Job responsibilities
Job Description
Job Title
Principal Prosthetist
Department and Location
Clinical Services Birmingham
Purpose of the Role
To provide and promote a high standard of prosthetic care and treatment across a range of amputation levels, ensuring best practice, as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
To ensure that all patients are afforded the highest standard of care within the resources available, maintaining respect, dignity and confidentiality for patients individual needs at all times.
Support and mentor less experienced members of the team
Key Responsibilities and Activities
Clinical Practice
- To assess, measure, cast, fit, deliver, supply, review and adjust prosthesis as required across a range of amputation levels.
- To cast and rectify models in a timely fashion using both traditional methods and CADCAM where appropriate.
- To manage patients, including expectations, ensuring needs are respected and that patients are informed throughout the process with clear explanations of proposed interventions.
- To maintain a knowledge of available components and understand their function.
- To work within the parameters of accepted "best practice" at all times. To ensure that all aspects of practice conform to clinical governance at all times.
- To act as a resource for clinical cover for annual leave, sickness, planned absences or emergency cover where appropriate.
Operational
- To act in a professional manner at all times. To act with discretion and sensitivity ensuring confidentiality at all times.
- To maintain appropriate clinical notes and records in accordance with HCPC and Blatchford Clinical Note Keeping Standards.
- To identify, in conjunction with the Area/Clinical & Contract Manager and other prosthetic staff, service developments and/or improvements to ensure efficient and effective use of resources.
- To work flexibly to meet the needs of the business.
- To prioritise workflow to effectively meet deadlines.
- To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents, adverse incidents and complaints are reported to the Area/Clinical & Contract Manager immediately.
- To make a proactive contribution to the Service Contract and the Company as a whole
Interpersonal working
- To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the most appropriate and effective treatment for patients.
- To provide training, mentorship and support to placement students, graduates and less experienced members of the team.
- To communicate effectively with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and to have an understanding of the roles of other professionals.
- To demonstrate a good understanding of the patients pathology and discuss with the clinical team appropriate clinical intervention when necessary.
Professional Development
- To fulfil the objectives set in personal development plan.
- To participate in clinical audit and service development as required.
- To identify and undertake clinical audit and/or research projects, in conjunction with the Service Manager and clinical leads.
- To lead and/or attend in-service training sessions.
- To maintain an up to date Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Portfolio and continually update yourself with developments in the field of prosthetics.
- To attend and participate in postgraduate training courses arranged by the company or local centre.
- To attend and participate in meetings and conferences.
- To identify, in conjunction with clinical lead, and undertake any training requirements to ensure best practice and personal development.
- To be aware of and meet the needs of clinical governance and BAPO Codes of Practice.
- Beware of companywide initiatives and ensure that these are successfully implemented.
Every employee has a responsibility for Health and Safety. This includes accident, incident and near miss reporting, undertaking training as requested by the company and taking responsibility for the health and safety of themselves and others in the working environment.
Performance Standards and Expectations
1. Promote a positive image of the Company at all times, behaving in accordance with the Company values.
Key working relationships
Role Reports to: Clinical Lead
Direct Reports into the Role:
None
Internal and external relationships:
Internal
Area Manager/Clinical & Contract Manager
Clinical Lead
Prosthetic Colleagues
Prosthetic Technicians
Central Fabrication
Prosthetic Administrator
Patients/carers
All members of MDT
General information
The post holder must be flexible in their approach, undertaking any other duties appropriate to the position, as necessary. You may also be required to travel to locations other than your normal place of work. Due to the nature of your role, it may be necessary to work to time constraints and tight deadlines. This may occasionally require staying late or working outside normal working hours of attendance.
Safeguarding Children and Adults At Risk
Blatchford recognises its duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and adults. Staff must at all times treat patients with dignity and respect protecting, young people and adults at risk from abuse and neglect
Employees have a responsibility to ensure that prompt and appropriate action is taken when concerns have been made about a child, young person or adults at risk. Employees should be aware of their responsibilities as detailed in the Local Safeguarding Children Procedures and Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy.
Blatchford will assist you by providing mandatory training, support and advice. Safeguarding children and adults is everyones business.
Although the above job description contains the main elements of your duties, from time to time you will receive further instructions as to the nature of your responsibilities. Because of the ever changing and developing nature of the Company's business your obligations/duties will inevitably also vary and develop over time. The Company reserves the right at any time during your employment to require you to undertake duties, which are reasonable and fall within your capabilities.
This document outlines the major areas of responsibility and key tasks. It is not intended to be an exhaustive job description.
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Employee Signature Date
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Print Name
Person Specification Principle Prosthetist
Essential
Desirable
Qualifications,
Education and Training:
Qualified at the point of employment with BSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics or equivalent
Experience and Knowledge:
Likely to have at least 3 years post graduate experience as a Prosthetist working with both upper and lower extremities.
Previous experience working with trauma patients.
Behaviours, Skills and Competencies:
Problem solving
Good communication skills inc. written and oral
Team player
Able to work autonomously
Good technical ability
General IT skills Word, PowerPoint, email
Customer focus
Other:
HCPC registered.
Able to travel
BAPO/ISPO Membership
It is essential that the Post Holder can consistently demonstrate the essential characteristics associated with our Company Values:
Courage: We are open, committed, and confident
Learning: We are curious, resilient, and continually developing
Collaboration: We are united, straightforward, and connected
Innovation: We are focused, experimental and agile
Integrity: We are Transparent, Accountable, Honourable