Senior Physiotherapy Assistant

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Once inducted, to work with minimal or no direct supervision of an Physiotherapist. 
• To carry own caseload of patients, with straightforward Physiotherapy problems, as delegated by the Physiotherapist. 
• To assist with the care of patients including receiving them, transporting to treatment area, preparing drinks, supervising or assisting with drinking, toileting, dressing and undressing as part of their treatment programme. 
• To provide treatment to patients following a pre-prescribed treatment plan utilising a variety of basic Physiotherapy techniques such as assisting a patient to such as assisting a patient to walk with a appropriate aid or undertake specific exercises. 
• To be able to recognise change in the condition of a patient, decide whether to treat and watch and document the patient response/reaction to any treatment undertaken. 
• To monitor patients’ physical and cognitive function whilst undertaking a range of activities and report changes to the Physiotherapist. 
• To assist with removal and application of functional/supportive aids e.g. prostheses, splints and assist in the manufacture of splints and ensuring comfort of new splints by accurate final finishing. 
• To assist the Physiotherapist with individual/group treatments progressing to independent routine treatment sessions and supervision of groups where maintenance of function is the objective. 
• To measure, adjust and supply walking aids to patients. To teach the patient safe usage of equipment and develop clinical judgement skills and experience to progress the patient onto other ads following departmental protocol or the instruction from the Physiotherapist.  
• To assess the safety of patients ascending and descending the stairs in line with agreed protocol, documenting safety in patients’ clinical notes. 
• To collect data from patients for recognised outcome measures and document for the Physiotherapist to interpret. 
• To organise delegated work tasks and activities being flexible to the needs of the service as indicated by the Physiotherapist. 

Communication and Representation

• To take and relay messages accurately on the telephone and face to face with patients, relatives, health care professionals and others e.g. company representatives 
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient’s condition and treatment progress. 
• To develop skills in participating in meetings and handovers, taking and receiving Physiotherapy information about known patient group.  
• To be able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication will be tailored to the patients’/carers’ level of comprehension or cognition e.g. using interpreters 
• To liaise with health care professionals and Physiotherapists on a day-to-day basis in clinical area of work, with regard to patient care. 
• To book transport for outpatients 
• To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department, both clinically and administratively. 
• To maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times in line with Trust and departmental policies 

Information Management

• To maintain accurate and timely patient notes and activity records in accordance with departmental policy and to ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of these records.   
• To use departmental/Trust software e.g. EPR, PIMS  

Human Resources Management

• To undertake non-clinical induction of assistants and students as required. 
• To be an active team member by supporting other members, offering assistance, being flexible and approachable particularly during changing service demands and staffing levels.   

Physical Resources Management     

• To ensure that the treatment and working areas are kept safe and tidy, and to ensure competent equipment use.  To report any faulty equipment to the Clinical Lead Physiotherapist in the area
• To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of all equipment used, to report defects in equipment in a timely manner to the Clinical Lead in the area and locate missing items. 
• To understand the function and use of departmental equipment and be able to use safely jointly with Physiotherapy staff or independently with own patients. 
• To undertake routine cleaning/tidying tasks of clinical equipment e.g. wheelchairs, electrical equipment 
• To administer any equipment loan monitoring system and liaise with maintenance engineers where appropriate. 
• To undertake administrative tasks particularly related to photocopying, record keeping, filing, errands and making appointments  
• To be responsible for stock control within clinical areas ensuring consistent supply and request new orders from the departmental secretary, including using catalogues for new equipment. 
• Collect, unpack and store new supplies 
• To monitor levels, condition and date of contents in resuscitation trolley or first aid box, in relevant areas, on a regular basis and ensure new supplies are requested as required. 

Service Development

• To follow Physiotherapy department and Trust policies 
• To comment on changes to departmental policies, procedures and service development as required. 

Training, education and research

• To demonstrate capability in Physiotherapy assistant skills, by completing the tasks listed in the Assistant Induction and competency Checklist, within the first 3 months of employment. 
• To participate in the King’s College Hospital appraisal system and to fulfil its requirements for maintaining competencies to the required level. 
• To undertake in-service training to improve patient care and for personal development and organise programme on a rotational basis. 
• To be responsible for personal Life Long Learning, and ensure that LLL is reflective in clinical and non-clinical practice. 
• To participate in the department’s ongoing audit programme as required.