Clinical Lead Physiotherapist

To demonstrate expert ability to communicate effectively with others and be able to persuade and motivate others, including staff and patients 

To respond appropriately to the patient’s level of communication and understanding, facilitating the best possible communication outcomes.  

To clearly communicate highly complex knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, pathology and treatment techniques to patients and staff while being sensitive to their prior levels of knowledge and understanding 

Provide patients, families and other carers with expert advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure consistent patient management. To be able to share knowledge with patients in a way which facilitates understanding of their condition and allows informed participation in planning the management of their condition 

To be able to present information to others in an informed, logical and reasoned manner, even where the evidence or opinion may be conflicting 

 To develop and maintain close working relationships with physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring appropriate attendance at ward rounds, multi-disciplinary meetings and case conferences including organisation of the latter.  

To take an active part in departmental meetings  and to attend groups such as working parties, meetings and events to represent the department, Trust and the profession, both internally and externally to the organisation  

To represent the Trust at local, national and international events or meetings e.g. Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology and develop best practice at King’s through liaison with other regional specialists/colleagues and other relevant forums. To effectively liaise and network with colleagues in other Trusts for the benefit of patients and the service 

2.0 MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION 

Information Management 

 To maintain comprehensive and accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records. 

o monitor and review own and teams’ activity and keep own comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements using departmental IT software systems as required to help inform service delivery and evaluation. 

Human Resources Management 

To deputise for the Physiotherapy Senior Team / Manager as required 

To manage teams of physiotherapy staff, neurorehabilitation/Spasticity service, ensuring they meet service priorities and work effectively and efficiently. 

To provide emotional support for team members in potentially stressful work situations, such as patient bereavement, verbal or physical aggression, or other stresses of work including adverse incidents. 

Physical Resources 

To be responsible for Health and Safety requirements within own clinical area 

To take the lead for ensuring the risk assessment, competent use, maintenance and repair of all equipment in the area, and ensure that treatment and working areas are kept safe and tidy, liaising with other department as appropriate 

To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection of appropriate equipment to be provided to the patient for long term use, both individually and within the team 

 Service Development 

To take a lead role in Clinical Governance in the neurorehabilitation team, and ensure robust and effective systems of clinical effectiveness and audit programmes are in place in the outpatient service to ensure clinical quality, implementation of evidence-based practice and safe working practises. 

To work with other Clinical Leads and the Physiotherapy Manger to ensure that the service responds to local and national initiatives and policy such as CSAG guidelines, National Service Frameworks and NICE guidelines 

To lead on the formulation of departmental policies and procedures for neurorehabilitation and participate in agreed developments in the physiotherapy service or it’s organisation. 

To lead on the formulation of team objectives in line with Trust and Therapy objectives and ensure completion and report to Physiotherapy Manager.  To work collaboratively with all Physiotherapy Clinical Leads and Managers, on joint projects covering the scope of physiotherapy and work with colleagues, outside of the department on projects or service reviews, networking externally to the Trust as required.

To initiate and implement changes to working practices related to research findings or service initiatives e.g. following demand and capacity work including evaluation of such changes. 

To undertake clinical audit, report on findings, implement changes and re-audit.  

3.0 TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH 

To keep abreast of new developments generally within physiotherapy, and within the area of neurological conditions particularly. To incorporate into current practice and that of the team as appropriate 

To ensure the provision of an appropriate planned and relevant in service training programme for the team, and support staff to develop their knowledge and skills within their role i.e. related to client group, service needs and efficient use of time  

To use expert knowledge to provide specialist teaching on a wide range of topics to the neurorehabilitation team, other physiotherapy staff and students, and other professionals 

To monitor and assess competency of team members in clinical techniques related to neurorehabilitation, spasticity management and extended scope physiotherapy. To incorporate into team training programmes as required 

 To train, assess and deem competent, staff undertaking high risk procedures such as therapy handling and specialist procedures such as splinting. 

 To lead the neurorehabilitation team in developing local standards and guidelines based on evidence of best practice, and ensure that these standards and guidelines are monitored and acted upon within the team 

 To support and facilitate evidence-based projects carried out by more junior staff and to ensure well-structured experience-rich rotations for junior and senior staff.   

 Prepare and participate in lectures, seminars and demonstrations to other physiotherapists, student physiotherapists and other disciplines as appropriate, internal and external to the Trust 

 Foster, encourage and facilitate the development of evidence-based projects and guide through to publication. 

 People Management and Performance  

Lead, coach and manage the performance of the team in line with good people management practices. Ensuring excellence is recognised and underperformance is addressed