Job responsibilities
- Clinical
1.1. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
1.2. 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.
1.3. 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.
1.4. To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 senior physiotherapist for managing patients with a variety of conditions within the speciality area and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions within each rotation.
1.5. Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans.
1.6. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
1.7. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients and carers 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, be unable to accept diagnosis or whose first language is not English.
1.8. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
1.9. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.
1.10. Work within trust clinical guidelines and professional guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
1.11. When working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner with support from a senior physiotherapist if required. This will include making clinical decisions.
1.12. When working on the emergency respiratory on-call rota, provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients respiratory and chest function/condition.
1.13. To be responsible for maintaining own accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records and those of staff responsible to the post holder, in line with professional standards of practice and within the parameters laid down in the Trusts Therapy Note Keeping Policy.
1.14. Represent physiotherapy service and/or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
1.15. To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all therapy equipment, appliances and aids. Ensure that junior staff/assistants attain competency prior to use. To undertake duties at all times with regard to the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.
1.16. To write reports reflecting specialist knowledge, ensuring copies are sent to appropriate parties in line with Trust guidance on consent and confidentiality.
1.17. To manage patients with challenging behaviours by the application of appropriate management strategies.
1.18. To participate in weekend and emergency respiratory rotas, as part of the seven day working system.
1.19. To participate in providing a service over an extended working day by working 7.5 hour days between 8:00 and 18:00
- Professional
2.1. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development in accordance with Health Professions Councils recommendations. This will include respiratory competence for on-call and weekend work.
2.2. To be responsible for teaching and supervising student physiotherapists to graduate level on therapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas.
2.3. Teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of newly qualified physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistant staff with support from more senior staff, in line with the Trusts Performance, Talent and Personal Development Review Policy.
2.4. Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidenced-based practice in the areas of each rotation, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types.
2.5. Undertake an evidence-based project within each rotation and develop improvements to service delivery and clinical practice. Make recommendations for change to the Senior Physiotherapist within that area.
2.6. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with the agreed personal development programme to meet set knowledge and competencies.
2.7. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with more senior therapists.
2.8. Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.
2.9. To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects. To participate in research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives.
2.10. To maintain patient confidentiality at all times and to comply with Data Protection legislation.
2.11. Be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as Journal Clubs, Professional Groups, Clinical Interest Groups, Peer Review Groups and other professional development activities.
- Organisationa
3.1. To work across a seven day working pattern and contribute to provision of an extended working day service.
3.2. Be responsible for the clinical supervision and co-ordination of junior staff, students and assistants on a daily basis.
3.3. Ensure that own practice and that of staff under your supervision meet the required professional standards of physiotherapy practice.
3.4. Deputise for the Band 7 senior physiotherapist when necessary, taking responsibility for the operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.
3.5. To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise. Comply with the departmental case weighting policy.
3.6. Other duties may be delegated, as appropriate to the grade, by the Deputy Head of Therapy, OT and PT Clinical Lead or Senior Physiotherapist of the relevant area of work.
The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation with the post holder.
The post holder might be required to work across the Trust at any time throughout the duration of his/her contract, which may entail travel and working at different hospital.
