Senior Physiotherapist Emergency and acute medicine

• To receive referrals, undertake full assessment and independently plan individual specialized treatment programmes for patients appropriately, depending on the physiotherapist’s diagnosis; using clinical reasoning and specialist skills such as use of respiratory adjuncts, patient education, exercise and advanced airway clearance techniques.
• To use recognized outcome measures to evaluate the effect of the physiotherapy interventions and ensure the treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
• To carry a designated clinical caseload including complex patients and prioritize that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities using specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.
• To provide individual patient equipment as required, walking aids, splints and supports.  To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.
• To be responsible for the standard of physiotherapy carried out by physiotherapy assistants or technical instructors working with you. 
• To undertake home visits when appropriate, to ensure planned discharge from hospital. Assessment and management of patients and other aspects of clinical practice.
• To be an active member of the on-call, weekend duty rotas, and cover of statutory and public holidays including working as a lone physiotherapy practitioner at night. To assist Band 7 in organizing the Rota.
• Undertake other clinical duties as requested by the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist or Physiotherapy Manager.
• To consult appropriately with senior specialist staff regarding patients with problems.
• Provide patients, families and other carers with specialist advice or instruction to promote the understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure consistent patient management.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximize rehabilitation potential and to improve understanding of the condition which will require the appropriate response to the patients’ level of communication, facilitating the best possible communication outcome e.g. use of interpreters.
• To be able to persuade and motivate patients through effective communication skills.
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient's condition and treatment progress.  This may include the sharing and receiving of complex and/or sensitive information.
• Develop and maintain close working relationships with physiotherapy colleagues, referring clinicians, other members of the multidisciplinary team and other appropriate persons or agencies involved in the provision of care to these groups of patients in the community and hospital settings to provide a coordinated service.
• To attend case conferences and ward rounds to ensure that the physiotherapeutic management of patients is integrated into the individual patient treatment plan and that other members of the MDT know the progress of the patient. 

Provide education using specialist knowledge to relevant patient groups.

• To maintain comprehensive, accurate and timely patient notes and records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records.
• To keep comprehensive records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements, use departmental software systems as required.  

• To participate in the King’s College Hospital Employee Performance Appraisal system and to fulfil its requirements, progressing to undertaking independent appraisals of junior staff.
• To organise and monitor the day to day work of the physiotherapy assistants where allocated.
• To deputise for the Band 7 physiotherapist when appropriate and adapt to changing service demands. 
• To participate in the supervision and teaching of junior physiotherapy staff, students and assistants, progressing to independent supervision, management and competency assessment of a student.
• To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.
• To ensure that work areas are kept safe and tidy and to be responsible for regular inspection and reporting defects of equipment used and report to the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist
• To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection of appropriate equipment to be provided for patient long-term use.
•  Identify opportunities to improve the service, and to discuss them with the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist and take forward as a personal project.
• To demonstrate a knowledge of Clinical Governance and have an active role in clinical effectiveness and audit programmes to develop and improve services.
• To provide teaching, guidance and advice when appropriate to nursing staff and other professionals involved with the post-holder’s patient groups.
• To undertake in-service and post-graduate training to improve patient care and for professional development and incorporate learning into current practice and disseminate.
• To contribute to the in-service training programmes for the physiotherapy staff, including teaching on it, and organizing the senior programme.
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, using reflective practice and maintaining a portfolio that indicates personal development.
• To be involved in research and evaluation of practice as opportunities arise.
• To participate in education programmes for schools, community groups and other visitors to King’s College Hospital.
• To prepare and present a research/audit or development project / in-depth study for each rotation which contributes to service development, own personal knowledge and professional development, presenting the project to the department at the end of the rotation.
• To attend physiotherapy meetings and other meetings as required, taking responsibility to support the functioning of the department.
• To take an active part in departmental meetings e.g. contribute to discussion, take on the role of Chair, contribute to the development of departmental policies and procedures.
• To undertake Therapy Handling training and comply with the guidelines.
• To undertake any other duties commensurate with grade as requested by the Physiotherapy Manager or Clinical Lead Physiotherapist.
• To work on any of the Kings College Hospital sites as required and in any working pattern as required by the service e.g., 7 day working Rota’s, extended hours etc
• To be aware of own Health and Safety responsibilities including contributing to the infection control and cleanliness of the hospital by ensuring cleanliness of own equipment, undertaking mandatory training, abiding by the hand-washing policy and other policies related to Barrier nursing.
• You have a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of yourself, work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountability associated with this post.
• To observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of King’s College Hospital 

NHS Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations.

• Personal information relating to patients and staff.
• To be responsible, with management support, for your personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post-holder.
• All employees must hold an 'nhs.net' email account which will be the Trust's formal route for email communication.  You are therefore required to check this regularly and to deal with such communication promptly.