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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES CLINICAL

1.     To undertake a comprehensive assessment and formulate a diagnosis of patients who may have complex conditions including multi pathology. Use well developed clinical reasoning to select appropriate assessment techniques that lead you to determine a clinical diagnosis of the patient’s needs. This will involve seeking and sharing personal and potentially sensitive information with the patient.

2.     To analyse the information gained from the assessment to formulate an accurate prognosis for the patient and then discuss and agree goals and outcomes for treatment with them. To set realistic timescales for achieving these.

3.     To give a full explanation of the patient’s condition and proposed treatment to the patient and discuss the expected outcome with them. To ensure the patient understands this and agrees to the treatment plan giving consent to it. If the patient does not have the capacity to give consent, to be able to work within the legal framework as appropriate. This will involve negotiation and motivation skills and the need to work tactfully and sensitively with patients who are unable or unwilling to accept their diagnosis.

4.     To select and be able to perform appropriate treatment techniques from a wide range of specialist skills. This could include electrotherapy, manual techniques, patient education, exercise groups, hydrotherapy, use of appliances, manipulation etc. The selection of techniques will be based on both theoretical and practical knowledge and evaluated past experience.

5.     To demonstrate the physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions.

6.     To be personally responsible for all aspects of safety relating to equipment used. To be responsible for checking and/or teaching competency of more junior therapists and non-qualified staff (including non –physiotherapy staff as necessary) in using equipment e.g. appliances, gym equipment, electrotherapy items etc.

7.     To produce clear written information and exercise programmes for patients to follow at home or when not with a Physiotherapist. This may include teaching carers and care-givers in homes, schools etc.

8.     To use developed clinical reasoning skills to review and evaluate patient progress and their current condition at each treatment session and to amend the treatment programme as appropriate to achieve agreed goals.

9.     To plan and undertake discharge of patients from Physiotherapy when agreed goals have been reached or treatment is no longer appropriate (e.g. the patient has reached a plateau or there is a change in their medical circumstances). To be able to negotiate this with patients who wish to continue treatment on an ongoing basis.

10.  To be able to correctly identify inappropriate referrals to Physiotherapy and have the confidence to refer on or back as required.

11.  To produce timely and accurate patient’s records and reports in accordance with Health Professions Council and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy regulations.

Communication Skills

12.  Using verbal, non-verbal and written communication tools, ensure that patients and carers (if appropriate within the scope of patient confidentiality) have an understanding of their condition and the role and aims of Physiotherapy in relation to this. The Physiotherapist must be able to persuade, motivate and negotiate, as well as demonstrate empathy and reassurance. The Physiotherapist must effectively amend their communication techniques according to individual needs of the patient

13.  If it is in the best interests of the patient, to objectively present clinical information regarding patients to colleagues in order to contribute to a high standard of care e.g. handover to another Physiotherapist, update medical and nursing colleagues on a patient’s condition, liaise with Social services or other allied health professionals.

14.  To be confident in their own diagnosis and be able to communicate that effectively to others (including medical doctors and other Allied Health Professionals).

15.  To share information in a timely manner with a more senior physiotherapist if there are concerns about a patient’s safety, condition or progress.

16.  To urgently report and take appropriate action if there are any concerns about staff and/or patient safety to more senior staff.

17.  To represent the Physiotherapy service in meetings with other professionals with an aim of accurately contributing and reporting back relevant information to their line manager.

Professional Skills

18. The Physiotherapist must be able to adapt their communication, treatment, information and advice to meet the needs of individual patients. Patients seen will range from the vulnerable (e.g. elderly, mentally ill or those with poor memory) to those who are extremely well informed about their condition. Patients may have psychosocial difficulties or may be defensive due to past experiences e.g. abuse.

The Physiotherapist must be sensitive to patients’ own cultures, beliefs and emotions, especially when asking them to undress for treatment and during assessments or treatments, which are likely to include the use of hands-on physiotherapy skills.

The Physiotherapist must take a holistic view of the patient and their well-being considering all factors and not purely focus on a specific medical condition, sign or symptom.

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

20. To support and guide more junior Physiotherapists and non-qualified staff in both clinical and organisational skills.

21.  To deputise for more senior therapy staff and delegate duties in a competent and safe way to Junior therapists and non-qualified staff.

22.  To take a lead for specific projects within own area of work to enhance patient care and service delivery (e.g. develop patient information leaflets).

23.  To exhibit and maintain a high personal standard of professional expertise, attitude and behaviour at all times in accordance with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and local Trust, PCT and service policies. To be an advocate for the Physiotherapy profession and West Essex PCT Musculoskeletal service.

24.   To be an active member of the Physiotherapy team recognising own responsibilities to and respecting other team members (both within your immediate work group and the service as a whole).

25.  To delegate tasks appropriately to Junior Physiotherapists, assistants, carers and other professionals considering the complexity of the task and the skills and competence of that person.

26.  To fully understand systems and procedures in place in your area of work to be able to implement them to contribute to the continuity and smooth running of the service. This may be in the absence of a more senior member of staff.

27.  To effectively manage and prioritise your own workload within the time available including the prioritising of patients to be treated along with other commitments in the day (e.g. meetings). To be able to delegate or arrange cover when required. To assist other staff to prioritise their workload and adjust own/team’s plans to accommodate changes in demand.

28.  To efficiently manage a challenging caseload, demonstrating flexibility with varying levels of staff, varying complexity of patients and fluctuating numbers of patients on the caseload.

29.  To be able to work efficiently in isolation for part of the working week, with telephone links only to more senior members of the Physiotherapy team (e.g GP practices, Outpatient departments).

Education and Research

30.  To be an active participant in the Individual Performance Review (IPR) process. This includes prior preparation and being able to identify own learning needs and objectives.

31.  To take responsibility for booking and attending mandatory training as specified in Trust policies and take action as required in the work place (e.g. basic life support, fire, manual handling).

32.  To continue to develop specialist Physiotherapy skills in a specific clinical field.

33.  To actively review the service you provide with an aim of promoting better patient care using audit, research, case studies and reflective practice.

34.  To be responsible for own competence to practice by ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) and the recording of it in a reflective diary/portfolio. To maximise the learning opportunities available in order to support evidence based practice and influence clinical practice. Such CPD should include: Active participation by attending and presenting at departmental in-service-training, participating in supervision sessions with more Senior Physiotherapist, valuing experiential learning and formally reflecting on it and using a variety of information resources to support and facilitate evidence based practice e.g. library, Internet, external courses.