First Contact Physiotherapist

To work as a highly experienced autonomous practitioner to perform an advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations and where appropriate against a competency level to work in an extended role. To use advanced clinical reasoning to provide a diagnosis and develop, deliver and adapt individualised treatment programmes, this may include for example requesting, interpreting and acting upon radiology and pathology tests and listing and consenting for surgery and referral on to others. To be responsible for organising and planning own and other physiotherapy staff and team caseloads to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations or changes arise and to provide specialist physiotherapy reports as requested. To lead, develop and implement monitoring and evaluation of treatment in order to measure progress and outcomes to ensure effectiveness of interventions and service delivery at a highly specialised level. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work and hold responsibility for own caseload for a highly specialist area of the service. To develop and lead robust effective communication with all general practice and Joint Therapies staff and other relevant agencies i.e. GPs and other medical staff, nursing staff, social care staff, carers and service users etc. and support other physiotherapy staff to Communicate effectively to ensure optimised patient care. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with the Practices Professional standards and to ensure that all relevant clinical information is communicated securely and efficiently to the relevant GP practice to provide seamless patient care. To be responsible for and lead others in maintaining stock of equipment and materials and advising on resources to carry out the job and to use correct procedures relating to the safe and competent use, issue and retrieval of equipment, including the prescription of equipment and aids as required. To critically evaluate current research and apply to practice and demonstrate an understanding and application of national and local guidelines, evidence based practice, and legislation relating to health and social care and their impact on service provision. To initiate coordinate and undertake physiotherapy audit and disseminate at local/regional/national level and identify and perform clinical governance activities and participate in the quality agenda and continuous service improvement as required. To actively pursue development opportunities for practice and service delivery, policy implementation and lead specific projects within specific area of practice To maintain a professional portfolio for CPD recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities and to demonstrate acquired highly specialist skills and knowledge of professional practice in order to maintain fitness to practice as an advanced physiotherapist and to work within department and trust policies and relevant professional body codes of conduct and policy. We operate Improved access hours so there will be some requirement to work the occasional Saturday which will always be agreed in advance with the Practitioner.