Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To independently complete specific activities as designated and with appropriate training and competencies in place e.g. removing casts, teaching parents how to apply foot abduction brace

·         To participate in shared initial assessments

·         To independently deliver specific therapy interventions as designated and with appropriate training and competencies in place

·         Deliver Ponseti casting with a qualified Ponseti physiotherapy practitioner, and to deliver specific designated therapy interventions under the supervision of Physiotherapist

·         Contribute to the planning of individual therapy programmes

·         Develop materials and resources to support therapy management and care e.g. parent information leaflets/therapy programmes

·         To be responsible for monitoring of stock therapy resources and order these and bespoke items (as designated by a therapist)  as required

·         To be a resource and offer support for other less experienced assistants on therapy techniques and programme delivery

• Work within defined departmental protocols/policies and professional code of conduct.

·         To support induction to all new departmental assistants

Office Administration

·         To carry out administrative and clerical duties for the therapists in the Paediatric Physiotherapy Team including ordering equipment, and where required filing, scanning, copying, managing correspondence, and distributing letters/reports to parents/carers and relevant professionals.

• To attend team meetings and frequently liaise with other members of the Physiotherapy teams.
• To utilise excellent computer skills for inputting and manipulation of data, use of spreadsheets, databases and bespoke Trust software.
• To support Team members in the use of department information systems
• Record patient information on Trust records system
• Encourage families to complete service feedback forms
• Receive calls from parents, professionals and schools and triage them as appropriate
• To photocopy, scan, upload and maintain a variety of paperwork accurately ensuring confidential information is dealt with appropriately
• To make therapy resources as requested
• To undertake such duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the grade and the needs of the service
• To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act

·        To have responsibility for the Health, Safety and Welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirement of the Health and Safety Regulations.

·       To work in accordance with the Trust’s Equal Opportunities policy to eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to employment and service delivery.

·       To ensure skills are up-to-date and relevant to the role, to follow relevant Trust policies and professional codes and to maintain registration where this is a requirement of the role.

§  To comply with St. George’s Healthcare No Smoking Policies.

Communication

·         To regularly support and encourage parents, providing opportunities for parents to discuss the Ponseti method and the challenges with looking after a child with a lower limb deformity

·         To facilitate and contribute to the development of promotional / informational material for the service, e.g. internet resources, brochures, leaflets.

·         To receive and screen phone calls for the team and deal with appropriately, referring to therapists if necessary.

·         To take phone calls from clients who may be self-referring or may be requesting other information about the service.

·         To communicate with clients in a respectful manner.

·         Occasionally to support distressed parents

·         To take client-based information on behalf of the team and liaise with other professionals to gather data to support the child while in hospital / in order to support discharge home. This includes regularly receiving sensitive information about the client’s condition and maintaining patient confidentiality.

·         To ensure all outgoing correspondence meets with Trust standards and agreed timescales.

·         To deal with complaints in accordance with Trust policy, as directed by Team Leads.

Other Responsibilities

·         To prioritise own workload and complete tasks with minimal supervision, working to tight deadlines.

·         To actively participate as a member of the Paediatric Physiotherapy Team.

·         To attend and contribute to department meetings.

Job Dimensions / Accountabilities

·         To be accountable for acting in a professional manner whilst carrying out duties.

Further Information and General Responsibilities

·         To participate in the staff performance and development programme and to be committed to learning.

·         To participate in Personal Development Review (PDR) system to identifying own learning and development and to take responsibility for achieving own PDR objective.

·         To adopt the ethos and values of the team and to adhere to standards and procedures.

·         To contribute to the development and achievement of the annual team objectives.

·         To undertake any other duties required by the Team Leads in accordance with the grade of the post and needs of the service.

·         To have responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others and to comply at all times with the requirements of health and safety regulations.

·         To comply with the Trust’s policies on diversity, the consumption of alcohol and non-smoking.

·         To report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or near misses promptly and when required, to co-operate with any investigation undertaken.

·         To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.

·         To comply with the Trust’s policies at all times, including equal opportunity.

·         To attend any mandatory training and induction courses as designated by management.

·         To comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

·         To communicate with colleagues, patients and visitors in a polite and courteous manner at all times

·         Contribute to deliver and implement the Trusts’s Equality and Diversity Agenda by:

-                      Putting in place appropriate and measurable actions to eliminate unlawful discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different groups

-                      Developing and maintaining an inclusive approach to work and embedding equality and diversity into all work activities