Technical Instructor - Out Patient Physiotherapy & MSK

Job description

Job responsibilities

PLEASE NOTE: Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification. To apply, please click APPLY FOR THIS JOB - this link will take you to the TRAC Recruitment Site. You will need to register if you do not already have an account

Patient Care

• To provide skilled support to the Physiotherapists through ongoing treatment, education and instruction for patients seen in both individual and group settings. This will include some amendment and progression of treatment programmes in agreement with the Physiotherapist.
• To provide initial assessment for walking aids.
• To work without direct supervision, but with access to a Physiotherapist, reporting back on patient progress and informing the Physiotherapist of any problems or issues.
• To assist outpatient physiotherapists in all aspects of patient care, with specific emphasis on exercise, education and mobility programmes, when working with the therapist or independently.
• To maintain and demonstrate the required level of clinical competence to ensure safe effective patient care.
• To use therapeutic skills (e.g. massage, mobility) within the guidance of the physiotherapist and have a theoretical understanding of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions combined with a basic understanding of how equipment works and its appropriate application to patients.
• To use knowledge to recognise problems or complications, e.g. infection or deteriorating medical condition, and to discuss with the Physiotherapists whether medical review or alternative management is indicated.
• To treat patients individually or in a group setting in the Outpatient Department, ensuring that the background administrative duties are complete e.g. handouts, questionnaires, inputting.
• To determine timely and effective discharge of patients, relaying this to the Physiotherapist.
• To assess and issue walking aids, train patients fully in their safe use and carry out mobility assessment, e.g. stairs, without direct supervision from a Physiotherapist.
• To provide Physiotherapy colleagues and other AHPs, medical and non-medical staff with information regarding the progress of service users to optimise the outcome for each individual. This could include attendance as the Physiotherapy representative, at Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting to present relevant patient information and participate in the clinical decision-making process.
• To be responsible for stock monitoring and ordering to support service provision, with budgetary responsibility borne by team and operational leads.
• To support delivery of quality standards across clinical sites in liaison with team leads and business support lead.
• To be responsible for day-to-day maintenance, cleaning and testing of Physiotherapy equipment and Physiotherapy treatment areas, adhering to department and Trust policy, including competence to use equipment. To immediately remove from service any items of equipment found to be defective, informing senior staff and liaising with other appropriate agencies, e.g. Medical Engineering.
• To maintain accurate and legible records of all interventions and advice given to patients, carers or colleagues. Clinical records must comply with legal, professional and Trust Service Standards.
• To motivate and provide psychological support, empathy and reassurance to patients and carers using well developed communication and interpersonal skills.
• To use a range of effective verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients, relatives and carers who may present barriers to communication to ensure a full understanding of their condition, treatment programme and to gain consent.
• To have current knowledge of Physiotherapy guidelines and protocols for a stated caseload and to be able to answer patient and carer queries or to consult with the Physiotherapist when appropriate.
• To be committed to the Trust Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) agenda and to undertake PPI activity.
• To undertake any other responsibilities required by the Physiotherapy Manager or Senior Physiotherapy staff.

Strategy and Service Development

• To actively contribute to service development as part of the wider team

Financial Resources/Management

• To be responsible for equipment and stock control

Information Resources/Information Systems

• To undertake occasional clerical duties for the Physiotherapy department.
• To participate in the delivery of the Clinical Governance
• To input into all relevant information systems e.g. SystmOne, NHS Supplies

Autonomy/Scope within Role

• Ability to work independently but within procedural guidelines and under the guidance of the physiotherapist

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and Training

Essential

• English Language pass at GCSE Level (or equivalent)
• Maths pass at GCSE Level (or equivalent)
• NVQ3 in relevant health care subject (or equivalent)

Desirable

• Exercise/personal training qualification

Experience and Knowledge Required

Essential

• Experience working in a Health, Community or Social Care setting.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience of working in a rehabilitation setting
• Experience of working in Physiotherapy

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills - written
• Good organisational skills
• Basic IT competency
• Able to work as a member of a team

Aptitude and Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to deal with difficult individuals/situations
• Willingness to learn and commitment to personal development
• Able to work alone/under own initiative
• Ability to travel between sites

Values, Drivers and Motivators

Essential

• Focused on patients and their families

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHSFT

Address

Walton hospital

Whitecotes Lane

Chesterfield

S40 3HW

Employer's website

http://www.dchs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)