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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To gain informed consent from each patient prior to assessment and treatment. The Physiotherapist should be familiar with and adhere to South Warwickshire Foundation Trust policies on consent.

To undertake a comprehensive Physiotherapy assessment of the individual patient both adults and children including those with diverse or complex presentations/multiple pathologies; gaining relevant information by clinical examination; observation, questioning, discussion and manual physiotherapy assessment techniques.

Apply advanced clinical reasoning skills to formulate a clinical diagnosis of their condition and set therapeutic/rehabilitation objectives.

To formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical skills e.g. manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise programmes or classes, electrotherapy, and other alternative options. Ensuring competency to practice is maintained as appropriate.

To evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.

To formulate a prognosis and recommend best course of interventions developing comprehensive treatments and discharge plans.

To make informed clinical decisions on timely discharge planning and / or referral to other services.

Communication

To communicate the clinical diagnosis and facilitate understanding of a mutually agreed treatment programme to patients and carers.

To communicate effectively with other patients, relatives or carers on a group or individual basis in order to maximise rehabilitative potential through verbal and non- verbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance or use of behavioural modification techniques.

To communicate with colleagues and other relevant professionals professionally and appropriately and in a timely manner (e.g. medical notes, letters and reports).

To assess individual patients’ understanding of proposed treatment modalities and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to intervention, in line with Trust policy in gaining consent.

To maintain accurate, legible, comprehensive and contemporaneous documentation, in line with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Core Standards, Trust policies and legal requirements.

Educational

Participate in staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal and professional development programmes to meet knowledge, skills and competency requirements.

To be responsible for maintaining and developing specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice ensuring own competency to practice through CPD activities.

To undertake clinical and professional updating through means identified during the appraisal process.

To develop an individual learning plan, maintain CPD records/portfolio which reflect personal development and provide evidence of how learning is applied to practice.

Be an active member through planning, implementation, attendance at and leading, of the in-service training programmes.

To participate in the clinical supervision of less experienced staff  and students through teaching, peer reviews and mentoring.

To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out Physiotherapy duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.

Undertake regular measurement, data collection and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures either individually or with more senior physiotherapists.

Management/ Professional

To be responsible for: organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Re-adjusting plans as situations change/arise, this may include adapting a new working environment.

To monitor and mentor the caseload of less experience staff providing support and guidance as required.

To be responsible for supervising, teaching and assessing Physiotherapy students to graduate level demonstrating advanced clinical ability and clinical reasoning skills.

To supervise the other staff within the MDT as required e.g. less experienced physiotherapists, TIs, Assistants, Physiotherapy, medical or work experience students ensuring they meet Trust and professional expectations and standards.

To identify opportunities to improve the physiotherapy service and implement changes with senior support in order to provide the best patient care within resources available.

To maintain own competency and to be responsible for the safe and competent use of manual handling, gym and electrotherapy equipment by patients and students/assistants/TI’s through teaching, training and supervision of  practice.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work.

To assess and manage clinical risk within the limits of own scope of practice.

To work within Trust policy and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards. Monitor own and others quality of practice, as appropriate.

To work within CSP, Trust Guidelines, National Clinical Guidelines and National Service Frameworks. To monitor own and others standards of practice, as appropriate.

To set a high personal standard of work and professional attitude and encourage others to do likewise.  

To maintain high morale and sound staff relations within the department.

To maintain assessment, treatment and discharge records/reports and follow guidelines, protocols and procedures in accordance with professional (Chartered Society of Physiotherapy), legal and departmental standards.

To contribute to meeting the requirements of the Trust’s Corporate Governance agenda.

To be committed to a team approach in order to provide continuity and efficiency of service provision.

To be the first point of contact in dealing with minor complaints from staff, patients and carers/visitors in line with Trust Policy.

To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, including prompt recording and reporting of incidents to senior staff, using the Trust incident reporting system.

Weekend Working and On Call

To be an active member of the on call and weekend working rotas, this will involve working alone and unsupervised.

To undertake physiotherapy assessment and agree a clinically reasoned treatment plan with patients and relevant MDT staff in allocated section, who may have complex presentations, and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner.

To maintain own competency to practice as a member of the on call and weekend teams.