Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

·         To liaise with other physiotherapists in regard to patient care and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged.

·         To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure effective communication with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g. medical notes and reports.

·         To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.

·         To be able to communicate effectively with patients, especially those who may have significant barriers to understanding.

·         To ensure timely and effective communication with the physiotherapy team lead, clinical lead physiotherapist and other senior staff on all professional and operational  matters.

·         To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with HCPC, CSP standards and local guidelines.

·         To attend and be an active participant in speciality, peer group and departmental staff meetings.

·         To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups, appropriate to the clinical field.

·         To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills.

• Be aware of the standard information available for patients and use it appropriately.
• Use electronic patient administration and record keeping system.
• Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ email received.

·         To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc.

Service Delivery and Improvement

• Attend Handover & MDT meetings to present current physiotherapy management and make critical decisions in a timely manner.
• Read, monitor, and safely use equipment knowing when it is acceptable to do so. 
• Be aware of own scope of practice and seeks advice when required.
• To maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence-based practice whilst continually evaluating the outcome.

·         To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk      assessments.

·         To undertake comprehensive assessments of patients, this includes those with complex presentations.

• To adopt a problem-solving approach, engaging patients and carers in their treatment plan, negotiating on agreed outcomes, gaining consent, and educating users on self-care and management.

·         Continually evaluate patient’s progress and alter treatment programmes as required whilst developing comprehensive discharge plans.

• Be involved in the triage of referrals (this may be in liaison with a Clinical Specialist or another Senior Clinician).

·         Be able to prioritise workload (both clinical and non-clinical), and delegate appropriately using available resources ensuring that patient care is maintained to a high standard. Able to support more junior staff in this.

·         To propose and make changes to working practices in consultation with the orthopaedic lead where applicable. To support the ongoing development and improvements of physiotherapy services.

·         To be responsible for the effective daily management of a caseload of patients.

·         Be able to manage clinical and non-clinical duties (including supervising other members of staff). Ensuring effective prioritisation as appropriate and being able to complete work to appropriate standards and by allotted deadlines.

• Have shared responsibility for the day-to-day organisation and smooth running of the Department working with the clinical team Lead and other senior physiotherapy staff, planning caseload management in cases of staff absences, ensuring service effectiveness and efficiency within available resources.
• To undertake any other duties that may be required by the clinical lead physiotherapist, physiotherapy team lead and therapies manager.
• In times of crisis to help as indicated in other areas of the Hospital/s
• Where required be flexible and provide support for other physiotherapy teams.

·         To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and also wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc.

·         To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Operational Lead of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.

• To work with the physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.
• Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc.

·         To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies.

·         To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.

• To use all resources considerately, whether they be staff or equipment resources, and to encourage this in others.
• Demonstrate responsibility in the safe, effective and efficient use of department resources such as equipment, stock etc.
• To be able to use appropriate Trust information systems to utilise information relevant to patient care.
• To ensure and maintain confidentiality and always adhere to information governance guidance.
• To participate in the orthopaedic weekend Physiotherapy service.
• Participate and support departmental Job Planning activities.

People Management and Development

• To ensure that band 5 members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.

·         To supervise band 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy support workers and physiotherapy students on clinical placements.

·         To be responsible to and deputise for the team lead in orthopaedics.

·         To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.

·         To assist in the supervision and development of the band 5 physiotherapists on rotation in the clinical area.

·         To be responsible for the induction and training of students on placement, band 5 physiotherapists, technicians and assistants within the clinical area.

·        To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the Trusts objectives, plans and business developments.

·        To develop objectives for staff and to appraise staff at least once annually. To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives.

·        To discuss expected outcomes of training and development activity with staff prior to attending training events.

• To discuss outcomes with staff after attending training and development activity and to assist staff to transfer, develop and use new skills acquired.

·         To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training.

·         To organise and actively participate in in-service training.

·         To be pro-active with regard to learning from senior staff within the department.

• To be involved in peer group meetings and formulate appropriate action plans following the meeting.

·         To lead, in conjunction with the team lead, appropriate work-related research/evaluation/service improvement projects.

• To keep up to date with clinical developments and maintain background knowledge in each specialty area, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice.

Patient Care Delivery

·         To undertake the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients including those with complex presentations.

·         To demonstrate the Trust values and attitudes in regard to the management of patients and everyday working with colleagues.

·         To seek guidance from senior staff as required and to give guidance to more junior staff.

·         To devise an individualised physiotherapy management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a range of treatment options.

·         To be able to devise and lead specialist physiotherapy treatments which may include group work, e.g. exercise classes

• To work with members of the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure a seamless delivery of care, provide advice and education within this forum, acting as an expert in your own professional field.

Learning and Development

·         Attend mandatory training updates as required.

·         Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.

·         Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.

·         Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager

·         Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.