joint clinics with hospital consultants and within the MSK physiotherapy outpatients department, providing expert patient assessment and treatment, making onward referrals where clinically indicated.
You should be a dynamic and motivated physiotherapist, who can provide decisive and effective Physiotherapy input and can demonstrate leadership qualities, effective communication skills, a flexible approach and an ability to work under pressure, both as part of a team and independently.
You must have relevant clinical experience and teaching and organisational skills with evidence of CPD.
We are an innovative Therapy Service and offer a comprehensive supervision, training and appraisal structure to enhance your professional development.
The post holder will need to have previous experience of working with patients within the physiotherapy MSK outpatients setting. A commitment to development is required.
PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this post
Main duties of the job The post holder will assist the Team Lead in developing physiotherapy services within the MSK pathway. The role will include a large clinical caseload comprising of patients referred to the MSK outpatients physiotherapy department.
The post holder will also have a large input into clinical governance activity, supervision and the development of Band 7, 6 and 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistant staff working within the MSK outpatients setting. The post holder will assist in coordinating a rolling programme of audit and training within the pathway.
About us Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
- Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Job responsibilities The post holders key responsibility is to work autonomously as an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner (APP) and Physiotherapist on behalf of LGT.
The APP is a highly experienced clinician who independently manages a significant and highly specialised clinical caseload. Areas of work might include the Musculoskeletal Community Assessment, Triage and Treat Service (MCATS) based at UHL, the MSK physiotherapy departments based at Queen Elizabeth or Lewisham hospital, or other areas as required. APP staff provide clinical leadership to physiotherapy staff working in the musculoskeletal outpatient team. To achieve this, the post holder works in close collaboration with the Physiotherapy Outpatient Team Lead, and APP colleagues.
The post holder assists in leading a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit and research across the speciality.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
CLINICAL
1 To be responsible for the delivery of advanced physiotherapy clinics, working autonomously.
2 To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and skills beyond the scope of Physiotherapy ie requesting x-rays, MRI, US scans and blood tests, to aid diagnosis and plan management of patients.
3 To act as a source of expertise in the management of musculoskeletal conditions and provide an advisory service to patients, other ESPs, senior Physiotherapists, other healthcare professionals, GPs and consultants.
4 To be involved in triaging of referrals as required.
5 To be an autonomous practitioner and an expert clinician in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients.
6 To develop and maintain skills required to work at a level beyond the scope of practice of Physiotherapy. This includes referring patients for x-rays, blood tests, MRI scans, ultrasound scans blood tests etc. Where applicable, to be skilled and competent in injection therapy and independent prescribing.
7 To be aware of the boundaries of own extended scope of practice and to manage the associated clinical risk effectively at all times.
8 To follow up the results of clinical investigations, discuss these with the Consultants and communicate results to the patient when appropriate, arranging further management as necessary.
9 To work with medical staff and the service manager in developing the strategic and operational management of the MSK physiotherapy service.
10 To use a highly advanced theoretical and evidence based knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology and clinical reasoning to assess and diagnose patients, often in situations where conflicting evidence is present.
11 To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, in the MSK outpatient Physiotherapy service, and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and use of time, ensuring a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and under the management of the staff for whom you are clinically responsible.
12 To demonstrate physical ability to carry out highly skilled physiotherapy assessments and interventions including a wide range of therapy techniques and therapeutic handling.
13 To co-ordinate intervention which may include other disciplines, including advising and educating patients, carers and relatives.
14 To provide specialist advice and guidance regarding MSK conditions to other health care professionals, both within and outside the Trust.
15 To be responsible for ensuring that quality standards and effectiveness of patient care are continually improved by self and designated team through formal and informal facilitation / staff development.
16 To propose policy changes concerning the management of patients with MSK conditions in conjunction with the Outpatient physiotherapy team leads and hospital Consultants.
17 To work with the Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in developing the strategic and operational management of the musculoskeletal physiotherapy service.
18 To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.
19 To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and professionally agreed criteria.
20 To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
21 To ensure that individual practice and that of the team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.
22 To produce comprehensive patient related reports for other disciplines or agencies relating to assessment findings and/or treatment outcomes.
23 To undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement, the application of evidence based practice and research where appropriate. To identify and initiate audit projects to review current clinical practice within the pathway.
WORKFORCE
1 To provide expert advice, guidance and support, both spontaneous and planned, to other physiotherapists in the physiotherapeutic management of patients with more complex musculoskeletal problems.
2 To be responsible for the daily management, supervision and co-ordination of designated team, including staff appraisal, performance management, informal grievance management.
3 To assist with shortlisting and act as a panel member in staff recruitment.
4 To assist the Lead Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist, in conjunction with other senior staff, in the efficient day to day management of the physiotherapy service.
5 To use prioritising and time management skills to meet the unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service.
6 To ensure clear and open channels of communication exist within the physiotherapy pathway team. To ensure the cascade of ideas and information to all pathway staff.
7 To initiate and maintain communication links, collaborative working patterns with other nationally recognised experts and networks in the speciality.
8 In the absence of the physiotherapy lead to organise, plan and lead physiotherapy pathway meetings and to attend staff and managerial meetings as requested.
9 To contribute to the clinical induction of physiotherapy staff.
10 To maintain and provide accurate and timely activity information both as an individual and for the designated pathway. To do this in accordance with local and national requirements to help inform service delivery and evaluation.
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