Job responsibilities
Job Summary
To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessments and management of patients with complex physical and /or chronic presentation and subsequently plan and deliver high quality treatmentprogrammes
To hold responsibility for own caseload as an autonomous practitioner, working without direct supervision. (Access to advice and support from a senior physiotherapist is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated.)
Be involved in audits, surveys and evidence-based projects to further own and teams clinical practice. To make recommendations to the clinical leader of service and be involved in the implementation of any associated changes to practice by the team.
To supervise less experienced Rotational Physiotherapists, Therapy Support Workers and students working on the unit.
To deputise for the Team Leader when necessary, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work to meet service priorities on a daily basis
To participate in the on-call service during the evenings and at weekends.
Duties and Responsibilities
1 Clinical
1.1 To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own workincluding management of patients in your care. To ensure a high standard of clinical care forthe patients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise.
1.2 To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills tailored and specific to formulate individualised treatment plans, using evidence based practice, advanced clinical reasoning anda wide range of treatment skills/options
1.3 To accept clinical responsibility, as an autonomous practitioner, for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.
1.4 To assist the Team Leader in presenting and explaining the latest advances in orthopaedic procedures and rehabilitation to rotational /on-call staff, to ensure their competence in carrying out weekend duties.
1.5 Assess the patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain their valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
1.6 To reassess/evaluate patient progress and alter treatment programmes as required
1.7 To represent the physiotherapy service and / or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meetings or ward rounds, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinaryservice and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the overall treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient diagnosis, progress, appropriate referrals for further interventionsand involvement in discharge planning
1.8 To communicate effectively with patients and their carers, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure their understanding of their condition. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating; for example patients who are deaf, blind, illiterate, dysphasic, experiencing difficulties accepting their diagnosis, and for those who may not speak English or it is their second language.
1.9 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 aconsistent approach to patient care.
1.10 When working on the emergency duty rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintainassociated records as an autonomous practitioner.
1.11 To be an active member of the evening and weekend on-call service, reporting to and advising the medical and nursing staff any necessary assessment findings such as respiratory functionor mobility needs and abilities.
1.12 To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date treatment records for your patients, in line with legal (CSP Standards of Physiotherapy practice) and departmental requirements andcommunicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports or letters when appropriate.
1.13 To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all electrotherapy equipment, gym equipment and patient aids / appliances.
1.14 To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients
2 Professional
2.1 To be responsible for maintaining your own manual dexterity and competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. Keep abreast of developments in the profession and encourage others to do likewise. To be aware of professional clinical interest groups and other professional development activities.
2.2 To set high personal and professional standards of work within the CSP/Trusts clinical guidelines, National Service Frameworks (NSF) and NICE guidance and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
2.3 To be responsible for complying with your own agreed personal development plan (PDP) identified at appraisal, to develop knowledge and competencies further.
2.4 Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidenced based practice, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types.
2.5 Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and/or delivery of presentations at staff meetings, tutorials, shared learning sessions, external courses and peerreview
2.6 Attend annual statutory training days and be responsible for applying the learnt principles to everyday practice e.g. departmental fire evacuations, response to a hydrotherapy pool emergency situation and correct evacuation technique, safe manual handling techniques;thereby providing a Safe working environment for patients and peers.
2.7 To take on the optional responsibility of link training for Health and Safety, Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or Manual handling, or some other additional training duty within the departmentas requested.
2.8 To be responsible for the safe and competent use of walking aids, electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, gym and other therapeutic equipment by patients, carers and other Healthcare professionals, through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
2.9 To be responsible for teaching student physiotherapists to graduate level in physiotherapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas
2.10 To provide guidance and supervision, to rotational physiotherapists, Therapy Support Workers and assistants working in the area.
3 Organisational
3.1 To be responsible for organising and planning own work caseload to meet service and patient priorities, realising the need to be flexible and being able to adjust plans as situations arise.
3.2 To deputise for the Team Leader in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the service in the respective area, organising the workload to meet servicepriorities on a daily basis.
3.3 To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data or statistics for use in service audit and research projects. To undertake audit/research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and / or physiotherapy department research initiatives.
3.4 To attend departmental meetings and contribute ideas for the progress and planning of the service provided.
3.5 To comply with departmental and organisational policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
