Specialist Physiotherapist

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities: 

Clinical

To be professionally and legally accountable and responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

To ensure high standards of clinical care for patients’ and support more junior members of staff to do likewise. At all times post-holder will work within HCPC, CSP and PCT guidelines.

Evaluate and prioritise the referrals received based on clinical need and communication with the referring party. In complex cases this may be in conjunction with a highly specialist Physiotherapy staff member.

To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex and multiple presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care.

To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognoses in a wide range of complex conditions and to recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans where appropriate.

To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

To accept clinical responsibility for a caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.

To treat patients in group settings of up to 15 patients.  To be responsible for assessing suitability of patients for group treatment and on-going monitoring of individuals within the group and to be able to conduct similar groups.

To actively participate in working groups, clinical governance sessions and to contribute to the development of policy changes within musculoskeletal care that will impact on all service users.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction and training to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To co-ordinate and ensure effective delivery of physiotherapy services GP clinics / surgeries if required by the business manager.  

To be competent and safe in the use of gym equipment and walking aids.
To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements.

Professional

To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of new developments through self-motivated reading and research and incorporate them as necessary into your own work.  The post-holder should show evidence of being a reflective practitioner.

To undertake the measurement and evaluation of current practices through the use and application of evidence-based practice, clinical audit, research and outcome measures.

To demonstrate leadership when contributing to the co-ordination of an in-service training programme as required.
To attend and actively contribute to any meetings as required.

Organisational

To demonstrate leadership and be responsible for a designated area of work as agreed with the Departmental Lead / Supervisor and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time.  This includes deciding on priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands (plans will often need to be adjusted at short notice due to staff availability or patient demand).

To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including prompt recording (E.g.- DATIX) and reporting of incidents / accidents to senior staff and ensuring that equipment use is safe.
To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics as required.

To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

To undertake other duties that may be required or are requested by the Departmental Lead or the Business Manager.

Communication

To communicate clinical information empathetically in an understandable way to patients and to assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain co-operation and valid informed consent for treatment.  Effective communication requires use of verbal and non-verbal tools to maximise rehabilitation potential, often with unmotivated patients.  This can include patients where there are barriers to effective communication e.g. loss of hearing, altered perception, pain, fear etc.

To communicate effectively with consultants, doctors, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists from other trusts and other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) who have referred patients or are involved with the patient’s care.  This can be direct communication or in the form of discharge / progress reports.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

Contribute to East Of England Community Health and Care Trust internal communication strategies ensuring effective two-way communication and engagement within the organisation.

Contribute to East Of England Community Health and Care Trust external communication strategies working with the Head of Communications to raise awareness and promote the reputation of East Of England Community Health and Care Trust services.  
Patient and Public Engagement 

To contribute to ensuring that East Of England Community Health and Care Trust responsibilities to engage and consult with patients and the public are met in line with statutory requirements.

People Management

To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and assistants.  This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation. To demonstrate compassionate leadership when supporting.

To act as Clinical Supervisor for undergraduate physiotherapists.  This involves teaching, organisation, supervision, role modelling, learning contracts, evaluation and assessment of their abilities by grading according to the learning institute’s specifications.

To partake in clinical supervision according to service guidelines.
Provide yearly formal appraisals for junior staff (as designated) with intermediate reviews to assess progress towards their objectives.

To assist in the selection and interviewing process for new junior staff as required.

To maintain own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process.

Clinical and Practice Governance

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

To be an active member of the Clinical Governance programme by the attendance and delivering of presentations / teaching sessions if required and by attending external courses if deemed necessary.

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient / family / staff / records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.

Any data that is taken / shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to East Of England Community Health and Care Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.  

The post holder must adhere to East Of England Community Health and Care Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by East Of England Community Health and Care Trust.

The post holder must participate in clinical and safeguarding audits as required.

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.