This is an excellent opportunity to join our Musculoskeletal (MSK) Advanced Physiotherapy team at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (LGT), where we are looking for a highly skilled Specialist MSK Physiotherapist to join our senior team. We are expanding our team and re-developing our musculoskeletal services in Lewisham, making this an exciting time and an opportunity to shape our services for the future.
You will need to be an experienced, enthusiastic, and dedicated individual with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You must have relevant clinical experience, teaching and organisational skills, with evidence of CPD.
The post holder will work autonomously within MCATS clinics. As such, you should have previous experience of working as an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist in an MSK Triage and Treat Service or be ready to make this step with our support. You will also work in the MSK Physiotherapy Outpatient department, providing expert patient assessment and treatment and senior clinical support to the team.
The post holder will assist the MSK Team Lead in developing physiotherapy services within the MSK pathway, holding a clinical caseload comprising patients referred to the MSK Outpatient Physiotherapy department. You should be a dynamic and motivated physiotherapist, capable of providing decisive and effective Physiotherapy input and demonstrating leadership qualities, effective communication skills, a flexible approach, and an ability to work under pressure, both as part of a team and independently.
In LGT, you will join a friendly and dedicated Physiotherapy and Therapies team, driven to provide a quality, innovative, and person-centred service. We will support you with a supervision, training, and appraisal structure to enhance your professional development.
The post holder will 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 outpatient setting and will assist in coordinating a rolling programme of audit and training within the pathway.
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 cultivating 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:
1. 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.
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability.
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
5. Making equalities mainstream.
JOB PURPOSE
The post holder’s 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 (as applicable), and APP colleagues.
The post holder assists in leading a rolling programme of education, clinical evaluation, audit, and research across the specialty. 7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust, and the post holder may be required to undertake a different working pattern, including weekends, in the future. Staff working in UCC will be required to work weekends.
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Physiotherapy B7 Outpatient pathway Leads, Rheumatology consultants, A&E Clinical Lead Consultants, Trauma & Orthopaedic Consultants, Patient Management Centres in all Boroughs, Local Commissioners, L&G Information Department, Senior Therapists in Occupational Therapy / Speech and Language Therapy / Dietetics, All Physiotherapy Staff Working in Musculoskeletal Pathway, ESP staff working in MCATS services in Community, Nursing Leads in associated specialties, Referring Hospitals, Social Services, Community Services, GPs, Voluntary Services, Academic Institutions, Musculoskeletal Specialists external to L&G.
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, e.g., 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, including referring patients for x-rays, blood tests, MRI scans, ultrasound scans, 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, 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 the 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 healthcare 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 the designated team, including staff appraisal, performance management, and 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 specialty.
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.
11. To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and Physiotherapy service.
12. To ensure that staff are aware of and comply with Trust policies and procedures undertaking action as necessary.
13. To be responsible for the clinical standards of the physiotherapy staff reporting to the post holder within the designated pathway.
14. To facilitate effective team working within the pathway, leading, assisting, and supporting other team members.
15. To ensure all incidents, accidents, and complaints within the pathway are reported and documented in the appropriate timeframe and in line with Trust policy. To ensure senior physiotherapy managers are made aware of all incidents, accidents, and complaints.
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