JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE POST OF

MUSCULOSKELETAL (MSk) PHYSIOTHERAPIST

IN MSK PHYSIOTHERAPY SERVICE, COMMUNITY HEALTH

TITLE: Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist

AGENDA FOR CHANGE PAY
Band 6
BAND:
DIRECTORATE Community Health
ACCOUNTABLE TO: MSk Physiotherapy Manager/Deputy Manager
REPORTS TO: Locality Lead Physiotherapist
RESPONSIBLE FOR:

JOB SUMMARY:

The postholder will:-

 Provide a high standard of physiotherapy service to musculoskeletal outpatients.

 Provide specialist advice regarding the musculoskeletal physiotherapy assessment,
diagnosis and treatment for patients referred to the service.
 Act as a source of expertise on the management of musculoskeletal conditions and to
provide an advisory service to patients, other physiotherapists, other healthcare
professionals and the primary healthcare team including GPs.
 Be responsible for the safe and correct use of physiotherapy equipment within the
department.
 Ensure staff are competent to use physiotherapy equipment within the department.
 Supervise more junior and student physiotherapists, physiotherapy technical instructors and
assistants.

DATE OF JOB DESCRIPTION: February 2012

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist – Band 6 1

 Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

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Job Description for <<Title>> – Post ref:
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Manager
 Deputy Manager of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy
 Locality Lead Physiotherapist
 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy team members of Somerset Partnership
 Hospital and community based nursing staff
 GPs, Consultants and other Clinical Specialists referring into the service
 Extended Scope Practitioners
 Professional colleagues within other Community and Acute Trusts
 Patients and service users

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

1. To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work
including the management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical
care for the patients under your management, and support more junior staff to do likewise.

2. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or

complex presentations.

3. To use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an
accurate diagnosis of their condition.

4. Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on an

advanced knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical
assessment, reasoning skills and a broad knowledge and understanding of treatment skills.

5. To accept responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this

effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

6. To carry out an advanced assessment and treatments of a range of musculoskeletal

conditions with moderate physical effort on a daily basis.

7. To clarify and explain the patient’s condition to them to enable the formulation of realistic
agreed treatment goals and plans. This may sometimes involve the breaking of unwelcome
news to the patient and/or their carers.

8. To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and depression as part of
their complex presentation.

9. To deal sensitively with the relatives and carers of patients.

10. To comply with the Trust Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidance at
all times.

11. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in
line with Trust procedures and Chartered society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards of
practice.

12. To write concise, informative reports detailing treatment outcomes and levels of disability for
medical staff, employers and solicitors.

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 3

13. To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff including senior and junior
physiotherapists and assistants (Band 3 and 2). This will include the use of formal appraisal
documentation.

14. To communicate effectively with patients and their parents, guardians or carers, to
maximise recovery potential, and to ensure understanding of both conditions and treatment.
Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation to encourage patients to
undertake their treatment programme.

15. To ensure that your own actions, and those of the staff you supervise, support equality,
diversity and rights of our patients and their families.

16. To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent and have the
capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to
treatment.

17. When working in the community or in GP practices, to work as a lone practitioner with
telephone support if required.

18. To maintain accurate record of patients’ attendances and treatments using the ICS system.

Professional

1. To work with the Locality Lead to ensure a high standard of clinical care in line with national
and local standards and the CSP code of professional conduct.

2. To maintain personal clinical professional development (CPD), by keeping abreast of any

new trends and developments and incorporate as necessary into the workplace.

3. To take an active role in the in-service training programme by attendance and deliverance
of presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, peer review, in service training
sessions and by attending courses and practising reflective practice.

4. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee, and to be responsible for

complying with your agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and
competencies.

5. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraiser and to formulate personal

development programmes with the appraisee(s).

6. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through
the use of evidence based practice projects, clinical audit and outcome measures either
individually or within the MSk team.

7. To contribute to the induction and training of students and staff.

Organisational
1. To be responsible for organising, prioritising and planning your own caseload to meet
service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change/arise.

2. To ensure that your own practice and that of the staff under your supervision meets the
required professional standards of physiotherapy.

3. To ensure your own ongoing personal/professional development.

4. To comply with the Trust and departmental policies and procedures.

General

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 4

1. To help maintain good communication, liaison and working arrangement with Trust
directorates, other primary care trusts, trusts and other agencies.

2. To keep up to date with all relevant guidance and NHS targets and ensure the effective
dissemination of relevant information as directed.

3. Contribute to relevant projects in relation to the development of the Trusts’ Corporate

Service Plan and organisational objectives as required/appropriate

4. Comply with all relevant the Trust’s policies & procedures in exercising the duties of the
role.

5. Undertake any necessary skills training, professional updates and mandatory training as
appropriate to the post

6. Be able to accommodate change in a rapidly changing environment and encourage team

members to embrace necessary change. Have a positive attitude to challenges and devise
ways to make them happen.

WORKING CONDITIONS

1. The working environment may include contact with unpleasant smells, bodily fluids, soiled
dressings and wounds.

2. The job may include occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

3. The job may involve working in confined or restricted spaces and movements include
bending, kneeling and crouching on a daily basis. Moderate physical effort may be required
on a daily basis including repetitive movements.

NOTE: This post will require travel throughout the Trust.

Person Specification

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 5

 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist
Band 6

REQUIREMENTS ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

 Degree/diploma in  Member of the Chartered

Physiotherapy Society of Physiotherapy
 Registration with the Health
Qualifications and Professions Council (UK)
Training  Evidence of relevant and up to
date post graduate training
 Relevant validated clinical
courses especially orthopaedic
medicine
 Substantial experience within  Working as part of a team
NHS
 Clinical skills encompassing the
core areas of exercise therapy,
management of pain relief,
mobility training and
therapeutic handling
 Sound assessment skills with
clinical reasoning and analytical
ability
 Ability to manage own caseload
and prioritise workload
Knowledge & pressures
Experience
 Understanding of Health and
Safety and Risk Management
Policies
 Effective oral and written
communication skills
 Competency in Moving and
Handling
 Presentation skills
 Computer literacy
 Understanding and use of
reflective practice

 Adaptable to sudden changes  Ability to cope with

in workload with fast distressing situations such
turnaround of patients as imparting unwelcome
 Ability to reflect on and critically news regarding rehabilitation
appraise own performance prospects.
 Able to develop a therapeutic
rapport with patients
Skills and Abilities
 To be forward thinking
 Able to pass on skills and
knowledge to others within
formal and informal
environments

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 6

  Committed to personal and
team development
 Sound communication and
interpersonal skills
Personal Qualities  Understanding of team
dynamics
 Flexible and adaptable
 Motivation, drive, enthusiasm
and confidence in role.
 Access to transport to travel
throughout the Somerset
Partnership area
Other
 Willingness to be flexible in
working locations

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 7

EXPECTATIONS OF THE POST HOLDER

CHANGES TO THE JOB

This post may be subject to changes/review as the needs of the service/department/unit
change. Any changes will be made following consultation with the individual before the
changes are made.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Your attention is drawn to the confidential nature of this post. Disclosures of confidential
information or disclosures of any data of a personal nature can result in prosecution for an
offence under the Data Protection Act 1998 or an action for civil damages under the same
Act in addition to any disciplinary action taken by the Somerset Partnership NHS
Foundation Trust, which might include dismissal. Data Protection applies even after staff
have left their employment with the Trust. It is the responsibility of each member of staff to
be aware of and to comply with, the Staff Code of Confidentiality Policy, which highlights
your responsibilities in respect of service user (patient) confidentiality. Staff who are
governed by a professional Code of Conduct are expected to uphold their professional
body’s provisions relating to confidentiality.

INFORMATION GOVERNANCE
All staff must keep up to date with Trust requirements and changes in this area. Your
attention is drawn specifically to: Information Technology: correct, professional and safe
use of computers and digital data storage solutions. Data Protection: Confidentiality of
service user and staff information either verbally or in writing and including IT solutions,
e.g. secure e-mails, paper records and other media. Freedom of Information: All NHS staff
may receive a FOI request and must be aware of who to contact. Senior Managers will be
responsible for ensuring information governance is complied with by staff they are
responsible for. Each Head of Service or Senior Manager will report any performance
issues in relation to information governance to the Director they are accountable to.

Employees are individually responsible for the quality of data, which they input to Trust
systems and documents.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Staff must also be aware of the Freedom of Information Policy because they may be asked
for confidential personal and/or corporate information under the Freedom of Information
Act, which can only be disclosed if approved. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in
dismissal.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All staff have a responsibility and duty of care to operate safe working practices to prevent
injury to themselves and others affected by their acts or omissions whilst undertaking
duties and activities for the Trust. Individuals may find themselves liable to action if they fail
to report health and safety/risk issues. All staff are required to make themselves aware of
and comply with the Health and Safety policy.

Smoking is prohibited on all Trust sites.

FITNESS TO PRACTISE & TO UNDERTAKE JOB ROLE

The Trust has an obligation to ensure that employees do not start work without careful
examination of their fitness to undertake the post for which they applied.

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 8

Employees should also be honest and trustworthy, acting with integrity at all times. In order
to demonstrate that they are fit to practise, employees should: -

 Act quickly to protect the safety of patients if you have reason to believe that you or
a colleague may not be fit to undertake the duties within their job role.
 Take effective action if they have concerns about the honesty of others.
 Be honest and trustworthy when writing reports, completing and signing forms and
using the RiO electronic patient record system.
 Be honest and trustworthy in any financial dealings, especially if you are managing
finances, and make sure that any funds are used for the purpose they were
intended for.
 Co-operate with any formal inquiry by your professional body or the Trust into your
health, behaviour or performance, or that of anybody else.
 Comply with the regulations of your professional body and all Trust policies and
procedures.
 If the ability to perform Control and Restraint (C&R) or Prevention of Violence,
Management of Aggression (PVMA) techniques is a requirement of the role the
individual must declare physical fitness to undertake such a role.
 All members of staff are required to undertake the level of mandatory training and
personal safety training appropriate to their role and work area, and to keep this
training up to date.

APPRAISAL
Employees are entitled to an annual appraisal identifying learning needs and reflecting on
performance. Each employee should agree a personal development plan and ensure that
they access mandatory training on an annual basis.

This job description is designed to identify principal responsibilities only. The post holder is
required to be flexible in developing the role in accordance with changes in the Trust’s
organisational objectives and priorities.

RECOVERY
All employees are required to have an understanding of the broad principles of the
Recovery Approach and to incorporate them into every aspect of their work in support of
the Trust’s aim to provide services that support people’s recovery through being holistic
and promoting social inclusion, self management, personal autonomy and independence.

INFECTION CONTROL
The Trust regards infection control as an essential requirement in the provision of a safe
service to all its patients. All members of staff will be expected to follow the Trust policies in
relation to infection control and staff have a duty to make themselves aware of the policies
and how they affect them. Decontamination of hands is regarded as an integral part of the
provision of the service and in particular staff in clinical areas who are in patient contact
must decontaminate their hands following all examinations or treatment and before dealing
with another patient. Similarly, ensuring the cleanliness of equipment is the responsibility of
all staff, with staff in clinical areas expected to decontaminate equipment in line with Trust
policy. Staff who are observed not complying with any infection control policy should be
expected to be challenged and action may be taken in line with the Trust's Employee
Relations policy.

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 9

EMERGENCY STAFFING
The trust reserves the right to move staff between units within a (25 mile radius) to cover
emergency staffing situations or to facilitate improved quality of care or skill mix for the
benefit of its patients. The trust does not deem a short-term change of base, for example
to cover a shift, as a material change in contract or terms of employment and the banding
of the post will not change.

If a longer-term change is required, this arrangement will be made by mutual agreement.

SAFEGUARDING
It is a requirement that all staff undertake both the mandatory Level 1 Children and Adults
Safeguarding training. These are combined for all staff and form part of the Trust’s
induction programme. The Trust has clearly defined structures for Safeguarding Adults and
Children; these are underpinned with policies, procedures and additional training where
appropriate depending on individual roles. Each team has a Lead for Safeguarding who
will receive additional role specific guidance and training from the Safeguarding Lead and
Named Nurse. The Trust’s Safeguarding intranet pages provide all staff with up to date
policies, procedures and guidance that must be adhered to as well as other useful
information and contact details for the Safeguarding Team.

SUSTAINABILITY/CARBON FOOTPRINT
The Trust, as one of the largest public organisations in the county, is committed to
promoting sustainable development and reducing the harmful effects of its activities on the
environment. Staff are expected to promote and embrace the principles of sustainable
development in their daily duties; specifically to ensure that they use energy and other
natural resources as efficiently as possible to minimise their carbon footprint.

We are committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and operate a Job Share
Policy.
We welcome applications from people who have personal experience of mental health
difficulties.

This document is available in other formats, including easy read summary versions and
other languages upon request. Should you require this please contact the Information and
Records Officer on 01278 432000

Job Description for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist Band 6 10