Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner for In-Patients

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.

If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.

Communication

To be able to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g., Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential. Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g., blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties / dementia, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools. Educate patients, carers and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g., therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition

Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on health promotion, advise on access to community exercise opportunities (gym referral schemes, classes, walking groups etc) for ongoing self-management.

Use advanced empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients Rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling.

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

Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions, and specific areas of induction process e.g., new members of staff and students.

Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.

Liaise with other team members on day-to-day issues and ward management e.g., staff shortages, increased patient caseload.

Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact. Initiate documentation for assessment, transfer and discharge and be conversant with university and multi-professional documentation.

To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting situations in an empathetic manner.

Service Delivery and Improvement

Comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures.

Actively involved in the evaluation of current practice, discussions, data collection, audit and relevant projects regarding service evaluation and development be able to contribute to suggestions for change.

Participates in the provision of weekend Physiotherapy services as appropriate.

Identifying new work and working in different ways

To be flexible to enable taking on new work or to work in a different way if required.

To highlight any concerns regarding the service to the team lead and to offer constructive suggestions where possible.

People Management and Development

Participate in the planning, administration and delivery of IST and other relevant courses offered to relevant staff from own and other departments and trusts e.g., Physiotherapy Assistant course.

Responsible for the supervision, training, and appraisal of less experienced staff e.g., physiotherapy assistant staff / Apprentice.

Responsible maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan.

To identify own learning needs and be open to feedback regarding own performance.

To participate and engage in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee by preparing for the appraisal, evaluating own practice, and identifying learning needs and strategies to improve.

To assist in the development of others such as helping induct new staff, supporting peers and assisting students in conjunction with their educator.

Patient Care Delivery

Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of the patients pathology, exercise-based therapy and other relevant therapy techniques.

Take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment, and evaluation of appropriate patients some of which may be more complex in nature.

Assist nursing staff and therapists as required regarding day-to-day care of patients, e.g., toileting needs, transfers, maintaining hygienic environment.

Correctly apply various therapeutic aids as appropriate e.g., Gym equipment, continuous passive movement machine (CPM), splints, braces, plaster shoes, walking aids, resistance bands, sliding boards, floor pedals and weights.

Support Physiotherapist by undertaking skilled Physiotherapy techniques e.g., exercise instruction, manual therapy techniques, gait re-education and functional transfers with individuals.

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, to own competency level.

Work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g., health care assistants, occupational therapy assistants, nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential.

Facilitate patient progression through care pathways which may involve cross therapy working following appropriate training.

Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g., therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition

Ability to manage potentially complex situations where patients, relatives or colleagues have voiced concerns, or where there is confrontation. To be able to manage situation sensitively and in accordance with trust policies, seeking senior support where required.

To report any abnormal or pertinent observational findings to the Physiotherapist with the appropriate degree of urgency.

Person Specification

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

• Completion of Band 3 Physiotherapy Technician competencies
• Clinical experience in an inpatient acute hospital setting
• Health care related qualification at NVQ level 4 or equivalent qualification or equivalent level of experience.

Desirable

• 5 GCSE's Grade A-D including English and Maths or Level 1 Functional Skills

Skills Non-Clinical

Essential

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Desirable

• An understanding or involvement in service development or audit, and an understanding of quality issues.

Skills Clinical

Essential

• Previous clinical in-patient NHS experience.
• Knowledge of human anatomy and Physiology.
• Understanding of exercise rehabilitation and prescription.

Desirable

• Completion of healthcare related courses.

People Management

Essential

• Proactive in own learning and develop knowledge and skills.
• Evidence of supervision and support of other members of a physiotherapy team.
• Evidence of previous experience of involvement in facilitating teaching / IST

Desirable

• Evidence of own development of knowledge and skills e.g. Portfolio / CPD (continuing professional development)

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Specific Requirement

Essential

• Flexible working patterns

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

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH

Employer's website

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