Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Specific duties for each rotation with be delegated by the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist or other relevant lead for that area.

Clinical Responsibilities

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including management of clinical risk, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with national and trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.

• To receive referrals, undertake comprehensive assessments and independently plan individual specialised treatment programmes for patients appropriately depending on the  diagnosis, using clinical reasoning and integrating specialist neuro physiotherapist skills
• To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of the physiotherapy interventions and to ensure the treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
• To carry a designated clinical caseload including complex patients and prioritise  efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities using specialist knowledge to underpin decisions
• To provide individual patient equipment as required such as walking aids and work collaboratively with Orthotic services to provide splints and supports.  To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guideline
• To be responsible for the standard of physiotherapy carried out by rehabilitation/physiotherapy assistants or technical instructors working with you
• To undertake home visits when appropriate, to ensure planned discharge from hospital/rehabilitation unit.
• Advise, guide and teach Band 5 staff and students in the assessment and management of patients and other aspects of clinical practice.       
• On the appropriate rotations to independently assess patients in a neuro outpatient clinic, run group/class work and community fitness programs, working without direct supervision, including management of the waiting list
• To be an active member of the on-call, enhanced weekend duty rotas on stroke and neurosciences rotations, and cover of statutory and public holidays.
• Undertake other clinical duties as requested by the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist or Physiotherapy Manager.

Communication

• To consult appropriately with senior specialist staff regarding patients with particular problems
• Provide patients, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure consistent patient management and manage expectations
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to improve understanding of their/the condition To facilitate the best possible communication outcomes working collaboratively with interpretation services and multidisciplinary colleagues where necessary
• To be able to persuade and motivate patients through effective communication skills
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress.  This may include the sharing and receiving of complex and/or sensitive information
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with physiotherapy colleagues, referring clinicians, other members of the multidisciplinary team and other appropriate persons or agencies involved in the provision of care to these groups of patients in the community and hospital settings to provide a coordinated service
• To attend family meetings  and ward rounds to ensure that the physiotherapeutic management of patients is integrated into the individual patient treatment plan and that other members of the MDT know the progress of the patient
• Provide education using specialist knowledge to relevant patient groups 

Administrative Responsibilities

• To maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records. 

·         To keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements, using departmental software systems as required.

• To ensure that work areas are kept clean, safe and tidy and to be responsible for regular inspection and reporting defects of equipment used and report to the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist.
• To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection of appropriate equipment to be provided for patient long-term use.

Research and Service Development

• To identify opportunities to improve the service and to discuss them with Team Leads and Clinical Lead Physiotherapists and take forward as personal project where appropriate.
• To demonstrate a knowledge of Clinical Governance and have an active role in clinical effectiveness and audit programmes in order to develop and improve services.
• To be involved in research and evaluation of practice as opportunities arise and following discussion with the Clincial Lead Physiotherapist

Education and Training

• To provide teaching, guidance and advice when appropriate to nursing staff and other professionals involved with the post-holder’s patient groups.

·         To undertake in-service and post-graduate training to improve patient care and for professional development.

• Keep abreast of current development in physiotherapy generally and specifically in the area of neurological physiotherapy, and incorporate into current practice and disseminate to other members of staff, following discussion with the Clinical Lead
• To contribute to the in-service training programme for the neuro physiotherapy staff, including teaching on it
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, using reflective practice and maintain a portfolio that indicates personal development
• To participate in education programmes for schools, community groups and other visitors to King’s College Hospital
• To prepare and present a research/audit or development project / in-depth study for each rotation which contributes to service development, own personal knowledge and professional development, presenting the project to the department at the end of the rotation.

People Management and Performance

• Lead, coach and manage the performance of supervisees in line with good people management practices, ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed.
• Participate in regular performance appraisal meetings and ensure each supervisee has a clear set of objectives and development plans, progressing to undertaking independent appraisals of Band 5 staff and physiotherapy/rehabilitation assistants. 
• Ensure supervisees are compliant with all statutory, mandatory training together with any professional training requirements, ensuring they are up to date and fully compliant.
• Manage absences including sickness in line with Trust policy ensuring the appropriate return to work meetings occur, e-roster is updated and productivity is at keep to the highest possible level.
• Identify and fill any vacancies that arise within the team in line with the Trust’s recruitment policy and processes, with support of the team and / or clinical lead for the area
• Review skills mix at regular intervals in order to identify any potential opportunities to maximise resource utilisation / allocation, ensuring job descriptions are kept up to date.
• Ensure overall wellbeing of the team is maintained. Continuously support in improving the morale of the team and implementing a culture of zero-tolerance for bullying and harassment.
• To organise and monitor the day to day work of the physiotherapy/rehabilitation assistants and porter where allocated.
   
• To deputise for the Band 7 physiotherapist when appropriate and adapt to changing service demands
• To participate in the supervision and teaching of Band 5 physiotherapy staff, students and assistants, progressing to independent supervision, management and competency assessment of a student

·      General

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.
• We want to be an organisation where everyone shares a commitment to delivering the very best care and feels like their contribution is valuable and valued.
• At King’s we are a kind, respectful team:

Kind. We show compassion and understanding and bring a positive attitude to our work

Respectful. We promote equality, are inclusive and honest, speaking up when needed

Team. We support each other, communicate openly, and are reassuringly professional

• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post holder.
• Everyone is responsible for promoting inclusion no matter their role or team. At King’s, we want to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and welcomed