Job responsibilities
Core role
• Core member of the specialist interdisciplinary palliative care team which includes; Medical, Nursing, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Spiritual Care and Social Work
• Contribute to the effective provision of rehabilitation and therapy support within St Joseph’s as a member of the Therapies team with the support of senior physiotherapy colleagues
• Undertake holistic physiotherapy assessment and treatment of palliative care patients as an autonomous practitioner, with support from senior physiotherapists for patients with complex needs
• Provide physiotherapy input to in-patients at the hospice, out-patients and patients within the community setting.
Clinical
With the support of a Physiotherapy mentor and the wider Therapies Team, the post holder will:
• Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and implementation of therapy intervention for patients with progressive and life threatening diseases as an autonomous practitioner. This includes using analytical skills, clinical reasoning and the use of appropriate outcome measures
• Tailor therapy assessment and treatment with attention to patients multi-faceted individual needs and preferences spanning physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions
• Along with other members of the allied health professional team, work to develop an appropriate rehabilitation programme for clients. Identify and work with patients as early as possible to develop their independence and autonomy with activities of daily living (ADLs) to maximise their function and engagement in daily life
• Provide high quality physiotherapy input to optimise non-pharmacological management of symptoms including breathlessness, fatigue, and pain. Be a source of expertise, advocating non-pharmacological approaches to symptom control within the interdisciplinary team
• Be responsible for the Moving Forwards Rehabilitation Programme providing leadership, co-ordination and delivery of group exercise and gym activities following individual assessment of patients
• Contribute to/lead and co-ordinate symptom specific group programmes such as ICan (I Can Self-Manage My Symptoms Programme), or Falls Prevention/Balance Rehab Programme with support of senior colleagues
• Conduct Empowered Living Team (ELT) assessments for outpatients, which will include completing patients’ Empowerment Plans, Home Exercise Programmes, and outcome measures. It will also require handover and liaison with the ELT Co-Ordinator in order for a patient to be match to an appropriate volunteer.
• Constantly assess the on-going physiotherapy needs of the patient, adapting therapy input as their condition changes
• Identify patients with complex clinical needs and draw on support from Band 7 physiotherapists and the Therapies team to ensure these are best managed
• Be a source of physiotherapy expertise and champion rehabilitative palliative care practice across the interdisciplinary team
• Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals in order to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to maximise patients’ rehabilitation potential, ensuring a consistent approach for patient care
Organisation
• Be responsible for managing own case load across inpatient, outpatient, day hospice and domiciliary settings – demonstrating flexibility to meet service and patient priorities across team with support of Physiotherapy Team Lead
• Maintain accurate and up to date problem orientated documentation for all patients, consistent with department documentation and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy standards
Communication
• Be skilled in communication with patients in emotionally charged situations using tact and empathy to communicate difficult and challenging information
• Encourage patient participation in therapy by using negotiation, reassurance and support
• Be skilled in communication with formal/informal carers, external agencies, statutory and voluntary, to ensure effective client care, continuity and discharge
• Be responsible for and proactively initiate effective communication with other members of the Therapies team
• Participate fully in the interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitative palliative care attending team meetings, case meetings and family meetings
Proactively support the Therapies strategic agenda to maintain and develop strong communication and working relationships with external physiotherapy colleagues and services. This includes timely correspondence with GP’s and external colleagues through Initial Assessment and Discharge Reports.
Education/ teaching
• Contribute to and lead various education initiatives including; teaching at Wednesday Seminars, training for physiotherapy colleagues and students, courses run by St Joseph’s Education Department and external teaching engagements as relevant
Professional
• Set a high standard of practice, maintain up to date knowledge of clinical developments in the field of palliative care, and incorporate these appropriately into clinical practice.
• Abide by the rules of professional conduct laid down by the appropriate professional body.
• Act as a representative of Therapies professionals, both within St Joseph's Hospice and in the wider health community.
• Identify own learning and development needs in order to meet the key requirements of the post.
• Participate in St Joseph’s appraisal system as an appraisee
• Maintain a portfolio which reflects personal and professional development.
This is not a complete job description, please refer to attachment for a full list of job description and person specification.
