Job responsibilities
Clinical
To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations /multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise classes, electrotherapy techniques and other alternative options.
To take delegated responsibility from the Senior Physiotherapist Team Leader for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions within each rotation.
Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans.
Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
To keep accurate, legible records of patient care in line with service guidelines
Work effectively with those patients whose first language is not English and take into consideration diversity issues in particular differing cultural awareness.
Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis.
Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
Manage clinical risk within own patient case load.
Work within trust clinical guidelines and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
When working in the community and domiciliarysettings work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a specialist physiotherapist if required, adhering to the Trust and service home working policies.
Participation In the emergency respiratory on-call list is expected.
When working on the emergency duty on-call rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner.
When working on the emergency duty on-call rota, provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients respiratory and chest functions / conditions.
Management
Staff are managed and standards of work are maintained and Trust policies for the management of staff performance are adhered to.
Appraisals of staff directly managed are undertaken and that the appraisal process is maintained throughout the team.
Staff receive appropriate health and safety and other mandatory training as prescribed and that relevant records are maintained.
Other records are maintained by the team ensuring compliance with the agreed record keeping systems of the Trust.
Informed consent is obtained where appropriate and documented in accordance with Trust procedures.
New and replacement equipment is not used until it has been commissioned in accordance with Trust policy.
Appropriate risk and other assessments are completed and documented in a timely manner in accordance with Trust policy.
Defective equipment is reported and made safe without delay in accordance with Trust procedures
Equipment is maintained in accordance with Trust policy.
Infection prevention and control procedures are followed by all staff within their area of responsibility
All staff follow Trust clinical governance requirements
Plan the effective daily management of a caseload of patients including responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns.
To be able to prioritise clinical work and balance other patient related and professional activities in accordance with the departmental requirements.
Be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of junior staff, assistants and students on a daily basis, their clinical practice and record keeping .
Represent the physiotherapy service and / or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service, and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all electrotherapy equipment, gym equipment and patient appliances and aids used by patients; ensure that junior staff/assistants attain competency prior to use.
Deputise for Team Leader in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.
To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathic manner including but not limited to ITU, neurology and areas for terminal care.
Communication
To liaise with other physiotherapists as necessary with regard to patient care
To communicate effectively with other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure multidisciplinary approach to care.
To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
To ensure timely and effective communicationwith the Physiotherapy Manager and senior staff on all professional matters.
To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines.
To attend any ward rounds, meetings, case conferences as appropriate in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to discharge.
To attend and be an active participant in specialty, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
Education
- To be responsible for the training of students on clinical placement and band 5, 4,3 or 2 staff within the clinical area.
- To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development.
- To keep abreast of all new developments which includes attending relevant study days and visits to specialist units in consultation with the physiotherapy team.
- Organise and implement physiotherapy and multi professional training sessions when required in the relevant department
- To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training and be available for training other healthcare professionals as required.
- To participate in the IST and post registration education programme. To be proactive with regard to learning from senior staff within the physiotherapy service.
Research/Audit
- To participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the specialty.
- To undertake and present a relevant evidence based project in each rotation if required.
- In line with the Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance,to participate in clinical audit and evaluate your own clinical effectiveness.
- Ensure any ideas to improve quality of patient care are investigated through the physiotherapy service channels.
