ESP/Advanced Practitioner - Rheumatology

JOB DESCRIPTION – August 2016

Job Title / ESP/Advanced Practitioner - Rheumatology
Reports to / Operations Manager
Location / Clinical Locations (South West Essex)
Hours of Work / Full time/Part Time

Main Purpose of Role

This post combines a specialised clinical caseload within a whole MDT MSK pathway and a requirement to provide clinical leadership with regard to MSK and specifically Rheumatology service delivery

·  To apply expert professional knowledge, acquired through highly advanced courses, supplemented by specialist training, continual professional development and clinical experience

·  To provide a highly specialist standard of rheumatology assessment and treatment for patients from Rheumatology, GP’s and other referral sources in order to maximise patient’s rehabilitation outcomes.

·  To provide clinical leadership to staff to ensure safe and effective delivery of clinical interventions in line with professional standards and governance requirements

·  To monitor quality for clinical service delivery ensuring that the patient sits at the centre

·  To oversee and support the delivery of training and education initiatives locally including Clinical Supervision of Physiotherapy team leaders, ESPs and GPSIs as well as In-service training

·  To develop and foster productive relationships with local and national clinical stakeholders including: Consultants, GPs, and other clinically important contacts

·  To personally deliver excellent quality clinical care to patients and lead by example meeting the clinical and commercial needs of the whole MSK pathway

·  To develop and promote a positive and dynamic image and culture to both internal and external stakeholders. At all times reflecting and encouraging core value behaviours amongst Connect employees

Clinical Supervisor to

·  GPSIs

·  ESP/Advanced Practitioners

·  Physiotherapy staff

Direct Reports

·  Nil

Key contacts/relationships

·  Regional Manager (I)

·  Regional Clinical Lead (I)

·  Head of Operations (I)

·  Local Operational Leads (I)

·  National Clinical Manager (I)

·  National Learning & Development Manager (I)

·  CPD Co-ordinators (I)

·  Commissioning and PBC Leads (E)

·  Medical Consultants (E)

·  GPs (E)

Key Tasks

Clinical

·  To have clinical autonomy working within a consultant-led Rheumatology pathway to determine the management of patients, this may include the requesting and interpretation of investigations and thus result in changes in treatment.

·  To formulate, evaluate and reassess individualised management and/or treatment plans, using a high level of clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment skills, including advanced or extended scope skills, and to be able to formulate specialised programmes of care.

·  To practice independently at a highly specialist level, whilst effectively assessing risk.

·  To develop and maintain knowledge and skills required to practice at an advanced level and to use an extended scope of practice beyond traditional physiotherapy including:

o  referral for and interpretation of investigations such as blood tests, EMG, X-rays and MRI scans

o  musculoskeletal injection

o  medical / surgical consultant referral

·  To develop and maintain personal clinical skills through supervision and a personal development plan.

To maintain the highest standards of communication, written and verbal, with patients and colleagues ensuring satisfactory and timely resolution of queries whilst upholding confidentiality in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. To maintain accurate and contemporaneous records, both paper and electronic, in line with Pennine MSK Partnership Ltd policy.

Non Clinical

·  To implement appropriate and agreed frameworks (including in association with HR/Training function, Connect Educational Programmes) to ensure clinical competency for Clinicians to ensure Connect meets the standards of British law, National body healthcare requirements and Connect’s Governance infrastructure

·  To produce and review the required legal frameworks for the delivery of healthcare in line with British law requirements, with support from the Regional Clinical Manager - such as PGDs

·  To report on activities of the Connect Clinical Governance Framework and work closely with the Regional Clinical Manager to contribute to the development, review and quality assurance of training and development programmes are applied

·  To appraise team members and set objectives in line with personal development and service requirements

·  To support the Operational Managers in influencing clinician behaviour to meet key performance indicators ensuring a commercial focus is maintained through Clinical Governance Framework

·  To network with external and internal stakeholders to maintain communication between providers and to motivate, inspire and lead others including change leadership and team developments. This may include: pathway design, service improvements and developments and business development opportunities

·  To provide advice, recommendations and reports to Operations Managers, in relation to clinical standards and education

·  To perform portions of applicant interviews and clinical assessments of clinical staff and adhere to company procedures regarding recruitment

·  To contribute to and carry other adhoc tasks related to role, which, by way of example, may include the following: audit, advice and opinions relating to complaints and incidents

·  To demonstrate ability to identify concerns regarding child safeguarding, welfare and child protection and safeguarding of adults at risk

·  To understand the processes for escalating concerns regarding child protection, welfare and safeguarding for their service or region

·  To ensure that their own personal mandatory training is up to date including refresher training

Key Performance Measures

·  Clinical competencies

·  Patient outcomes and patient satisfaction

·  Service delivery KPIs (personal and team)

Personal Profile

The role of ESP/Advanced Practitioner (Rheumatology) is fundamentally about providing leadership and expertise with regard to clinical delivery in a specialist arm of an integrated whole MSK Pathway.

To achieve this, the ESP/Advanced Practitioner (Rheumatology) will need to demonstrate a high level of clinical competency as well as an ability to think, lead and effectively implement frameworks and services to meet the evolving requirements of the service and patients. They will need to be highly self-motivated and achievement orientated.

From a clinical perspective the ESP/Advanced Practitioner (Rheumatology) will be educated to Masters Level or equivalent level, in the field of musculoskeletal care and Rheumatology and be able to provide a highly specialised source of expertise. They will have an excellent track record of service delivery, leadership and teaching in this arena. They must demonstrate clinical excellence and be able to develop this in others. This is a pro-active position and the holder will need to be able to pick up the challenges of an ever changing landscape and ensure that the service delivers against the agreed performance indicators.

The post holder should demonstrate excellent communication skills with a strong patient focus. In addition, a high degree of competency and commitment to the development of others to enable them to deliver a quality service with the patient at the centre to help to establish Connect as a market leader in the MSK field.

The ESP/Advanced Practitioner (Rheumatology) will need to be organised, consistent and lead by example. Attention to detail and management style will be factors influencing success. The post holder will be expected to be solution focussed, positive, constructive and approachable and carry out tasks with fairness and integrity.

Variation

The duties of this post may be subject to variation from time to time following consultation with the post holder.

Health & Safety

It is the general duty of every employee to take reasonable care for the health and safety of him/herself and others (including patients). This may involve the wearing of suitable protective clothing and footwear, and to co-operate with the management in meeting its responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Any failures to take such care or any contraventions of safety or managerial instructions may result in Disciplinary action being taken.

Confidentiality

All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they may learn relating to their employment, other members of staff and the general public and will be required to confirm their compliance with relevant codes of conduct.

DBS

This post is subject to an enhanced level of DBS disclosure

Declaration

I confirm that I have received a copy of and fully understand the content, responsibilities and accountabilities of my job description.

Signed ______

Date ______

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