Job responsibilities
Key Tasks & Responsibilities of the Post:
Ensure all patients receive
appropriate individualized exercise prescriptionutilising up to date guidelines from
nationally and internationally recognised exercise professional bodies e.g.
British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, ACPICR,
BASES.
Utilise professional qualifications in
demonstrating an excellent knowledgeof cardiovascular and musculoskeletal
anatomy and physiology and associated co-morbidities.
Analyse complex medical information and results
of investigations such asexercise tolerance tests,
echocardiograms, angiograms, and apply results in order to guide to exercise
prescription, liaising as necessary with the wider clinical team.
Ensure all equipment is set out safely and
appropriately.
Contribute, where required, to
overseeing, monitoring and authorising of equipment and ensuring maintenance
and repair.
In order to ensure patients follow
this prescription, excellent communication and negotiation skills will be
required, as the understanding, agreement and co-operation of patients to
follow their exercise programme is essential. The barriers to overcome with
patients may include fear, lack on motivation, apathy, and/or denial of their condition.
Lead group-based exercise classes, providing clear instructions andphysical demonstration of exercises,
where required.
Measure the effectiveness of
the exercise and physical activity prescriptionusing observational methods and outcome
measures, and change prescription accordingly.
Develop individualised
home-based/ independent exercise prescription inconjunction or as an alternative to group-based
activities.
Undertake Intermediate Life
Support training, update annually andmanage medical emergencies in
collaboration with Nursing staff.
Develop/utilise
appropriate record keeping systems (both written andcomputerised) and review regularly in collaboration with Nursing
staff.
Contribute
to the auditing of patient records by audit or peer review in linewith Organisation policy.
Liaise
with the multidisciplinary team and/or primary/secondary health carecolleagues to assist with the provision
of optimum management of patients with on-going or complex cardiac disease.
Undertake all aspects of this role
as an autonomous practitioner, seeking clinical support where required from
colleagues.
Undertake/assist with clinical
audit to assess the effectiveness of the service and make recommendations
regarding changes to improve/develop the needs of the service.
Participate in formal/informal
audit and research projects to further own and team clinical practice, as
required.
Be professional and legally
accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients
in your care.
Undertake health promotion whenever
possible to all age groups and also contribute to planned health promotion
activities.
Maintain accurate records, which
are confidential, up to date, comprehensive and legible. These records may be paper
or IT based systems and must be maintained as specified in the Organisation
Policies, and government directives.
The post holder is required to
comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant
updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager.
Formulate and deliver individual
treatment and care programmes based on
highly developed specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice using
clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of subject area.
Manage clinical/non-clinical risks
within own patient caseload and refer to appropriate multi-disciplinary team as
appropriate.
Provide and receive complex or
sensitive information, where skills are required to communicate effectively with
patients, carers, GP's and Consultant's regarding patient progress and
treatment. This will include patients who may have difficulty understanding or
communicating, e.g. patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, and blind or
may have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.
Demonstrate the ability to use own
initiative and act independently.
Managerial / Leadership:
Day to day management responsibility
of specialist exercise programmes for patients with complex cardiovascular
conditions e.g. Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafts, valve
replacement, angioplasty/stent insertion, heart failure, arrhythmias, heart
transplant, LVAD and associated co-morbidities.
Planning and organising all exercise-based
rehabilitation programmes within the Community Cardiac Team.
Develop, implement and review
policies/standards/protocols for exercisebased rehabilitation e.g. use of
clinical assessment tools/outcome measures and co-ordinate change in practice
as necessary.
Deal with patients property/valuables in a
responsible manner.
Co-ordinate the availability of local leisure
centre Phase IV staff that will beassisting at all Phase III exercise
sessions.
Oversee the work of the Leisure Centre Phase
IV staff during the exerciseclasses and liaise with the Leisure
Centre management regarding any professional issues.
Advise on necessary maintenance and purchase
of exercise-relatedequipment.
Take responsibility for collecting data and
producing reports for Senior managers and all relevant parties regarding
service delivery, exercise attendance and outcome data, as required.
Ensure that patients and Nursing staff are aware
how to operate exerciseequipment safely and allocate staff to
patients as appropriate at the beginning of a session. During the sessions,
monitor the level of supervision required by individual patients and re-allocate
as necessary.
Ensure
that periods of planned absence are covered by colleagues in orderto facilitate the smooth running of the
programme, so that classes are only cancelled in exceptional circumstances.
Ensure
that all-relevant equipment and documentation is taken toappropriate leisure centres so that
emergencies can be dealt with effectively and patient records can be readily
accessed.
Provide support and advice to team
members and act as a resource to other health professionals and community
agencies.
Contribute to an environment
conducive to team building, working and development.
Contribute to and support team through
change processes, being proactive with problem solving.
Undertake an annual IPR as
required, according to trust policy.
Act as a role model for
patients/other team members demonstrating and maintaining high standards of
practice and professional conduct.
Communication:
Work closely with the
Community Cardiac team to provide comprehensive community-based Cardiac
Rehabilitation/Heart Failure support. Other key working relationships include
patients, families, GPs, Practice Nurses, Secondary Care Medical and Nursing
staff, Phase IV Exercise Instructors, leisure centre staff and voluntary
bodies.
Liaise with the Phase IV service providers to
ensure a seamless patientjourney.
Establish and develop ongoing links with other
physical activity providers to facilitate a menu of exercise options
for cardiac patients.
Communicate effectively with patients and
their families on a range of issuesincluding complex or sensitive medical
information regarding their condition, overcoming barriers such as sensory loss
or impairment and learning difficulties.
Be able to effectively communicate
at all levels of the Organisation to a variety of health professionals, users
and carers, in order to provide the best outcomes for service users.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date
patient records and inform other professionals about relevant conditions
/symptoms.
Adopt a flexible approach to the
working day in order to meet the needs of the patients and service.
Be aware of pressures facing your
work colleagues and offer support where possible.
Abide by the Organisational policy
with regard to the use of a mobile phone for work purposes.
Professional:
Move between different sites
and adapt to different working environments e.g. office base/ leisure centres,
managing time and resources appropriately.
Maintain patient records in
line with Organisational policy
Ensure evidence-based
practice at all times utilising relevant policies,standards and guidelines.
Act as a professional
representative of the Community Cardiac team at local and national level.
Be responsible for
identifying personal and professional development pathsthat are consistent with your identified
needs and scope of practice.
Keep abreast of Cardiac Rehabilitation/Heart
Failure and Exercise Physiology literature.
Uphold and maintain Trust
policies and statutory regulations related tohealth and safety.
Education & Training:
Assist Nursing staff in the
development of their knowledge regarding safe
and effective exercise rehabilitation
for patients with complex cardiac conditions.
Facilitate the mentorship and
support of British Association forCardiovascular Prevention and
Rehabilitation Phase IV trainees.
Use expertise in
communicating to patients/family members complexmedical information which may affect
their ability to safely exercise, in a manner that can be understood by those
with varying levels of understanding and capability e.g. those with communication difficulties such as
sensory loss.
Accommodate students on relevant Degree
programmes on observationalplacement.
Assume responsibility for
own professional development and personal knowledge.
Maintain professional
expertise by attending meetings, study days and in service training, wherever
possible.
Undertake mandatory
training, in line with trust policy.
Additional information for all posts:
The post holder is required to comply
with all relevant policies and procedures pertinent to their post. Current
versions can be found on Healthnet or via your manager. The areas listed below
are those Livewell Southwest currently places particular emphasis on. Failure
to follow correct policies and procedures may result in disciplinary action.