Job summary
We are excited to invite applications from experienced MSK physiotherapists seeking to deliver the highest level of clinical care from a general practice setting. The First Contact Practitioner (FCP) model has been designed to support musculoskeletal clinicians in primary care as well as provide a resilient framework for the future of FCP delivery.

The role is 22.50 hours per week, based on a rota pattern Monday - Friday.

As a successful candidate, you will need to have excellent communication skills and be able to negotiate and manage conflicting priorities. You will be able to demonstrate inspirational leadership from your previous leadership roles and be able to drive and deliver improved quality and clinical outcomes for patients. The ability to develop, establish and maintain positive relationships with others both internally and externally to the NHS is essential as is the need to be resilient, confident, and committed.

Evidence of qualifications will be requested at interview and during compliance checks.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will take a lead role implementing and managing MSK related changes within the PCN and maintaining an effective FCP service. This will include liaising with PCN managers, clinical directors, PCN board and other primary care staff as required.

The roles will be based predominantly in Primary Care as part of the established FCP team. You will be the first point of contact for patients with undiagnosed MSK disorders and will need highly developed differential diagnostic skills to ensure patients are managed safely, efficiently, and effectively. You will direct the care pathway for your patients autonomously, including assessment and diagnostics, appropriate self-care advice or onward referral as indicated. You will be familiar with IRMER, which diagnostics are suitable and will be confident in explaining their use and implications to patients. You should have or be currently undertaking Level 7 learning within MSK.

This role is designed to further develop MSK expertise in Primary Care, and as such you will work closely in practices to build excellent working relationships, and develop MSK knowledge, across your PCN. As part of your role, you will be expected to provide supervision and education to the wider clinical team, including primary care staff and other FCPs. You will need to have clear evidence of team working and the ability to contribute towards effective and efficient services.

About us
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values.

People at the Heart
Listen and Involve
Kind and Respectful
ONE Team

WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. We are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.

At WWL we value the benefits a rich and diverse workforce brings to our community and therefore welcome applications from all sections of society.

Job responsibilities

• Attend and feed back to the PCN at meetings as directed by the PCN board.
• Promote the FCP service both locally and nationally
• Be a point of contact for PCN staff for MSK related issues and MSK training.
• Continually audit their service to ensure best practice
• Provide musculoskeletal assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting to the GP practice as a first point of contact.
• To act as a source of expertise on the management of complex and general musculoskeletal patients providing an advisory service to patients, relatives, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals and medical staff.
• To take a major role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients within the speciality who may have complex and or chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated.
• To maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To undertake a role in the planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluation of the FCP service provided to the patients within the PCN on a day-to-day basis.
• To educate and train other health professionals, medical staff and students in the management of musculoskeletal conditions.
• To determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated for patients who would normally be seen by a GP.

Person Specification
Knowledge
Essential

• Evidence of extensive expert professional/clinical knowledge in area
• Evidence of specialist clinical training and CPD relevant to area of practice

Skills
Essential

• Evidence of effective people management and leadership skills
• Highly developed effective communication and negotiation skills
• Excellent clinical reasoning and clinical decision making skills
• Able to work collaboratively with a range of colleagues
• Able to deal with highly distressing and emotional circumstances (discuss prognosis with patients and relatives/carers)

Desirable

• Evidence of ability to design, develop and deliver programmes of specialised learning in line with evidence-based practice

Experience
Essential

• Have extensive experience working within MSK specialty at a senior level.
• Evidence of involvement in the development of programmes of care, protocols and clinical audit
• Evidence of involvement and leadership in teaching and mentoring learners

Desirable

• Experience of working within the NHS

Qualifications
Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Evidence of successful completion equivalent to Master's Degree Level
• To have or be working towards a post graduate qualification in independent prescribing and/or injection therapy
• HCPC professional Council Registration

Desirable

• Member of a relevant special interest group
• Completed Stage 2 FCP Roadmap to Practice

Additional
Essential

• May be exposed to unpleasant working conditions/hazards
• Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
• Able to travel across trust independently
• May be exposed to distressing and occasional highly distressing and emotional circumstances (discusses prognosis with patients and relatives/carers)

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.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).