Detailed job description and main responsibilities

·   To work in accordance with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Rules of Professional Conduct, the Health Professions Council regulations, national and local guidelines and standards and participate in the auditing of these standards when appropriate.

·   To be a pro-active team member responsible for the provision of adult community physiotherapy services within the Adults and Communities Division adhering to the policies and procedures set out by the Trust.

·   To maintain confidentiality of information at all times.

·   To carry and prioritise a caseload of musculoskeletal patients which includes patients with complex multi-pathological presentations requiring advanced clinical knowledge to manage appropriately.

·   To ensure, where possible, that all intervention is evidence based.

·   To take part in Peer Group Review.

·   To work closely with all members of the Primary Health Care Team and to assist the Trust in the implementation and delivery of the Trust Business Plan and priorities.

·   To work flexible hours as the Physiotherapy Service requires. Core hours are 7am - 8pm Monday to Friday and Saturday morning.

·   To keep accurate and comprehensive treatment notes and statistics, in accordance with Trust Standards and Procedures.

 
Clinical

·   To undertake a comprehensive assessment of clients referred to the service, including those with a complex presentation, using advanced investigative and analytical skills to formulate a therapeutic diagnosis and individualised management and treatment plan through advanced clinical reasoning.

·   To assess clients referred to the service in order to recommend treatment and to provide advice to the client, carers, other health professionals and medical staff.

·   To have responsibility for planning and delivering treatment programmes.

·   To deliver individual treatment programmes to patients using a wide variety of treatment techniques including advanced manual therapy skills and to support more Junior Staff to do likewise.

·   To undertake lone working in a Community setting, and be responsible for the appropriate risk assessment and evaluation of that setting.

·   To liaise effectively with other Community and Hospital Physiotherapists.

·   To liaise effectively with medical staff, other professional groups and other agencies, assuming the role of Key worker as appropriate in individual cases.

·   To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients and carers in an understandable way, which may include difficult to accept information eg expectations of treatment and prognosis.

·   To communicate effectively with patients and carers via interpreters as required, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent with all patients including those with a condition inhibiting effective communication ie. hearing impairment, dementia, memory loss, cognitive impairment, pain and fear.

·   To be an active member of the Community Physiotherapy Team providing cover if necessary, providing clinical/team leadership in clinic based settings and play a leading role in Staff Meetings, Clinical Audit and Professional Development Activities.

·   To supervise junior staff, Technical Instructors, Assistants, Clinical Support Workers and Students as required.

·   To perform manual handling techniques/tasks involving clients and equipment.

·   To be responsible for ensuring safe use of appropriate equipment by staff and patients.

·   To be responsible for assessing and ordering appropriate equipment relating to patient care and checking said equipment.

·   To perform advanced techniques e.g. acupuncture and advanced manual therapy which may include manipulation and mobilisation.

·   To work alongside Extended Scope Practitioners to carry out first line paper triage of patients referred into Musculoskeletal Tier I and Tier II Services.

·   To prepare and write reports for various agencies with regard to medico-legal issues and in the support of applications eg government or charitable organisations on a patient/carers behalf. 

·    To produce discharge summaries and reports for other professionals e.g. GP’s, Consultants and Solicitors.

·   Demonstrate awareness and sensitivity of social and cultural diversity.

·   To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients with musculoskeletal disorders.

 
Management and Leadership Responsibilities

·   To carry and prioritise own complex caseload and assist Band 6’s, Band 5’s and Technical Instructors to manage their caseloads.

·   To work with the R&I Team to secure Service involvement in appropriate Research studies.

·   To carry out and lead clinical audit, and use audit results, current research and government guidelines to recommend changes to service delivery and to clinical practice and implement changes where appropriate.

·   To be the point of contact and support for staff engaging in Research, Audit and QI Activities.

·   To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation advising the Operational Managers if there are any areas of concern.

·   To participate in the appraisal system as appraisee and appraiser of more junior staff as directed by the Consultant Physiotherapist.

·   To participate in the Day to Day management of the service and undertake a specific role, eg. training co-ordination, Health and Safety Officer, community liaison lead, Clinical Governance lead, lead role in student training, staff peer review, membership on Trust wide committees as appropriate to represent service as directed by the Consultant Physiotherapist.

Education and Development

·   To keep up to date with current knowledge and advances in physiotherapy practice ensuring evidence based practice, and creating a supportive learning environment for more junior staff.

·   To provide community experience and training in a primary care setting for less senior staff and other personnel on secondment.

·   To be responsible for own CPD and professional development and interpret appropriate professional clinical guidelines and standards in line with HPC registration.

·   To disseminate knowledge, understanding and experience to other members of the physiotherapy team as required and to be involved in attending and delivering education and training initiatives for other members of staff in the team ie in-service training.

·   To take part in research trials as appropriate.

·   To be involved in the supervision of students and to clinically support Band 6 and Band 5 staff.

We are a friendly team striving to work in an evidence-based practice & we aim to support your learning needs throughout.

• You will have a designated mentor (at band 7 or 8a level) with whom you can meet with on a monthly basis to help with your development.
• As a wider MSK service, we meet in groups of clinicians (comprising of band 3-8b) on a monthly basis to work on a specific project related to developing our Service. Recent projects have included ‘The Use of a Cranial Nerve Examination in MSK Practice’,  ‘Behavioural Change’ & ‘Red Flags’. These monthly meetings are also used for IST & to discuss complex case scenarios.
• You will have your own CPD time to be used for personal development such as peer sessions with other clinicians, shadowing of the Orthopaedic Triage or Pain Management Service or attending courses. Course funding may be available subject to service requirements.
• You will also have the opportunity to participate in service development such as clinical audit,  overseeing the running of classes & project based initiatives.
• Each clinic is made up of a variety of clinical banding levels. You will therefore have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills by supervising more junior members of staff on a daily basis.
• For your own development, you will also have access to Advanced Clinical Practitioners & Consultant Physiotherapists.
• We are a research-active MSK service & have been clinical sites for trials such as BOOST & GRASP