Job summary
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has an exciting opportunity for a Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner to join our Trauma and Orthopaedics Therapy Team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Following appropriate training and achievement of competencies, you will assess and treat inpatients on the Trauma and Orthopaedic wards.
You will work alongside qualified therapists and other assistants, as well as independently with patients within your scope of practice, on a seven-day rota basis.
This role requires excellent assessment and communication skills, together with the ability to prioritise your workload and thrive in a busy environment. You will implement and monitor treatment interventions and care plans, always striving to put patients first.
The Therapies team follows a Home First ethos, supporting safe discharge at the earliest opportunity. You must therefore be confident in making discharge decisions within your role and liaising with all stakeholders to ensure discharges are timely and safe.
You will also coordinate and supervise Assistants, and contribute to the service-wide training programme.
UK Visa and Immigration Sponsorship: Please note that we do not offer UKVI sponsorship; applicants must already have the right to work in the UK.
This post is currently under review through the Trusts Management of Change process and may transition to a Therapy Assistant Practitioner role. The Job Description and Person Specification may be revised to reflect this change.
Main duties of the job
- Working as part of the Therapy Team to provide high quality therapeutic care through the delivery of specified
assessment and treatment techniques to a defined group of patients. This will
involve working unsupervised at times as well as working with qualified and
unqualified staff.
- To assess, treat and progress treatment of patients in line
with competencies set and assessed by the Senior Physiotherapist and to use
this knowledge to contribute to effective discharge planning as part of the
Multi-disciplinary Team.
- To co-ordinate, supervise and assist
with the training and management of other Physiotherapy assistants, thus
providing a quality and effective support service to the Physiotherapy Team.
- To participate in the weekend
service. The speciality dependant on
experience. This service may include the
treatment of children.
- Working hours will be dependent upon
the service provided within each speciality, this may include 7-day working or
participation in a relevant weekend /bank holiday rota.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large
acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute
services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a
larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from
three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our
caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred
care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to
work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our
everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are proud to have achieved Timewise
accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working
within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a
DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check
(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting
Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full list of duties please refer to the attached Job Description document.
Key Duties:
Clinical:
- To hold responsibility for own caseload within
the defined area of work, at times working without direct supervision. Support
available by bleep.
- Following appropriate training and
demonstration of competency to work unsupervised to assess patients with
mobility and functional impairments.
- To obtain an accurate and full social history
to facilitate early discharge planning, liaising with family/care agencies as
needed.
- To accurately assess range of movement, muscle
power, sensation, sitting and standing balance and transfer abilities.
- To assess and progress patients mobility
including issuing and training in the use of walking aids as appropriate.
- To safely assess a patients ability on the
stairs where needed and correct technique as appropriate.
- To develop and safely deliver individualised
treatment programmes.
- To prepare patients for treatment including
undressing/dressing and toileting.
- Using
own knowledge and reasoning to analyse the patients condition and needs and
modify treatment accordingly.
- To monitor the effectiveness of treatment and
use clinical knowledge to progress the patient within defined protocols.
- To identify the need for ongoing
rehabilitation/support and liaise with the MDT and patient flow centre to
recommend the appropriate level of care on discharge.
- To assist and encourage patients with routine
breathing exercises and chest clearance techniques after completion of
appropriate competencies.
- To maintain accurate and contemporaneous
treatment records including valid consent to interventions.
- To ensure that patient confidentiality is always
maintained.
- To be aware of limitations of own knowledge
and refer to the supervising physiotherapist where appropriate.
Communications:
- To communicate effectively with patients, to
maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and nonverbal methods. This
may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and
reassurance.
- To manage barriers to effective communication
eg hearing loss, altered perception, confusion, anxiety etc.
- To take handover from relevant wards as
designated by Senior Physiotherapist and pass on any relevant information.
- To liaise with designated Physiotherapist
regarding the workload of the area.
- To liaise with Physiotherapists, other members
of the MDT, relatives and carers regarding ongoing care and rehabilitation of
individual patients.
- To represent physiotherapy at ward rounds,
board rounds and case conferences where required.
- To communicate effectively with ward teams,
community teams and Patient Flow Centre regarding patients requirements for
discharge.
Education
and Training:
- To be appraised by the Senior Physiotherapist,
agree personal objectives and personal development plan.
- To complete all required mandatory and
compulsory training and maintaining 100% compliance as per trust requirements.
- To be responsible, with guidance, for
maintaining own competencies through a range of relevant CPD activities and
maintenance of an appropriate portfolio.
- To co-ordinate provision of clinical
supervision/mentorship/training for Physiotherapy assistants.
Organisation and Management:
- To be responsible for prioritising and
managing own clinical workload.
- To manage workloads for short periods in the
absence of a qualified Physiotherapist.
- To be aware of and comply with Professional,
Trust and Departmental policies.
- To make an active contribution to service
development.
- To work with senior staff to supervise and
coordinate Physiotherapy assistants daily.
- To always maintain a safe environment for
patients, visitors and staff.
- To ensure
safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or orthoses and appliances
used in the care of patients.
- To act
immediately to rectify any unsafe practices or environments witnessed and
report adverse incidents or near misses according to Trust policy.
- To provide
statistical information regarding own workload as required for managerial
purposes.
- To provide
administrative support to the physiotherapy team e.g. appointment booking,
stock control, ordering, monitoring the loan of equipment.
- To be
responsible for maintaining a tidy working environment and ensuring that there
is a satisfactory level of cleanliness in the designated area.
- To ensure
appropriate quantities of mobility aids are maintained within the department
and/or deputise for the Equipment Store Person if /when appropriate.
Professional:
- To
maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Clinical
Governance.
- To work
within the Assistant Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy.
- To share
responsibility for maintaining own competence through reflective practice.
- To be
legally accountable for all aspects of own work.
- To assist
with research, audit and service development projects where appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For a full list of duties please refer to the attached Job Description document.
Key Duties:
Clinical:
- To hold responsibility for own caseload within
the defined area of work, at times working without direct supervision. Support
available by bleep.
- Following appropriate training and
demonstration of competency to work unsupervised to assess patients with
mobility and functional impairments.
- To obtain an accurate and full social history
to facilitate early discharge planning, liaising with family/care agencies as
needed.
- To accurately assess range of movement, muscle
power, sensation, sitting and standing balance and transfer abilities.
- To assess and progress patients mobility
including issuing and training in the use of walking aids as appropriate.
- To safely assess a patients ability on the
stairs where needed and correct technique as appropriate.
- To develop and safely deliver individualised
treatment programmes.
- To prepare patients for treatment including
undressing/dressing and toileting.
- Using
own knowledge and reasoning to analyse the patients condition and needs and
modify treatment accordingly.
- To monitor the effectiveness of treatment and
use clinical knowledge to progress the patient within defined protocols.
- To identify the need for ongoing
rehabilitation/support and liaise with the MDT and patient flow centre to
recommend the appropriate level of care on discharge.
- To assist and encourage patients with routine
breathing exercises and chest clearance techniques after completion of
appropriate competencies.
- To maintain accurate and contemporaneous
treatment records including valid consent to interventions.
- To ensure that patient confidentiality is always
maintained.
- To be aware of limitations of own knowledge
and refer to the supervising physiotherapist where appropriate.
Communications:
- To communicate effectively with patients, to
maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and nonverbal methods. This
may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and
reassurance.
- To manage barriers to effective communication
eg hearing loss, altered perception, confusion, anxiety etc.
- To take handover from relevant wards as
designated by Senior Physiotherapist and pass on any relevant information.
- To liaise with designated Physiotherapist
regarding the workload of the area.
- To liaise with Physiotherapists, other members
of the MDT, relatives and carers regarding ongoing care and rehabilitation of
individual patients.
- To represent physiotherapy at ward rounds,
board rounds and case conferences where required.
- To communicate effectively with ward teams,
community teams and Patient Flow Centre regarding patients requirements for
discharge.
Education
and Training:
- To be appraised by the Senior Physiotherapist,
agree personal objectives and personal development plan.
- To complete all required mandatory and
compulsory training and maintaining 100% compliance as per trust requirements.
- To be responsible, with guidance, for
maintaining own competencies through a range of relevant CPD activities and
maintenance of an appropriate portfolio.
- To co-ordinate provision of clinical
supervision/mentorship/training for Physiotherapy assistants.
Organisation and Management:
- To be responsible for prioritising and
managing own clinical workload.
- To manage workloads for short periods in the
absence of a qualified Physiotherapist.
- To be aware of and comply with Professional,
Trust and Departmental policies.
- To make an active contribution to service
development.
- To work with senior staff to supervise and
coordinate Physiotherapy assistants daily.
- To always maintain a safe environment for
patients, visitors and staff.
- To ensure
safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or orthoses and appliances
used in the care of patients.
- To act
immediately to rectify any unsafe practices or environments witnessed and
report adverse incidents or near misses according to Trust policy.
- To provide
statistical information regarding own workload as required for managerial
purposes.
- To provide
administrative support to the physiotherapy team e.g. appointment booking,
stock control, ordering, monitoring the loan of equipment.
- To be
responsible for maintaining a tidy working environment and ensuring that there
is a satisfactory level of cleanliness in the designated area.
- To ensure
appropriate quantities of mobility aids are maintained within the department
and/or deputise for the Equipment Store Person if /when appropriate.
Professional:
- To
maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Clinical
Governance.
- To work
within the Assistant Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy.
- To share
responsibility for maintaining own competence through reflective practice.
- To be
legally accountable for all aspects of own work.
- To assist
with research, audit and service development projects where appropriate.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Shows commitment to the role and Trust.
- Proactive in self development and CPD.
- Always conducts self in a professional manner.
- Enthusiastic about role and speciality.
- Able to show initiative.
- Good inter-personal skills.
- Ability to problem solve.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience as a Senior Therapy Assistant working with different client groups.
- Experience of working in an acute setting.
- Evidence of work using a wide range of required skills.
- Evidence of thorough, relevant self-development.
- Experience of managing own caseload.
Desirable
- Experience of organising and/or providing training to others.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Effective and appropriate written and verbal communication skills.
- Completion of broad based competencies in therapy related skills.
- Evidence of appropriate personal skills e.g. responsible, flexible, well-organised.
- Evidence of good team working.
- Evidence of patient handling skills.
- Computer Literate.
Desirable
- Evidence of activities involving leadership /management skills.
- Understanding of professional, legal and clinical governance issues.
Qualifications
Essential
- Functional Skills (level 2) or Maths & English GCSE (grades 9-4 or A*-C).
- A foundation degree Health and Social care or equivalent level 5 qualification and A-Levels and GCSEs or equivalent(s) Or a level 5 apprenticeship (e.g. Assistant practitioner apprenticeship) Or equivalent clinical experience/expertise within an AHP profession underpinned by theoretical and practical experience.
Other job requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
- Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days as required.
- Able to contribute to the Physiotherapy weekend rota.
Desirable
- Able and willing to commute between sites.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Shows commitment to the role and Trust.
- Proactive in self development and CPD.
- Always conducts self in a professional manner.
- Enthusiastic about role and speciality.
- Able to show initiative.
- Good inter-personal skills.
- Ability to problem solve.
Experience
Essential
- Proven experience as a Senior Therapy Assistant working with different client groups.
- Experience of working in an acute setting.
- Evidence of work using a wide range of required skills.
- Evidence of thorough, relevant self-development.
- Experience of managing own caseload.
Desirable
- Experience of organising and/or providing training to others.
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Effective and appropriate written and verbal communication skills.
- Completion of broad based competencies in therapy related skills.
- Evidence of appropriate personal skills e.g. responsible, flexible, well-organised.
- Evidence of good team working.
- Evidence of patient handling skills.
- Computer Literate.
Desirable
- Evidence of activities involving leadership /management skills.
- Understanding of professional, legal and clinical governance issues.
Qualifications
Essential
- Functional Skills (level 2) or Maths & English GCSE (grades 9-4 or A*-C).
- A foundation degree Health and Social care or equivalent level 5 qualification and A-Levels and GCSEs or equivalent(s) Or a level 5 apprenticeship (e.g. Assistant practitioner apprenticeship) Or equivalent clinical experience/expertise within an AHP profession underpinned by theoretical and practical experience.
Other job requirements
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role.
- Able and willing to work contracted hours over 7 days as required.
- Able to contribute to the Physiotherapy weekend rota.
Desirable
- Able and willing to commute between sites.
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.
