Job responsibilities
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES
Clinical patient / client care
Assist the physiotherapists in the management of children using a range ofdelegated exercises and physiotherapy interventions. This could include exercises,fitting splints and equipment.
To assist occupational therapists by engaging in assessment and interventionsessions focusing on activities of daily living as directed by the therapist.
To carry out visits to homes, schools and nurseries to complete the physiotherapy oroccupational therapy programmes and support staff and carers. This will be underthe direction of the therapist but often without direct supervision.
To manage the treatment of children as delegated by the therapist often workingwithout direct supervision, and responsible for monitoring patient progress,modifying therapy programmes and approaches, and reporting back to the therapistof any changes or seeking advice as appropriate.
To employ appropriate approaches to motivate children to participate and engage intherapy sessions. To be able to adjust interaction and styles of communication tomotivate children of all ages with a range of complex conditions/disabilities to workwith intervention programmes and work towards treatment goals.
To aid the therapist in the preparation and management of intervention groups forchildren.
To transfer children using manual handling techniques including the use of specialistequipment, such as hoists and slings.
To carry out the assessment for equipment (e.g. slings) under direct or indirectsupervision of a therapist after completion of competencies.
To undertake highly skilled support work e.g. leading gross motor groups. This mayinvolve facilitating groups without the therapist being present, after completion ofcompetencies.
To undertake intervention sessions with children using a variety of specialistequipment such as specialist bikes, hoists for transfers, gym balls and soft playequipment, standing frames and specialist seating after completion of competencies.
To support qualified therapists in assessment and reviews under direct or indirectguidance.
Carry out routine checks of equipment as instructed by the therapist after training andsupport to ensure competency. This will include size adjustments to standing framesand seating (e.g. seat depth, leg length and hip width). To record, check and adjust
special equipment in school under therapist indirect supervision and to highlight anyconcerns to the therapist.
To use specialist equipment e.g. treadmills, exercise bikes, mobility aids, specialistpens, scissors, adapted paper, specialist seating, toileting and bathing equipment tosupport with assessment or intervention. This will be under direct or indirectsupervision from a qualified therapist.
To use a graded approach when supporting children, families and school staff on toactivities of daily living such as dressing, buttons, shoe laces, scissors, knife andfork skills, handwriting and play.
To support the process of hospital discharge by gathering information and assessingchildren where suitably triaged to an assistant and under indirect supervision by aqualified therapist. This can include assessment and provision of standard beds andmattress; rails, bathing and toileting equipment, seating and ramps after suitabletraining and competency sign off.
To implement hydrotherapy programmes within specialist hydrotherapy settings.
To support children and parent, carers and school staff in implementing therapyadvice and management programmes. This requires empathy, sensitivity and goodinterpersonal skills.
To be skilled in communicating with children of all ages with a range of physical andpsychological barriers to understanding e.g. cerebral palsy, autism, learningdifficulties. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of children andtheir carers.
To work closely with children and young people, carers, families and otherprofessionals, passing information between them and the supervising therapist asappropriate. To liaise with the therapist as necessary regarding childrens care, inparticular highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from interventionsdelivered.
Completes telephone consultations with parents where children are waiting to beseen following a template of questions.
To observe confidentiality of records and health information. Observing the DataProtection and information governance in line with guidelines.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Before completing sessions, review referral notes and background information onEmis.
To record accurate clinical observations in case notes in line with serviceprocedures, using EMIS templates and with good written English.
To enter electronic record keeping data/information as required by the clinical lead.
To be able to use and process videos and photos to aid development of therapeuticprogrammes/ care plans and public relations events.
To be able to use Microsoft Word to produce well-presented therapeuticprogrammes and advice.
Keep the department tidy, clean the therapy equipment regularly, and ensure that nodamaged or problem equipment is used. To ensure appropriate cleaning of allequipment that comes back to therapy bases, within infection control procedures.
To monitor stocks and resources such as hydrotherapy plastic shoes, taping,cliniwipes, paper roll, standardised assessment forms and to order these appropriate.
To ensure that advice sheets / assessment forms for therapy are kept stocked upand easily accessible.
To make arrangements for assessment, servicing, repairs and alterations ofspecialised equipment e.g. chairs, standing frames, walkers. To arrangeappointments with equipment representatives, on therapists request or following atimetable.
Consult equipment manuals to support equipment adjustments.
Be responsible for the safe use of therapy equipment and aids
Maintain a record of location of specialist physiotherapy equipment being stored oron loan to children and young people in the service. To check safety of physiotherapyequipment at set intervals and keep up to date records on service database.
To work with Equipment loan store to ensure equipment is managedcorrectly labelled, and damaged equipment is condemned (e.g. Specialist chairs,toilet aids, bath aids, standing frames)
To make requests using the web based system TCES for equipment loans,collections and fittings in a time-efficient manner.
To help coordinate the planning of review for equipment at home and school.
Be responsible for the administrative arrangements for organising clinics forexample, hydrotherapy sessions, groups, clinics; this includes booking rooms andliaison with carers/parents, school staff.
Photocopying / scanning to support the running of the service as necessary.
Comply with the duties placed on employees by the Bromley Healthcare Health andSafety Policy and Related Procedures and to act in accordance with all instruction,information and training supplied in relation to those duties.
Deal effectively and diplomatically with telephone and face to face enquiries, takingmessages or referring on appropriately as required. This may include takingmessages and talking to clients who have concerns or maybe angry or upset.
To receive initial complaints sensitively, operating a de-escalating approach andensure concerns are raised promptly with the therapist, or inputted on to Datix ifrequired.
Assist in the induction of new staff.
To make onward referrals to other services as directed by a therapist ensuring thatcorrect information is transferred to the referral form, e.g. name, address, medicalconditions, and for reason for referral.
Clinical Governance and Service Development Issues
To demonstrate clinical effectiveness by use of evidence based practice andoutcome measures as agreed with the therapists.
Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmentalor other appropriate meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinicalcare or service provision.
To provide comment and feedback on policies and procedures
To assist the therapy teams with the departmental audits, surveys or action research.
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS - please refer to attached Job Description
