Job summary
Please be aware that we are not a sponsor organisation and are currently unable to accept applications from candidates outside of the UK.

The Three Spires Medical Practice has an exciting and rare opportunity for an experienced and highly motivated Spinal Interface Specialist Physiotherapist to join the team working in a specialist role within primary care.

Working 16 hours per week, this is an excellent opportunity for a Physiotherapist with a particular interest and expertise in spinal assessment and management in a progressive primary care environment.

We are a friendly, forward-looking practice who values the work-life balance we are able to provide allowing us to enjoy the beautiful coast and countryside of Cornwall.

Working as an autonomous special interest physiotherapist, you will work at the interface between primary and secondary care, providing advanced assessment and management of patients presenting with complex spinal conditions.

This is a patient-facing role and involves using evidence-based principles/ current best practice, skills and advanced clinical reasoning to establish appropriate diagnosis, formulate individualised management plans and determine the most appropriate pathway for each patient.

Main duties of the job
Please be aware that we are not a sponsor organisation and are currently unable to accept applications from candidates outside of the UK.

The successful applicant will:

• Undertake comprehensive specialist assessments of patients with complex spinal presentations, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis.
• Identify and appropriately manage red flags and serious pathology.
• Provide support on Spinal Interface clinical and service development across the PCN, working with the secondary and community care & MSK services.

You will be HCPC registered, with substantial post-registration experience of in MSK and extensive experience in assessment and management of spinal conditions. You will possess advanced clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills, have excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt in order to respond to the challenging demands of primary care.

About us
The Three Spires Medical Practice operates from Truro Health Park and together our dedicated team of GPs and staff care for around 18,000 patients. We are a learning practice, hosting GP trainees and Medical Students from the Peninsula School of Primary Care and the University of Exeter Medical School.

Job responsibilities
The postholder will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Key responsibilities

• To assess patients, design and implement appropriate treatment regimes for patients in accordance with clinical guidelines and professional codes of conduct as defined by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
• Undertake comprehensive specialist assessment of patients with complex spinal presentations, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis and providing evidence-based conservative management and advice.
• Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with all patients.
• Identify and appropriately manage red flags and serious pathology.
• Support patients with persistent and complex spinal pain using a biopsychosocial approach.
• To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with the CSP standards of practice.
• To perform highly specialised comprehensive physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations, complex physical and psychological conditions and multi-pathologies using clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition. This may include interpretation and analysis of clinical and non-clinical information and investigations, including spinal imaging, within your scope of practice.
• Formulate and deliver highly specialised individual treatment programmes based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options e.g. manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise classes and other alternative options.
• Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, identifying patients requiring onward referral to spinal, orthopaedic, rheumatology, neurosurgical, pain or other specialist services.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, physiotherapists, consultants and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Contribute to MDT discussion and decision-making for complex patients.
• Provide specialist advice and support to colleagues within primary care.
• Contribute to clinical audit, service development and quality improvement.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• BSc/Grad Dip in Physiotherapy
• HCPC Registration
• Substantial post-registration experience in MSK physiotherapy

Desirable

• MSc or postgraduate qualification
• CSP membership
• Advanced Practice / ESP qualification

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working in primary care.
• Significant post-registration MSK experience.
• Substantial experience in assessing and managing spinal conditions.
• Advanced clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis.
• Experience in managing complex spinal presentations and radiculopathy.
• Ability to identify serious pathology and appropriately escalate.
• Understanding of appropriate use of spinal imaging.
• Experience of appropriate onward referral.
• Understanding of persistent pain and biopsychosocial approaches.

Desirable

• Extensive specialist spinal experience.
• Experience in spinal MDTs.
• Experience of specialist spinal triage.
• Experience referring directly to spinal / neurological services.
• Specialist pain management experience.
• Previous Band 7 / Advanced Practice role.

Other
Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Ability to contribute to service development.
• Understanding of clinical governance and audit.
• Evidence of ongoing CPD.
• Ability to work independently and make autonomous clinical decisions.

Desirable

• Previous Band 7 / Advanced Practice role
• Experience in providing professional education, service development or leadership.
• Non-medical prescribing / injection therapy.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.