Senior Physiotherapist - Chronic Pelvic Pain

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical:

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own professional activities
2. To undertake the assessment of patients, as an autonomous practitioner, including those with routine and more complex presentations and use clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine the most appropriate course of clinical intervention.
3. To be competent in assessing the pelvic region with consideration of any gynaecological, urological, colo-rectal and musculo-skeletal conditions based on theoretical knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, often in situations where conflicting evidence is present.
4. To be competent in understanding complex chronic pain factors (biological, social, psychosocial) and how these relate to the pelvis. Including being able to apply this knowledge during assessments and treatment plans.
5. To be aware of local services that supports the management and improvement of chronic pelvic pain and how to refer to them when required.
6. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form accurate diagnoses in a wide range of routine and complex conditions
7. To be responsible for own patient care plans, and seek specialist physiotherapist support with complex cases.
8. To recognise when clinical intervention is not effective and reassess patients in order to progress treatments effectively.
9. To assess a patient’s capacity to understand and to gain valid, informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent or refuse treatment.
10. To co-ordinate intervention which may include other disciplines; advise and educate patient/ carers/ relatives/ other health professionals
11. To demonstrate the ability to communicate sensitive information to patient, carers and other staff, where there may be barriers to communication e.g. non-English speaking patients; those with communication disorders, impaired speech, hearing, and ensure all members of the team do likewise.
12. To communicate effectively with all other disciplines involved in the patient’s care both in the Hospital and in the community thus ensuring a multidisciplinary approach and integrated service.
13. To manage clinical risk within own caseload.
14. To be responsible for maintenance of accurate written records. To include comprehensive progress and discharge reports.
15. To use clinical reasoning and knowledge to refer to other health disciplines as appropriate.
16. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling
17. To demonstrate developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients
18. To be sensitive to the needs of patients who may have difficult and embarrassing conditions and to respond accordingly.

Management:

1. To ensure that Trust and Department policies are adhered to.
2. To be responsible for adhering to quality standards and evidence-based guidelines to maximise clinical effectiveness.
3. To plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and demonstrate flexibility to adjust plans in the event of operational pressures.
4. To support the band 8a lead physiotherapist in the maintenance of all equipment including exercise equipment and patient appliances.
5. To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the Band 8a clinical specialist or other manager, immediately and that appropriate action is taken as appropriate.
6. To comply with all Trust policies and procedures and Health and Safety at Work Act, including adherence to Universal Precautions and Infection Control measures.
7. To report all complaints and accidents to the immediate senior member of staff as soon as possible and document accordingly.
8. To ensure all statutory and mandatory training requirements are adhered to.
9. To undertake the supervision of less experienced staff and undergraduate students.
10. To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme, both as appraisee and as appraiser.
11. To attend and be an active participant in departmental staff and peer group meetings.
12. To support the Band 8a clinical specialist and wider department to collect data that may be used in clinical audit or service development projects.
13. To manage of a caseload of patients including prioritising clinical work and balancing other patient related and professional activities in accordance with departmental standards.
14. To impart information to small groups of people, for example in class and training sessions, using a variety of methods of communication.
15. With support, to be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.

Education:

1.  To be responsible for own personal professional development and keep abreast of new clinical practices in the area of Pelvic Health physiotherapy.

2.  To maintain a CPD portfolio reflecting personal professional development.

3.  To convey knowledge of techniques, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology to patients and staff where appropriate.

4.  To assist with the training of physiotherapy staff, assistants and students on placement within the clinical area.

5.  To supervise undergraduate physiotherapy students as required, and to liaise with the department’s undergraduate coordinators regarding student performance and placement within the team.

Research and audit:

1.     To participate and assist with clinical audit and projects in areas relevant to the clinical field

2.     With supervision, lead with evidence based projects and the professional presentation of the project to the physiotherapy department.

3.     To keep abreast of evidenced based practice in Pelvic Health by use of relevant reading, attendance at in-service training, external courses and database searches

4.     To ensure good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor quality as appropriate

General:

1. To carry out physiotherapy assessments and treatments, with moderate physical effort involved, on a daily basis
2. To comply with the Trusts Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidelines
3. With support from specialist Band 7/ B8a physiotherapist, sensitively deal with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care e.g. imparting news of poor prognoses such as chronic pain management or lifelong disability
4. To support staff when indicated in the management of challenging patients
5. To support patients suffering from pain that may lead to anxiety and aggressive behaviour

To maintain professionalism