HealthJobsUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• As an autonomous practitioner, to assess and treat a specialist caseload of Orthopaedic patients, who may have complex presentations or complications, without direct supervision from senior staff.
• To work alongside Orthopaedic Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, other members of the VFC team and the wider MDT.
• To seek assistance when/where necessary and understand own professional limitations.
• To prioritise referrals according to clinical need.
• Maintain contemporaneous written and digital records to trust standards of all clinical observations and interventions.
• Hold working knowledge of all systems used relating to management of patients. This includes; VFC digital solution (currently Etruama), Careflow, Bluespier, Evolve, Affinity, Sectra and responsibility for learning new systems, as these are developed.
• To use advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the A&E team and other professionals / medical staff.
• To provide a strong link between emergency, outpatient and inpatient services. 
• To assess, fit and evaluate orthotic devices including boots, braces, slings etc as required with appropriate training
• Select appropriate and individual treatment pathways e.g. onward referral to Physiotherapy, consultant led clinics etc following VFC management guidelines
• To work alongside and support Band 7s and team leads in the planning and organisation of the team’s activities and programmes.
• To be responsible for teaching, supervision and appraisal of recently qualified members of the team and undergraduate students, and be involved in the teaching of MDT staff.
• To adhere to Departmental protocols, Trust policies your professional Code of Conduct, and National Standards where they exist.
• To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
• Committed to delivering patient focused approach and seamless care across professional boundaries, ensuring the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of the service at all times.
• To promote and maintain collaborative working with other healthcare professionals and administration staff.
• Share responsibility with colleagues for patient and staff safety including maintaining a clean and tidy environment and equipment and liaising with estates and housekeeping where necessary. 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 deliver important clinical information and advice to patients and carers in a class or group setting,
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
• To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with 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 the electronic patient administration and record keeping system.
• Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mail received
• Use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients who may    have a variety of different communication requirements.
• To have effective telephone communication skills, thus enabling the assessing and giving of advice to patients over the telephone in the Virtual Fracture Clinic.
• To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc.
• To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
• To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services. 

  Service Delivery and Improvement 

• 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 Manager 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 be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services.
• To engage with local service improvement strategies such as patient first
• Actively look for opportunities to improve the service for patients and staff.
• To participate in audit and research to help improve and support services. 

  People Management and Development 

• To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.
• To supervise junior Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy technicians, 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 junior Physiotherapists on rotation in the clinical area.
• To be responsible for the training of students on placement, juniors, 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 actively work to avoid unconscious bias and support equitable staff learning and development opportunities. 

  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.
• To be understand and be aware of health inequalities and suggest and support strategies to eliminate or mitigate these.