Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Job Purpose

1          To provide a specialist respiratory physiotherapy service of assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients in the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

2          To participate in the Band 6 respiratory rotation scheme, involving rotating cross-site across a range of respiratory inpatient, outpatient and community clinical areas. Rotations are 8 months long. 

Job Summary

1          To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

2          To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions; to provide a provisional diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

3          To take responsibility for own caseload, being responsible for a defined area of the service, with the support of a Band 7/8 physiotherapist. 

4          With the team, to participate in evidence based audit / research activity to further the team's clinical practice within each rotation.  To make recommendations to the lead Band 7/8 for any changes to practice by the team.

5          To supervise junior physiotherapists and physiotherapy students in the clinical setting.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1          CLINICAL

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

1.2       To undertake a comprehensive, and holistic, assessment of patients including those with complex presentations / multi-pathologies.

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

1.4       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.

1.5       To use clinical assessment and reasoning skills combined with a specialist knowledge and clinical experience of patho-physiology, evidence-based practice and treatment strategies to provide an effective treatment plan and goals in collaboration with the patient.

1.6       To evaluate patients' progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes as required.

1.7       To formulate accurate prognoses and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team  regarding discharge planning, where necessary, to ensure safe, timely and effective discharge from hospital, or following an outpatient episode of care.

1.8       To be responsible for the safe and competent use of gym, electrotherapy, manual handling and respiratory equipment, as well as the use of other aids and appliances by patients in your working area, ensuring that any Band 5 Physiotherapists and assistant staff attain competency prior to use.

1.9       To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with patients during assessment and treatment. To communicate appropriately at all times with all individuals in a respectful manner.

1.10    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 and those with newly acquired disabilities.

1.11    To be an active member of the respiratory oncall & weekend rota. When working at weekends and in the absence of Band 7 staff, to be responsible for any Band 5 physiotherapists in the team.

1.12    To provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients' respiratory conditions, when working on the emergency duty rota and on acute ward rotations.

1.13    To supervise and delegate to assistant staff and Band 5 Physiotherapists.

1.14    To work within Trust, departmental and CSP guidelines, ensuring a good working knowledge of national and local standards. 

1.15    When working in the community and domiciliary settings, to work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior physiotherapist if required.  When working in the outpatient rotation, to work in GP outreach clinics as necessary. 

2          MANAGEMENT

2.1       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. 

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

2.3       To identify and manage clinical risk within your own patient caseload and clinical area.

2.4       To comply with all Trust policies and procedures, and the Health & Safety at Work Act, and the Data Protection Act.  To report on complaints, accidents and clinical incidents to the immediate senior as soon as possible.

2.5       To be familiar with and comply with local fire procedures.

2.6       To be familiar with all Trust and Therapy emergency and precautionary procedures,  both on and off site, and to respond as necessary – eg. hydrotherapy, emergency resuscitation, infection control etc.

2.7       To ensure that all equipment defects are reported to the Therapy Manager immediately, and that appropriate action is then taken.

2.8       To advise and demonstrate to carers, nursing and other staff on the safe manual handling, positioning and moving of patients.

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

2.10    To deputise for the Band 7 in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of junior and assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

2.11    To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of students, junior staff and assistants on a day to day basis. Adhering to fair-share model for each team. 

2.12    To make appropriate referrals to other health professionals following assessment/ identification of need.

2.13    To participate in the managerial matters of the unit and department as required, and to attend staff meetings.

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

2.15    To undertake additional duties as may be deemed necessary, as requested by the  team leader or Superintendent in the specific rotation.