Job summary
We have a exciting role for a Physiotherapy Technician to join our friendly Outpatients Physiotherapy team. You will play a key role in facilitating patients to reach their full rehabilitative potential outpatient department at Wexham Park Hospital, with a key support role in the hydrotherapy team.
You should have good communication skills and the ability to work flexibly. Good written, computer, organisational and time management skills are essential. You should be able to work independently and as part of a team.
Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
Main duties of the job
Following appropriate training, you will assist in the rehabilitation of a variety of patients with musculoskeletal conditions to help restore their normal level of mobility and function. You will be carrying out treatment utilising a variety of basic therapy techniques following assessment of patients by a physiotherapist. This includes supervising an exercise programme set by the physiotherapist, issuing and teaching use of walking aids or splints, assisting in the running of group exercise classes and assisting in the running of hydrotherapy classes. Following an induction period, you will be expected to manage your own limited patient list. You will be provided with regular supervision and support within the team.
There are some non patient facing jobs involved in the role such as monitoring stock, ordering supplies, cleaning and checking of equipment; and you will manage the administration of the hydrotherapy service and bookings with support from senior staff.
About us
Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust provides NHS hospital services for around 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and south Buckinghamshire.
As well as delivering excellent general hospital services to local people, we provide specialist heart attack, vascular, stroke, spinal, cystic fibrosis and plastic surgery services across a much wider area.
We have three main hospitals - Frimley Park in Frimley near Camberley, Heatherwood in Ascot and Wexham Park near Slough.
Our three core values, and the behaviours that support them, guide everything we do and set out what we expect of our staff in the way they treat patients, visitors, service users and each other, Committed to Excellence, Working Together and Facing the Future.
We are also proud to host the Defence Medical Group South East at Frimley Park with military surgical, medical and nursing personnel working alongside the hospital's NHS staff providing care to patients in all specialties
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical
- After a period of training to be responsible unsupervised for implementing the standards and policies relevant to the speciality working within codes of practice and professional guidelines.
- Within specific guidelines and following training, to be solely responsible and accountable for a clinical case load working within codes of practice and professional guidelines. This includes patient documentation in both professional and medical notes and recording contacts on EPIC. Clinical caseload work will mainly include patient exercise supervision, assistance with patient group exercise classes - land and hydrotherapy, and issuing of walking aids and splints.
- Following adequate training, be able to manage the administrative duties and patient bookings for the hydrotherapy classes and be poolside support for the physiotherapist during classes.
- After receiving instruction from the physiotherapist, to teach and supervise exercises and mobility on those patients who required initial assessment by the qualified physiotherapist
- Assist the physiotherapist in running of regular group exercise classes within the department whilst ensuring a safe environment for the patients
- After receiving instruction, to be able to issue patients with walking aids or splints, which would include measuring up, teaching the patient correct use and ensure their safe use
- To seek advice from Senior staff when:
- Progression of a specialised programme of treatment is required,
- Deterioration in the patients progress has occurred,
- Uncertain on how to proceed.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical risk and reporting untoward incidents.
- To demonstrate a physical ability to carry out physiotherapy interventions and therapeutic handling without direct supervision. There is frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods of time during a day.
- To be responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties adhering to the departments medical devices policy. This includes competency and accuracy to use equipment by you and other healthcare professional, carers and patients.
This job will involve occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids, including sputum, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to hostility in the form of verbal and physical aggression
Management
- After a period of time in post, to be delegated a caseload to treat on a daily basis. This may include responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns, liaising with the Senior Physiotherapist.
- After a period of training in post and with some assistance from the Senior Physiotherapist, to be able to prioritise clinical work and balance other patient related and professional activities in accordance with the departments requirements. This will require occasional concentration in an unpredictable environment.
- With some assistance to be able to manage potentially upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner including but not limited to elderly, confused patients and neurological events.
- To work well within the Outpatients team and MDT to provide an efficient and effective service
- To be involved in the implementation of department policies and the yearly performance plan.
- To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information.
- To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme as an appraisee.
- To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to your line manager and the Physiotherapy Manager immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken.
- To be responsible for cleaning and checking the conditions of relevant equipment
Administrative
- To undertake administrative duties e.g. basic reception desk cover when necessary, photocopying etc
- Ordering office / physiotherapy supplies as needed
- Collect and manage patient feedback questionnaires / responses etc.
- After instruction, being able to use electronic diary system EPIC for making / changing patient appointments and registering new patients on the system
- After instruction, to be able to locate / enter patient notes on EPIC electronic notes system
- To organise archiving / retrieval of patient notes, which are stored off site as and when required
Communication
- To liaise with all members of the MDT with regard to patient care.
- To communicate effectively with other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a comprehensive, seamless approach to care.
- Under indirect supervision to be able to communicate information to patients, carers and other staff.
- To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
- To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy standards and local guidelines.
- To attend and be an active participant in speciality and departmental staff meetings.
- To use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not speak/understand enough English for the purposes of consent and co-operation for treatment.
- To be pro-active in reading minutes of meetings that occur outside of your working hours/during leave and in keeping up to date with information.
- To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.
- To liaise with Information Governance regarding retrieving patient notes from off site documentation storage as and when required
Education
- To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development.
- To participate in the in-service training programme and be pro active with regard to learning from Senior Staff within the unit/department.
- To attend external courses where appropriate giving feedback from any attended.
- When required to have work experience students working alongside you on the unit.
Research/Audit/Quality
- In line with the Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance to participate in the departments clinical audit programme.
- After a period of time in post to initiate audits relevant to your caseload.
- To participate in the specialities annual quality and audit plan which, as part of the performance plan, is monitored on a quarterly basis.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Clinical
- After a period of training to be responsible unsupervised for implementing the standards and policies relevant to the speciality working within codes of practice and professional guidelines.
- Within specific guidelines and following training, to be solely responsible and accountable for a clinical case load working within codes of practice and professional guidelines. This includes patient documentation in both professional and medical notes and recording contacts on EPIC. Clinical caseload work will mainly include patient exercise supervision, assistance with patient group exercise classes - land and hydrotherapy, and issuing of walking aids and splints.
- Following adequate training, be able to manage the administrative duties and patient bookings for the hydrotherapy classes and be poolside support for the physiotherapist during classes.
- After receiving instruction from the physiotherapist, to teach and supervise exercises and mobility on those patients who required initial assessment by the qualified physiotherapist
- Assist the physiotherapist in running of regular group exercise classes within the department whilst ensuring a safe environment for the patients
- After receiving instruction, to be able to issue patients with walking aids or splints, which would include measuring up, teaching the patient correct use and ensure their safe use
- To seek advice from Senior staff when:
- Progression of a specialised programme of treatment is required,
- Deterioration in the patients progress has occurred,
- Uncertain on how to proceed.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical risk and reporting untoward incidents.
- To demonstrate a physical ability to carry out physiotherapy interventions and therapeutic handling without direct supervision. There is frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods of time during a day.
- To be responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties adhering to the departments medical devices policy. This includes competency and accuracy to use equipment by you and other healthcare professional, carers and patients.
This job will involve occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. bodily fluids, including sputum, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to hostility in the form of verbal and physical aggression
Management
- After a period of time in post, to be delegated a caseload to treat on a daily basis. This may include responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns, liaising with the Senior Physiotherapist.
- After a period of training in post and with some assistance from the Senior Physiotherapist, to be able to prioritise clinical work and balance other patient related and professional activities in accordance with the departments requirements. This will require occasional concentration in an unpredictable environment.
- With some assistance to be able to manage potentially upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner including but not limited to elderly, confused patients and neurological events.
- To work well within the Outpatients team and MDT to provide an efficient and effective service
- To be involved in the implementation of department policies and the yearly performance plan.
- To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information.
- To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme as an appraisee.
- To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to your line manager and the Physiotherapy Manager immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken.
- To be responsible for cleaning and checking the conditions of relevant equipment
Administrative
- To undertake administrative duties e.g. basic reception desk cover when necessary, photocopying etc
- Ordering office / physiotherapy supplies as needed
- Collect and manage patient feedback questionnaires / responses etc.
- After instruction, being able to use electronic diary system EPIC for making / changing patient appointments and registering new patients on the system
- After instruction, to be able to locate / enter patient notes on EPIC electronic notes system
- To organise archiving / retrieval of patient notes, which are stored off site as and when required
Communication
- To liaise with all members of the MDT with regard to patient care.
- To communicate effectively with other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a comprehensive, seamless approach to care.
- Under indirect supervision to be able to communicate information to patients, carers and other staff.
- To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
- To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy standards and local guidelines.
- To attend and be an active participant in speciality and departmental staff meetings.
- To use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not speak/understand enough English for the purposes of consent and co-operation for treatment.
- To be pro-active in reading minutes of meetings that occur outside of your working hours/during leave and in keeping up to date with information.
- To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.
- To liaise with Information Governance regarding retrieving patient notes from off site documentation storage as and when required
Education
- To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development.
- To participate in the in-service training programme and be pro active with regard to learning from Senior Staff within the unit/department.
- To attend external courses where appropriate giving feedback from any attended.
- When required to have work experience students working alongside you on the unit.
Research/Audit/Quality
- In line with the Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance to participate in the departments clinical audit programme.
- After a period of time in post to initiate audits relevant to your caseload.
- To participate in the specialities annual quality and audit plan which, as part of the performance plan, is monitored on a quarterly basis.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE / NVQ3 or equivalent qualification to demonstrate numeracy and literacy.
- Understanding of Confidentiality
- Understanding of Health and Safety
- Understanding of Clinical Governance
- Understanding of some Medical Conditions
Desirable
- Associate member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Documented evidence of C.P.D.
Experience
Essential
- Prior experience working in a healthcare setting
- Prior experience working in a general public setting
Desirable
- Prior experience as a Therapies assistant in the relevant speciality
Skills
Essential
- Interpersonal skills to include concise and effective verbal and written communication
- Logical, able to problem solve
- Organisational skills, good time management, able to prioritise workload.
- IT Literate
- Ability to work single handed with individuals and groups
- Teaching skills.
Desirable
- Ability to present information to a small group
- Specific clinical Assistant skills in area of speciality
Special Requirements
Essential
- Willingness to work flexibly
- Be able to work at weekends when required.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE / NVQ3 or equivalent qualification to demonstrate numeracy and literacy.
- Understanding of Confidentiality
- Understanding of Health and Safety
- Understanding of Clinical Governance
- Understanding of some Medical Conditions
Desirable
- Associate member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- Documented evidence of C.P.D.
Experience
Essential
- Prior experience working in a healthcare setting
- Prior experience working in a general public setting
Desirable
- Prior experience as a Therapies assistant in the relevant speciality
Skills
Essential
- Interpersonal skills to include concise and effective verbal and written communication
- Logical, able to problem solve
- Organisational skills, good time management, able to prioritise workload.
- IT Literate
- Ability to work single handed with individuals and groups
- Teaching skills.
Desirable
- Ability to present information to a small group
- Specific clinical Assistant skills in area of speciality
Special Requirements
Essential
- Willingness to work flexibly
- Be able to work at weekends when required.
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.
