This job description is a template. It should be used as a guide and edited according to the specific needs of the practice and the duties required of the post. The role described is equivalent to Band 7/8a.

Job title:                               Practice physiotherapist/first contact practitioner

Contract type:                    [full-time, part-time, job share]

Hours:                                  [number of hours]

Band:                                   [NHS Agenda for Change Band 7/8a]

Salary:                                 [salary, or reference to range within pay grade]

Reporting to:                     Senior practice physiotherapist (in the absence of the senior physiotherapist, the physiotherapist will report to the partners.

                                             In non clinical matters, the practice physiotherapist will report to the practice manager

Line management of:       [include reports]

 

Job summary and scope

1. Use your specialised assessment and triage skills to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis and a management plan for patients presenting in primary care. 

2. Work with patients to reduce the need for medical intervention by planning supported self-management to influence behavioural change, increasing physical activity, mobility and individual independence.

3. Diagnose, treat and request investigations where necessary while working within shared-care guidelines.  This may involve requesting and interpreting X-rays, MRI scans, ultrasound and blood tests to confirm diagnoses and manage patients.

Key responsibilities – clinical

Patient-facing duties

1. Lead own clinics supporting the management of patients with MSK issues referred directly from the practice reception and from other clinical professionals.

2. Manage a complex caseload (including patients with long-term conditions, comorbidities and multifactorial needs).

3. Ensure care is proactive, preventive in focus and population based, with an emphasis on early intervention.

4. Provide care that is tailored to the individual’s needs. This includes appraising the impact of an individual’s clinical status on their general health, well-being and employment status.

5. Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients and carers about complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, pathology and prognosis.

6. Use a range of clinical skills which may include:-
a. non-medical independent prescribing
b. joint / soft tissue injections

Non patient-facing duties

1. Be accountable for decisions and actions under their own registration, supported by a professional culture of peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice.

2. Communicate complex and sensitive information about diagnosis, pathology and prognosis effectively and appropriately with patients and carers.

3. Perform other clinical duties as required, within the scope of the practice physiotherapist’s competencies and training.

4. Keep accurate and complete clinical records.

5. Provide learning opportunities for the whole primary care multi-disciplinary team (MDT).

6. Use specialist knowledge to refer to other clinicians as appropriate, eg orthopaedics specialists, podiatrists, rheumatologists and neurologists.

7. Manage interactions in complex situations, including individuals who have particular mental health needs.

8. Demonstrate understanding of the process for effective utilisation of resources.

9. Perform other non-clinical duties as required, within the scope of competencies and training.

 

Personal and professional development

1. Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of their own work including the management of patients in their care. To work within professional and clinical codes of contact.

2. Undertake evaluation of their own work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice, audit and outcome measures.

3. Keep up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice accordingly.

4. Plan, manage, monitor, advise and review general MSK care programmes for patients in core areas, including disease states and long-term conditions identified by local needs assessment.

5. Act as a mentor and positive role model to students and more junior members of staff, sharing information and good practice.

6. Prioritise own workload and collaborate effectively with others to prioritise team and practice workload.

7. Undertake training as required to ensure competencies for delivering all responsibilities, including attending and contributing to in-house training.

8. Maintain personal development and CPD plans and records of learning, clinical supervision, appraisals of more junior staff, feedback on performance.

9. Keep up to date with current evidence-based approaches to patient care and service delivery, in line with NICE and the National Service Framework.

10. Undertake regular mandatory training, such as emergency life support, manual lifting and handling, safeguarding vulnerable patients, child protection etc.

Other important aspects of the role

Maintaining confidentiality
 
The practice physiotherapist will, as an integral part of and in the course of carrying out their role, have access to confidential and sometimes sensitive information relating to patients, carers and family members, as well as similar information about colleagues. The practice physiotherapist might also have access to confidential commercial information about the practice and its business.

All such information in whatever format and howsoever made available must be treated with strictest confidence. All such information held both within and outside of the practice will be shared only as necessary, and in accordance with the practice’s confidentiality and data-sharing policies, and in line with data protection legislation and the Freedom of Information Act.

Equality and diversity

The practice physiotherapist will comply with the practice’s own equality and diversity policy, and legislation relating to equality and diversity, including (but not limited to):
• Recognising the rights of patients, carers, family members and colleagues, and respecting their needs, beliefs, privacy and dignity.
• Not discriminating against patients, carers, family members or colleagues on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 (or its amendments or later legislation).
• Supporting people who need help to understand and exercise their rights.
• Acting as a role model in relation to promoting equality, diversity and non-discriminatory practices.
• Identifying discriminatory practices and patterns of discrimination, taking appropriate action to tackle them and instead promoting equality.
• Complying with, promoting and evaluating chaperoning policies where applicable.
• Recognising and promoting the right of patients to choose their care provider, and to participate in or refuse care.

Key relationships and contacts

 

Internal	External
GPs Partners Lead practice nurse Practice nurse Healthcare assistants Clinical staff in training Practice manager Reception and administration staff Other employed professions	Patients Patients’ carers and family members CCG physiotherapists Community and hospital physiotherapy teams Locality managers Other healthcare professionals, including dietitians, social care teams, dentists, optometrists, secondary care specialists