Physiotherapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

To gain informed consent from each patient prior to assessment and treatment.

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 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 sound 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.

Measurable Result Areas

To be responsible for maintaining and developing current knowledge of evidence-based practice ensuring own competency to practice.

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

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

Be an active member of the in-service training programmes by attendance at, leading and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses (where applicable), peer review and personal study.

To ensure competence to use physiotherapy 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.

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 work with senior staff to supervise, support, and coordinate Physiotherapy students, assistants and TIs on a daily basis to ensure they meet Trust and professional standard guidelines.

To supervise the other staff within the MDT as required e.g. less experienced physiotherapists, TIs, Assistants, Physiotherapy, medical or work experience students.

To identify opportunities to improve the physiotherapy service in order to provide the best patient care within resources available and make recommendations for change.

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 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 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.

Communications and Working Relationships

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

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

To communicate with other relevant professionals e.g. GP, Consultants, Nurses, Occupational Therapists on patient needs, progress and any other necessary further interventions through verbal and written means e.g. medical notes, letters and reports.

To liaise with staff of other disciplines to ensure effective communication and reporting takes place at all times.

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.