Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

Direct work with service users in person, via the telephone, in a group setting or via virtual platform such as zoom, who have diverse needs including non-pharmacological symptom management of fatigue and breathlessness; rehabilitation; falls risk reduction.

Uses holistic assessment, goal setting, advice and intervention for patients in the Inpatient Unit, Community settings (including patients own home) and Day services.

Identifies the service user's priorities and works with them to aid achieving these

Assess peoples information needs andprovides/signposts to resources to meet these needs

Promotes and embeds a culture of patient and community involvement that supports self-management, improving/maintaining independence and wellbeing thorough delivery of patient education to individuals and groups.

Undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, formulate individualized treatment plans, use clinical reasoning and utilize a wide range of treatment skills including exercises, mobilization, walking aid prescription, positioning, posture, and respiratory care.

Uses a rehabilitative approach to palliative care.

Aim to optimize function to empower patients to live as independently as possible, maximising abilities whilst supporting physical and psychological adaption to their advancing, changing condition.

Offers support that improved quality of life from a patients perspective, maintains safety and helps to enable preferred place of care/death

To be able to work as an autonomous, independent practitioner.Work as a lone practitioner in the community with support from the MDT as required

Advises team members, other professionals, patients and carers on functional assessment and adaptations to lifestyle or environment to maximise independence and quality of life

Facilitate fatigue and breathlessness self-management education and support, both 1:1 and within a group setting.

Assess and treat your own workload of patients referred by the wider hospice team. Work collaboratively with clinical colleagues managing referrals to provide a responsive and patient centred service.

Teaches relaxation techniques to alleviate stress and anxiety

Assess, order and advise patients, carers and other health care professionals regarding appropriate equipment to aid independence

• Manage the provision and replacement of physiotherapy equipment necessary for the specialist palliative care services.
• Contributes to risk assessments around equipment provisions, falls prevention and management, and discharges from IPU
• Actively contributes to multi-disciplinary working, including attendance at meeting within the hospice team. Liaises appropriately with health and social care professionals in the community, strengthening partnership working as opportunities arise thus reflecting our hospice strategic intention of collaborative working.
• Utilise and work closely with the Therapy Assistants
• Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• Act as a specialist clinical resource to hospice colleagues and external healthcare providers
• Maintains active professional registration with Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) and is a member of The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)

Works flexibly including accepting delegated responsibility during colleagues' absence to facilitate meeting patient and service needs

• whenever possible.

Work collaboratively with external community colleagues working as part of the developing Integrated Care System

Communication (KSF 3)

Develop and maintain communication with people about difficult matters and/or in difficult situations

Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation using electronic patient record systems as an autonomous practitioner in a manner that respects peoples privacy, dignity and individuality.

Adapt communication methods taking into account culture, background and preferred way of communicating

Demonstrate an understanding of the need to involve patients and carers in decision making, offering them informed choices and respecting their views

Provide feedback to others on their communication where appropriate

Maintains the highest standards of integrity when communicating with patients and the wider public

Contribute fully to multi-disciplinary working within the hospice team and liaise with health care professionals in the community building effective working relationships.

• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of Physiotherapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• To work with colleges in the provision or effective education, public information and web-based materials.

Personal and people development (KSF 3)

Take responsibility for identifying and addressing own education and developmental needs. Uses of IPR programme to work toward agreed objectives

Ensures through continued professional development that high quality clinical practice is maintained and developed using evidence-based approach.

Maintaining the skills required to practice

Enable opportunities for others at develop their knowledge and skills that contributes to the development of the workplace as a learning environment

Understands what sustains own resilience and proactively invests in this.

Accessing staff support though supervision sessions, team regular meetings and regional peer support groups

Service improvement and Quality (KSF2/3)

Works within limits of own competence and area of responsibility and accountability. Gets help and advice where needed.

Undertake and participate in audits to improve services and ensure practice/service developments are evidence based.

Works to support the team. Can be counted on when people ask for help or support

Evaluates the workload and quality of the Physiotherapy service within the hospice and make recommendations for change.

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of patients, in accordance with the CSP Core Standards of Physiotherapy Practice and the HCPC standards of proficiency, conduct, performance and ethics.
• Takes on new work when agreed and make changes to own work, evaluating changes made. This includes consideration of how service improvements will enable equal access to our services and build collaborative service that reach all communities in alignment with SPH strategic intentions
• Prioritises own workload and manages own time in a manner that maintains and promotes high quality.
• Ensures is up to date and works in accordance with all matters relating to Hospice procedure and policy

To identify and utilise appropriate outcome and service impact measures, which accurately evaluate patient response and service development needs.

• To keep abreast of national agendas and published frameworks, guidelines, standards, protocols and policies and international research and evidence, both clinical and professional relating to this specialist area. To use this knowledge to inform and develop service delivery

Develops positive and productive working relationships with other care providers that enable mature partnership working.

• Promotes patient and public experience feedback to influence innovation and change
• Contributes to meetings and projects on behalf of the Therapy Team
• Contributes to the development of relevant hospice policies and procedures, processes, guidelines and protocols.

Health and safety and security (KSF 2)

Look for potential risk to self and others in work activities, environment and processes including issues to lone working

Manages identified risk in the best way possible through the use of risk assessments, including dynamic risk assessment in the moment

Work in way that shows understanding and complies with legislation and hospice policies and procedures on health, safety and risk management

Takes action to manage an emergency, calling for help immediately when appropriate

Reports actual or potential problems that may put health, security or safety at risk, following strict guidelines around information governance. Suggests solutions as appropriate

Work within the safeguarding guidance and policy

Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance including compliance with Health & Safety Policies such as annual training in Manual Handling, CPR, Fire Safety and Risk Management and apply your learning to the work situation

Equality and Diversity (KSF 2)

Promotes equality and diversity in own practice, acting as a role model, ensuring adherence to policies

Challenge bias, prejudice and intolerance if appropriate or brings it to the attention of a manager

Aware of the impact of own behaviour on others

Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for people from different religious and cultural background and sexual orientation

Skills

Essential

• - Good knowledge of Physiotherapy in relevant area (A/I)
• - Self-directed learning (A)
• - Excellent communication and social skills, able to demonstrate the ability to use these skills in an environment associated with regular exposure to highly emotional and distressing circumstances (A/I)
• - Ability to work independently and collaboratively within an MDT (internal and external) with a diverse patient population (A/I)
• - Ability to prioritize workload and organize own work (A/I)
• - Ability to evaluate and assess interventions (A)
• - Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within both formal and informal environments, to provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals. (A)
• - Able to critical appraisal (A)
• - Takes responsibility for own actions (A)
• - Audit, research and presentation skills (A/I)
• - To be aware that frequent episodes of moderate physical activity for short periods during the work pattern are required.
• - Competent IT skills. Able to use Microsoft office and have an aptitude for learning and developing IT skills necessary for the post (A)

Experience

Essential

• - Minimum of 3 years post graduate experience working at band 6 level in a variety of specialities (A/I)
• - Evidence of working in an MDT (A/I)
• - Experience of managing a caseload (A/I)
• - Assessment and treatment using holistic approaches and/or standardised assessments as appropriate (A/I)- Experience of working with adults in an inpatient and community setting (A/I)
• - Clinical experience including:
• Rehabilitation
• Energy conservation/fatigue management
• Coordination of care across settings and agencies
• Supporting patients individually and in groups
• Supporting carers (A/I)
• - Management of complex discharges within an MDT (A/I)
• - Up to date knowledge about equipment and aids (A/I)
• - Experience and knowledge of implementing service improvement (A/I)
• - Understanding of partnership working with statutory and voluntary agencies (A/I)
• - Understanding of the principles and practice of quality assurance and service evaluation including audit (A/I)
• - Sound knowledge of current developments in palliative and hospice care (A/I)
• - Advanced clinical reasoning and treatment planning (A/I)
• - Desire to work in palliative and end of life care (A/I)

Desirable

• - Experience at band 6 level (A)- Experience of working with people who have a life limiting illness (A/I)
• - Working with multi-cultural and multi faith communities (A/I)
• - Supervisory skills (A/I)
• - Teaching experience (A/I)
• - Leading groups with service users (A/I)
• - Participation service change (A/I)
• - Experience and knowledge of implementing service improvement (A/I)
• - Awareness of current issues within hospice care (A/I)
• - Knowledge of the role of audit in relation to clinical governance (A/I)

Personal Attributes

Essential

• - Flexible and adaptable (A/I)
• - Innovative and Enthusiastic (A/I)
• - Reliable and punctual (A)
• - Self-motivated and able to motive others (A/I)
• - Non-judgemental, and empathetic (A)
• - Positive, approachable and engaging with the common goals and strategy of the hospice. (A/I)
• - Works inclusively and has a genuine appreciation of the value of diversity (A)
• - Committed to personal and team development including sharing knowledge and teaching skills in 1:1 and group setting (A/I)
• - Reflective practitioner who has resilience to being alongside suffering, loss and grief. (A/I)
• - Able to maintain judgement under pressure (A/I)
• - Willingness to learn and adapt (A)
• - Works well in a team, being open and honest (A/I)
• - Self-aware with mechanisms in place to maintain work/life balance (A)
• - Commitment and ability to demonstrate St Peters Hospice values (A/I)
• - A skilled facilitator, able to get the best out of people within a group situation (A/I)
• - Driving license and own transport (A)

Qualifications

Essential

• - Degree in Physiotherapy (A)
• - Evidence of relevant post registration education and CPD (A/I)
• - Registration with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) (A)
• - Membership with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) (A)
• - Full driving licence

Desirable

• - Relevant validated academic course and clinical courses (particularly in palliative care) (A/I)
• - Advanced communication skills training (A/I)
• - Member of CSP clinical interest groups, the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care (A/)
• - Mentoring or teaching qualification (A)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

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.

UK Registration

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