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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

•  To work in the allocated placements as rostered.
• To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care
• To carry a designated clinical caseload and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities.
• To ensure that evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist
• To receive referrals and independently undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with multi-pathologies; use clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment skills to formulate an accurate diagnosis of their condition
• To use clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidence based practice to formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme, and develop discharge plans
• To have knowledge of a wide range of physiotherapy techniques, and be able to select techniques which are appropriate to the needs of the patient 
• To manage clinical risk within own clinical caseload; to have up to date knowledge of indications, contraindications and precautions for any treatment skills and techniques selected and applied throughout an individual course of treatment
• To continually reassess patients in order to progress treatments effectively
• To consult when necessary with appropriate senior specialist staff regarding patients with particular problems. Senior staff are accessible for advice and support e.g for patients with complex needs, or new procedures, but clinical work is not directly supervised
• Attend multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences and ward rounds as required by the rotation. Ensure that the physiotherapy management of a patient is integrated into the multidisciplinary management and treatment plans for patients
• To advise, guide and teach physiotherapy assistants in the assessment and 
  management of patients and other aspects of clinical care, including record keeping
• To maintain comprehensive and accurate written records in line with Trust and departmental guidelines, and to provide discharge information to the referring clinician as required by the rotation
• The post requires a flexible approach to working and requires the post holder to undertake weekend and extended hours commitments as required.
• To participate in the on call and weekend rotas, once level of competency has been approved and part of a respiratory rotation completed.

Communication and Representation

• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. 
• To respond appropriately to the patient’s level of communication and understanding, facilitating the best possible communication outcomes. For example, patients may be deaf, blind, or unable to communicate in English
• To advise and educate patients/relatives/carers as required.
• To establish and maintain close working relationships with physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the multidisciplinary team. To provide advice, education and training to other disciplines as appropriate
• To consult when necessary with senior staff regarding particular problems
• To undertake delegated duties and to assist with the other physiotherapy staff in the maintenance and smooth running of the physiotherapy department.
  Information Management
• To keep comprehensive statistical records of activity in accordance with local and national requirements.
• To ensure the safekeeping and confidentiality of patient information
• To comply with the use of Trust and departmental computerised systems for data collection, patient records and patient treatments, such as EPR and PIMS 

Human Resources Management

•  Attend and contribute to physiotherapy staff meetings 
• To participate in the Kings College Hospital Employee Performance Assessment programme and fulfil its requirements
• To have an active role in effective team working in the area where he/she is working, and in the physiotherapy department and the Trust as a whole
• Attend any regular supervision sessions with the line manager as required by the rotation

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
  Service Development
• To have an active role in clinical effectiveness and audit programmes in order to develop and improve services

Training, education and research

• To undertake in-service and post graduate education in order to develop self professionally and improve patient care
• To be an active participant in in-service training programmes for staff and students, taking the delegated lead for some sessions according to the rotation
• To keep up to date with new developments within physiotherapy, and be proactive in learning from others
• To undertake an evidence based project throughout each rotation to further the clinical practice of self and the team, and to enhance patient care e.g. developing new treatment protocols, undertaking audits, literature reviews. Projects will be presented to the rest of the team at the end of each rotation
• To participate in education programmes for visitors and members of other disciplines as appropriate
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activity, and maintain a portfolio that reflects personal development

General 

• The post holder has a general duty of care for their own health, safety and wellbeing and that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities 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.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff. 
• To be responsible, with management support, for their own 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. 

See the attached full job description for more information.