Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Summary:

1          This post is accountable to the Head of Therapy

2          To lead, manage and provide the physiotherapy service patients in the community.

3         To contribute to the Discharge pathway and Community Therapy team.

4          To promote good communication within the Multidisciplinary Team, with the Acute Trust, CCG/ ICS and with the London Borough of Lewisham, to ensure optimal patient care.

5          To work to agreed standards and within the resources available. 

Key Result Areas & Performance:

6          To undertake, delegate or supervise the assessment and appropriate physiotherapy  management and / or treatment of patients referred to the Community Physiotherapy Teams.

7          To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.

8          To undertake a comprehensive and holistic assessment of patients including those with complex presentations / multi-pathologies (e.g. acutely ill, neurological and elderly patients) and communication difficulties.

9          To use manual and other assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to provide an accurate diagnosis of patients' conditions and identify their problems.

10        To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

11        To commence treatment in the acute setting, as required

12        To use clinical assessment and reasoning skills combined with a knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment strategies to provide an effective treatment plan.

13        To maximise patients' physical, psychological and social well-being and reduce disability. 

14        To evaluate patients' progress, re-assess and develop treatment programmes as required.

15        To be responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment, as well as the use of other aids and appliances by patients in your working area, ensuring that any Band 6 and 5 Physiotherapists and Rehab Support workers attain competency prior to use.

16        To be responsible for organising, prioritising and planning your own caseload to meet service needs and patient priorities, adjusting plans as situations arise

17        To monitor and prioritise team’s caseload and allocated initial visits as indicated and support other disciplines.

Workforce

18        To supervise and delegate to Rehab Support Workers / Therapy Assistants, Band 5 and 6 Physiotherapists, when appropriate.            

19        To provide training on the use of equipment and management of conditions for carers and other staff when necessary.

20        To co-operate with the other Senior members of the MDT in the organisation of the workload, and to assist the Lead Community Physiotherapist / Therapy Manager departmental managerial matters when required.

21        To be responsible for the clinical education of student physiotherapists, teaching them to graduate level on physiotherapeutic skills and knowledge within the core clinical areas.

22        To liaise with Schools of Physiotherapy as appropriate in the organisation and provision of clinical education for student physiotherapists.

23        To contribute to the education of Rehab Support Workers / enablement workers/ Therapy Assistants and participate in peer support

24        To be responsible for the appraisals of staff in your team, delegating to the Band 6 Physiotherapist when possible.

Partnership

Communications and Relationships

25        To liaise with the multi-disciplinary team regarding discharge planning to support safe, timely and effective discharge from hospital. 

26        To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with patients during assessment and treatment.  

27        To use active listening and optimum communication skills to discuss patients’ concerns, worries and prognoses with them and their families, for example patients who have progressive, degenerative or terminal illnesses. 

28        To participate in the induction programme for all new staff where appropriate.

29        To maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system in accordance with the Trust and departmental policies, and which can be used for audit and legal purposes.

30        To ensure that reports and discharge summaries are completed and sent in accordance with departmental policy.

31        To provide statistics and other information when required

32        To participate in directorate and multidisciplinary meetings, ward rounds and case conferences / seminars when deemed appropriate, providing a clinical opinion about specific patients

33        To deal with any verbal and telephone complaints from patients, relatives or carers, ensuring necessary documentation. 

34        To report on any such complaints to the immediate senior as soon as possible.

35        To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.