Physiotherapist - Luton Falls Team

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of clients and always ensuring confidentiality.

Ensuring a standard of documentation that meets CSP and Trust guidelines.

To work autonomously whilst being aware of professional limitations and seeking support as necessary through formal and informal individual sessions with peers/more senior physiotherapists.

To write comprehensive and informative reports, letters and documentation regarding individual client diagnosis, progress, and outcomes to a variety of sources i.e., GP`s, case managers.

Be responsible for gaining valid, informed consent for assessment, treatment interventions and sharing of information in compliance with legal and professional guidelines. To be able to interpret and follow these guidelines in circumstances where clients do not have capacity to provide informed consent.

Consistently communicate effectively with patients and carers/family via clear verbal, non-verbal and written means to maximise rehabilitation potential. To use communication skills of negotiation, motivation, explanation, and reassurance and to gain informed consent.

Work closely with other healthcare professionals e.g. Physiotherapists, falls support workers, Dieticians, GPs, Pharmacists, Care Managers and nursing teams to provide a comprehensive, seamless service, aiming to improve and maintain functional physical health for clients using the service and to communicate relevant medical information, assessment details, advice and recommendations across agencies and with clients, to provide a coordinated service to meet the clients care needs, in compliance with Trust Guidelines for sharing of information and informed consent. These agencies include Acute Trusts, General Practitioners, Community Rehabilitation Teams, Social Services, other healthcare professionals, voluntary agencies, and care homes.

Ensure a consistently high level of clinical care for the patients under your management and support your peers to do likewise.

To assess and treat patients according to Evidence Based Practice and NICE guidelines for Falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk published on 29 April 2025.

Demonstrate compassion, empathy and sensitivity towards clients who may have complex emotional and physical conditions such as fear of falling, anxiety, pain and other physical psychological and social concerns or when delivering unwelcome news around their condition or rehabilitation prognosis.

To provide an equal level of care, and to ensure equal access for all patients which may include those with potential barriers to treatment.

To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, using investigative and analytical skills.

To use assessment findings in conjunction with recognised clinical reasoning models to formulate a diagnosis of the patients condition.

To develop a treatment plan and set goals in agreement with the patient.

To prioritise appointment bookings according to patients needs.

Provide a variety of therapeutic interventions (which may include manual techniques, electrotherapy, etc), the selection of which is based on level of competence.

Provide advice regarding the patients condition and to employ strategies for self- management to the patient and/or carer/family. To aim towards preventing recurrence of symptoms through health promotion and information which is both accessible and easily understood by all patients (e.g., using interpreters, translated material).

Use objective markers/outcome measures to evaluate and refine clinical practice.

To support the running of community evidence-based strength and balance groups and deliver educational talks around falls prevention and falls risk management. After clients complete the strength and balance groups, be responsible for their follow up.

Comply with local risk assessments when dealing with complex clients with challenging behavioural needs and high-risk extreme environments.

Be responsible for accepting allocated clients, organising, and prioritising own caseload to meet service needs and to communicate with your supervisor if the service needs cannot be met.

Prescribe appropriate equipment, following the Community Equipment Services procedures, to clients to maximise their independence.

Having a valid UK drivers license and own car to travel to clients homes, community centres and hospitals taking necessary assessment and treatment equipment as required.

Be responsible for the safe storage and safe moving and handling of therapy equipment.

Work as a lone practitioner, within the guidelines of the Lone Working Policy, when performing home visits

Identify clients who need support from outside agencies, using clinical reasoning and analysis skills. To liaise with, and to refer clients to these services which include other Healthcare Services, Healthcare Professionals and Voluntary agencies as appropriate.

To be involved in the promotion of falls prevention and management strategies with the general public and other organisations e.g., National Falls Awareness Week, GP Coffee mornings

Demonstrate skills to motivate clients and the general public across a range of situations through verbal and written means, both formally and informally, to take responsibility for their own rehabilitation and reduce their falls risk through continued exercise participation.

To demonstrate verbal and written skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations in a formal and informal manner.

Be responsible for gaining valid, informed consent for assessment, treatment interventions and sharing of information in compliance with legal and professional guidelines. To be able to interpret and follow these guidelines in circumstances where clients do not have capacity to provide informed consent.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Degree or equivalent, e.g. BSc,MSc or Diploma entry level qualification into the Physiotherapy profession.
• Current HCPC registration

Desirable

• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in the NHS
• A broad range of undergraduate placements completed including Falls and Frailty
• Community experience - as undergraduate placement or in other services

Desirable

• Experience in facilitating exercise groups and exercises prescription
• Detailed understanding of a wide range of medical conditions.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Effective communication skills, written, verbal, report writing skills
• Time management, ability to organise and prioritise own work
• Car owner and driver

Desirable

• Understanding of clinical supervision
• Experience in SystmOne

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).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Address

Unit 2/3, The Poynt

Poynter's Road

Luton

LU4 0LA

Employer's website

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