Specialist Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

See job description for full details:

To organise, prioritise and delegate workload within the specialism.

To use sound clinical judgements to prioritise patients within a demanding and unpredictable environment ensuring effective use of resources. You will assist staff under your supervision to prioritise their caseloads and advise them on appropriate interventions in response to urgent and/or complex cases on a daily basis.

To demonstrate specialist physical skills inclusive of dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual physiotherapy techniques and therapeutic handling.

Supervision will take the form of regular formal training, clinical reasoning sessions, and peer review and case conferences. Access to advice and support from a senior therapist or the in-patient lead is available if required.

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 that change across the caseload. To utilise clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their impairments, these skills may be advanced.

To formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment methods and develop comprehensive discharge plans, these skills may be advanced.

To take delegated responsibility for managing patients with particular presentations and be responsible for providing a comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and treatment for patients with these conditions in the designated specialism.

To assess patient understanding of treatment proposals and gain valid informed consent and to have the capacity to work within the legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. This will involve assessing complicated and conflicting information that may be upsetting for the patient

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively and empathically with patients to progress their rehabilitation. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating.

To evaluate patient progress, re-assess and alter treatment programs if required.

To undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory problems as required, who may have a complex/highly complex presentation (which may be life threatening), and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner.

To provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of MDT, regarding patients within the specialism.

To contribute towards the provision of flexible and timely services this will include working across a seven-day week across sites as service requires.

To be responsible for the timely and accurate recording of patient care in accordance with service policy, professional standards and legal requirements.

To manage clinical risk within own patient case-load.

To contribute to and ensure adequate data is collated regarding service activity.

To liaise and communicate with all members of the multidisciplinary team and outside agencies when appropriate. To represent physiotherapy service and/ or individual patients at the multidisciplinary team meeting.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all electrotherapy, medical devices, patient equipment and aids used by patients.

To carry out assessment and treatment of patients with moderate physical effort on a daily basis.

To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work.

To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at or participation in the provision of in-service training programmes, presentations and training sessions, staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in house and by attending external courses and practising reflective practice.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service.

To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan (PDP) as both appraiser and appraisee.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit, research and outcome measures, either individually or with colleagues or with clinical specialist or manager. To make recommendations for change in service provision.

To liaise with senior colleagues in relation to physiotherapy services within the speciality area and to take an advisory role in the development of service within the speciality area.

To disseminate guidelines to staff across the Trust in order to influence and improve standards of care.

To observe and adhere to the Code of Practice and Rules of Professional Conduct laid down by the HCPC

To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the department.

To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

To participate in implementing clinical governance procedures including the reporting of incidents, accidents, equipment defects and first line management of informal complaints.

To input into the service recruitment process as a member of the interview panels related to recruitment of staff within the area of specialism.

To adhere to all trust and service policies and procedures.

To deputise for the Clinical Team Leader/ Operational leads in terms of operational issues when asked to do so.

To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal, professional and departmental requirements, and to communicate assessment and treatment results of the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.

To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in Physiotherapy or equivalent. -HCPC Registration. -Evidence of CPD - An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust values and how you adhere to them

Desirable

• Recognised relevant academic qualification, specific to chosen area.
• Involvement in neurological/stroke specific interest groups.
• Evidence of knowledge of the different approached to stroke rehab
• Experience of complex Neuro/stroke Rehabilitation

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of assessment and treatment of neurological conditions including stroke.
• Ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients and their families in a variety of situations including patients with communication problems and emotive and stressful situations
• Remain up-to-date with professional practice and new research.
• Understand clinical governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues and audit.
• Ability to understand and work within the Trusts policies of data protections, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet the differing needs of the patients.
• Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes.
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to carry out concurrent activities.
• Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
• Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession.
• Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
• Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate caseloads and workload effectively

Desirable

• Innovative approach to working life.
• Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery and patient care.
• Presentation skills.
• Competent IT skills.

Experience

Essential

• Qualified experience incorporating experience within the chosen specialism
• NHS experience
• A broad experience of core rotations including Respiratory, MSK, orthopaedics this must include neuro/stroke
• Consolidated respiratory skills.
• Evidence of working within an MDT.
• Ability to demonstrate excellent communication skills with patients, their families and staff.

Desirable

• Previous band 5 or NHS experience relevant to role.

Statutory Registration

Essential

• HCPC registration

Desirable

• -Member of CSP.

Special Requirements

Essential

• A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with positive enthusiasm.
• Demonstrate evidence of effective team working.
• Must be able to demonstrate a flexible approach to working.
• Ability to show empathy and compassion to staff, patients and their families.
• Reliable
• Problem solver.
• Ability to independently travel across the Trust area to meet the requirements of the post.
• Ability to work on a 7 day rota, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment, motivation and adaptability

Desirable

• Ability to meet the physical demands of the role

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).