Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• To work collaboratively with relevant Team Professionals (e.g. Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.
• To communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties / dementia, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities.  This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools. 
•   Educate patients and relatives on a range of topics covering Physiotherapy techniques, e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercise, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility.
• Use advanced empathetic, tactful and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients’ Rehabilitation potential; giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling. 
• Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions and specific areas of induction process e.g. new members of staff and students.
• Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
• To liaise with other team members with regards to day-to-day issues and department management e.g. prioritisation, staff shortages, increased patient caseload.  
• To maintain physiotherapy records in an accurate way, in line with guidelines to ensure identified goals are achieved.
• To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting, terminal conditions or emotional   situations in an empathic manner.

Service Delivery and Improvement

• Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters.
• To liaise regularly with the Physiotherapist to discuss patient progress, particularly any variation in the treatment delivered or deviation from the expected outcome of the treatment plan. 
• To recognise improvements and deterioration in patient’s condition and act appropriately by informing relevant team members and supervising Physiotherapist.  
• To be able to read and interpret monitored information to ensure patient and therapist safety during therapy session e.g. BP, HR, Temperature, SpO2 etc.
•  Read, monitor and safely disconnect/reconnect equipment knowing when it is acceptable to do so to enable therapeutic treatment to take place in an appropriate setting.
• To take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment and evaluation of referred patients. 
• To anticipate and plan/facilitate discharge of delegated patient caseload e.g. issuing equipment, discussing with inpatient team and make ongoing referrals as appropriate.

Is aware of own scope of practice and seeks advice when situations move outside of the scope.
 

People Management and Development

•  Participate in the planning and delivery of in-service training.
• Assist in the induction of new staff including advising and demonstrating manual handling techniques and correct use of hoists and other specialist equipment in line with trust health and safety policy. 
• Maintain personal development through course attendance, participation in appraisals, application in practise of skills and speciality competencies.

Contribute to the development and delivery of patient care by participating in team departmental or MDT training. e.g. through problem solving discussions. 

Patient Care Delivery

•  To carry own caseload of patients with predictable conditions who require treatments. 
•  Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of exercise-based therapy techniques. 
• To take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment and evaluation of referred patients within their scope of practise without prior consultation with a qualified physiotherapist.  
• To assist nursing staff and therapists as required regarding day-to-day care of patients, e.g.  transfers, maintaining hygienic environment. 
• To be able to correctly apply various therapeutic aids as appropriate in discussion with the Physiotherapist, e.g. splints, braces, walking aids, resistance bands, slide boards, floor pedals, and weights. 
•  Read, monitor and safely disconnect / reconnect equipment, knowing when it is acceptable to do so to enable therapeutic treatment to take place in an appropriate setting. 
• Be able to read and interpret monitored information to ensure patient and therapist safety during therapy session e.g. BP, HR, SaO2 etc. 
• To understand the relevance of the therapeutic potential of equipment within treatment planning. 
• Be competent to set up and operate therapeutic and gym equipment in line with the Trusts Health & Safety Guidelines.  E.g. monitoring and maintaining the safety and condition of the equipment. 
• To assess, measure, label, adjust to size and issue walking aids as appropriate and various standard splints. 
• Take leadership during tasks undertaken with colleagues’ e.g. functional transfers, general mobility and gait re-education advice.  
• To support Physiotherapist by undertaking skilled Physiotherapy techniques e.g. exercise instruction, gait re-education and functional transfers with individuals. 
• To work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g. health care assistants, occupational therapy assistants, nursing staff, and Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential. 
• Educate patients, on a range of topics covering Physiotherapy techniques, e.g. Exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility.