Physiotherapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

The Physiotherapy Technician will work under the supervision of qualified Physiotherapist contributing to assessment and treatment programmes within an episode of care.

The Physiotherapy Technician will carry a clinical caseload delegated by a qualified member of staff, in addition they will work with qualified staff to assist in the management of their caseload. This will include working in a wide variety of settings including ward, gym and outpatients settings

The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and Department

The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.

7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and it is anticipated that the postholder will be required to work at weekends on a roster basis during some of the above rotations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

1. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a delegated caseload of patients under the direct and indirect supervision of a qualified therapist

1. To work to departmental standard operating procedures and clinical protocols and in conjunction with the supervising clinician to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and service demands

1. To be responsible for implementing programmes of care assessing patient progress and using initiative to suggest changes to treatment plan within agreed competencies. When care deviates from standard operating procedures report back to therapist.

1. To own competency level to be accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist.

1. To assess patients capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient

1. To assist the therapist to undertake the assessment and progression of treatment for patients identified within a delegated caseload

1. To undertake physical treatment techniques utilising developed manual skills

1. To implement individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a range of treatment skills and options to deliver a suitable programme of care.

1. To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Therapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.

1. To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of Physiotherapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.

1. To participate in multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This may include the review of patient progress and discharge planning

1. To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and agreed criteria

1. To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis. To facilitate the best possible communication outcome in every situation and use appropriate services e.g. interpreters, SALT

1. To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.

1. To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion and tact to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme

1. To communicate with empathy routine patient information

1. To receive patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively deliver individual care.

1. To communicate and advise regarding patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working within the Physiotherapy service and with other professionals across health and other agencies to ensure the delivery of a co- ordinated multidisciplinary service.

1. To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with referring hospitals or community staff to which patients are discharged.

1. To participate in the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement

1. To follow service policy regarding current clinical and service developments

1. To be accessible and provide clinical information to colleagues

1. To fully participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future

All clinical staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they are deemed competent in line with trust and professional guidance.

Education, Training and Research

1. To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the aims of therapy intervention

1. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan

1. To participate in peer review as appropriate

1. To participate in regular training in pathway and local site

1. In collaboration with the Pathway Team, to participate in implementation of new working practices on designated site

1. To participate and contribute to the delivery of a specific in-service training programme for staff in the designated pathway

1. To provide information and instruction to other disciplines to ensure a consistent approach to patient care

1. To assist/support colleagues undertaking higher education, audit and research projects

1. To participate in mandatory/statutory training as required by the Trust and national standards

Service Management

1. In collaboration with supervising therapist to manage day to day workload, maintain level of service within the pathway at the local site and assist other members of the team to make appropriate prioritisation choices. To ensure the effective exchange of information across the pathway team and co-ordination of service delivery

1. To use prioritising and time management skills to meet the unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service

1. To participate in ensuring clear and open channels of communication exist within the Physiotherapy pathway team.

1. To maintain communication links and collaborative working patterns with other multidisciplinary staff working in the speciality

1. To participate in Therapy pathway meetings and to attend staff and managerial meetings as requested by the Team Lead and senior Therapy managers

1. To assist in the management of informal conflicts, disagreements and complaints in the local site pathway by using tact and persuasion

1. To ensure all incidents, accidents and complaints within the pathway are reported and documented in the appropriate timeframe and in line with Trust policy. To ensure senior Therapy managers are made aware of all incidents, accidents and complaints

1. To maintain the quality of care provided in the designated pathway at the local site

1. To follow policy within own role and comment or recommend changes where indicated

1. To take responsibility for the regular inspection and safe use of equipment. To advise appropriate personnel of the need to review availability of suitable resources for patient care. To comply with Health & Safety requirements and follow the policy for safe disposal of equipment

1. To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection and ordering of appropriate equipment to be provided to the patient for long term use as an individual and by the local pathway team

1. To maintain and provide accurate and timely activity information both as an individual and for the designated pathway. To do this in accordance with local and national requirements to help inform service delivery and evaluation

1. To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and Therapy service

1. To undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as requested by the Team Lead

Service Development

1. To contribute to the development of a designated Therapy speciality in line with Trustwide Pathway development

1. To contribute to the implementation of service agreed policy and service changes for local work area in line with policy agreed for Pathway as a whole. The post holder will work with the other members of the Pathway Team to achieve this.

1. To contribute to developments within the Therapy service and the wider multidisciplinary/multi-agency team and if requested participate in related project groups

Human Resource Management

1. To demonstrate own duties to other support workers and provide practical training to less experienced staff

1. To participate in the Trust individual performance review process

1. To be aware of and comply with Trust policies and procedures

1. To facilitate effective team working within the pathway, assisting and supporting other team members

1. To contribute to the clinical induction of Therapy staff

Person Specification

Education & Training

Essential

• BTEC or HND or NVQ level 2 or equivalent experience in relevant subject

Desirable

• Undertaken relevant healthcare courses

Experience

Essential

• Experience in health or social care setting
• Experience and ability to work collaboratively within MPT

Desirable

• Previous experience of working within a therapy rehabilitation area either therapy assistant or equivalent
• Experience of an NHS environment

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a base level knowledge of conditions, clinical pathways and therapeutic interventions
• Awareness of clinical governance and its implication for Therapy
• Willingness and ability to undertake multiprofessional competency based skills programme
• Able to communicate routine information to patients, carers other health professionals and team.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment

Desirable

• Awareness and understanding of NHS structure
• Knowledge of local services

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Address

Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich

London

SE18 4QH

Employer's website

https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)