Specialist Physiotherapist Neuro-rehabilitation

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

• To work as a clinically autonomous practitioner within the service to diagnose (where appropriate), assess, plan and implement patient specific programmes of evidence based rehabilitation, disability management and care, modifying plans as a result of clinical assessment and patient involvement
• To work effectively across a variety of clinical environments, involving changing and demanding conditions as the need arises
• To use a comprehensive range of verbal and non-verbal tools to effectively with patients and their families and carers, within the relevant legal framework with patients who lack capacity
• To supervise the practice of tasks and delegate appropriate duties to physiotherapy, rehabilitation and healthcare assistants.
• To work flexibly and be able to adjust to the constantly changing demands of the service
• To contribute to groups and clinics as part of the inpatient services within the OCE.

Leadership & Management

• Act as a positive role model to all staff by behaving in a professional manner at all times and adhering to Trust policies and procedures.
• Provide managerial direction and support to junior colleagues within the team in the delivery of the service with guidance from the senior physiotherapy team.
• Deputise in the absence of the Band 7 therapists, including attending and contributing to departmental meetings in their absence.
• To contribute to specific, identified service development projects, making recommendations, developing best practice guidelines and policies based upon a robust evidence base gained from risk assessments, audits and literature reviews
• To complete timely appraisals and development reviews for more junior staff with support from the Band 7 therapists, ensuring there is reference to the team service objectives.
• Manage performance issues and individual sickness absence adhering to Trust policy.
• Produce accurate and detailed service information for auditing purposes

Operational

• To contribute to the effective daily management of a caseload of patients including prioritising clinical work and balancing other patient related, administrative and professional activities.
• To participate in the recruitment process for therapy assistant posts.
• To support the induction of new staff across the OCE multidisciplinary teams.
• To develop partnership working with all relevant agencies/services/individuals to support optimum management of patients requiring neurological rehabilitation.

Educational

• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio that reflects personal development and apply this to daily practice, which supports the requirements for registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• To support own competency development, promoting professional growth, which will include background reading, attending and leading in-service training and lectures
• To comply with mandatory and core clinical training requirements
• To participate in the staff appraisal scheme, being responsible for complying with own agreed personal development programme and, as appropriate, appraising more junior staff
• To routinely undertake clinical supervision/mentorship of junior staff, assistants and students assisting in the professional development of more junior members of staff on rotation through the OCE.
• To be a clinical educator to pre-registration physiotherapy students and facilitate the learning needs of students from other disciplines within the OCE.

Health and Safety

• To be aware of and follow the Health and Safety policies and guidelines in your work area, including prompt recording and reporting of accidents or incidents to senior staff.
• To be aware of and follow the Health and Safety guidelines in your work area, including prompt recording and reporting of accidents or incidents to senior staff
• To be able to undertake frequent repetitive activities as part of assisting patients in rehabilitation
• To be responsible for safety and cleaning of specific equipment in line with Trust policy prior to use or issue
• To deliver safeguarding policies with respect to children and vulnerable adults

Responsibilities for Health & Safety

The post holder is responsible for ensuring that all duties and responsibilities of this post are carried out in compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Statutory Regulations and Trust Policies and Procedures. This will be supported by the provision of training and specialist advice where required.

Professional 

• To work within professional scope of practice
• To work in accordance with policies, protocols and standards as determined by the Trust and applicable Codes of Professional Conduct
• To comply with the Trust and professional manual handling policies and local therapeutic handling guidance at all times

Risk Management

• To identify and alert senior staff to areas of clinical risk
• To adhere to the culture of being progressive, honest and open regarding risk assessment
• To be familiar with the Major Incident Policy and Fire Policy and the ‘local response’ plan and their role within that response

Infection Control

Infection Control is everyone’s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trusts’ Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA.

All staff employed by the ORH Trust have the following key responsibilities:

• Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol gel on entry and exit from all clinical areas and/or between each patient contact.
• Staff members have a duty to attend mandatory infection control training provided for them by the Trust.
• Staff members who develop an infection (other than common colds and illness) that may be transmittable to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health.

Equity, Diversity and Rights

• To be sensitive to the cultural, religious and linguistic needs of the individual and brings these issues to the attention of others
• To develop, sustain and evaluate collaborative approaches with other workers, agencies and communities
• To identify training needs and facilitate learning of self and others