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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key tasks and responsibilities

• To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards and policies
• To propose and make changes to working practices in consultation with the speciality lead where applicable
• To maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence based practices and evaluate the outcomes
• To be responsible as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant clinical caseload
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients including those with complex presentation using investigative and analytical skills. To seek guidance from senior staff as required.
• To devise an individualised physiotherapy management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a range of treatment options in formulating a specialised programme of care
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your professional activities working within codes of practice and professional guidelines. This includes patient documentation in both professional and medical notes.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance, clinical risk and to demonstrate the use of treatment plans with an evidence based link
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions, including highly developed manual physiotherapy techniques and therapeutic handling. There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods during the day.
• To keep up to date with clinical developments and maintain background knowledge in this speciality area analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice.
• To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and work to these standards
• To ensure that as an individual practitioner, the post holder advises the Band 7 and 8a of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
• To be responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, adhering to the department’s medical devices policy. This includes competence and accuracy to use equipment by yourself and other healthcare professionals, carers and patients.
• To participate in the respiratory on call rota.

This job will involve frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions eg. bodily fluids, including sputum, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to hostility in the form of verbal and physical aggression.

Management

• To achieve planning the effective daily management of a caseload of patients including responding to urgent referrals and unpredictable workload
• To be able to prioritise both clinical and managerial workload, which will require frequent concentration, in an unpredictable environment.
• To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner when imparting bad news regarding rehabilitation potential e.g. neurological patients, cystic fibrosis or those patients in ICU. To ensure this is communicated sensitively to all parties concerned.
• To work with the physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service and to be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of department policies and the yearly performance plan
• To supervise junior physiotherapists, physiotherapy technicians and physiotherapy students on clinical placements
• To be responsible to and deputise for the Band 7 Physiotherapist responsible for the clinical team in each speciality and in their absence ensure the service runs smoothly.
• To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information as required in consultation with senior staff
• To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee
• To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to your line manager and the physiotherapy manager immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken.

Communication

• To liaise with other physiotherapists as necessary with regard to patient care and arrange outpatient appointments when required
• To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure good communication skills with other professions both verbally and in writing in the patient’s medical notes
• To communicate effectively with other disciplines outside the immediate team both internally and externally to ensure an ongoing multidisciplinary approach to care both verbally and by providing clinic letters , transfer and discharge reports
• To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and senior staff on all professional matters
• When required to be involved in other multidisciplinary groups within the Trust.
• To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines
• To attend any ward rounds, meetings, case conferences as appropriate in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to discharge
• To attend and be an active participant in speciality and departmental staff meetings.
• To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the clinical field
• To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills
• To use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not speak/understand enough English for the purposes of consent and co-operation for treatment
• To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly

Education

• To assist the in the supervision and development of the junior physiotherapists on rotation in the clinical area with Band 7 assistance
• To be responsible with the Band 7 physiotherapist for the training of students on placement, juniors, technicians and assistants within the clinical area.
• To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development
• To keep abreast of all new developments which includes attending relevant study days and visits to specialist units
• To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training and be available for training other health care professionals on study days and on the ward

Research/Audit/Quality

• To lead, in conjunction with the Band 8a, in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the speciality
• In line with the Trust’s commitment to Clinical Governance, to initiate and carry through clinical audit programmes and evaluate your own clinical effectiveness
• To play a significant role in the specialities annual quality plan which, as part of the Performance Plan, is monitored on a quarterly basis

Location / Mobility

• You may be required to work at or from any additional location as may be determined by the Trust. The Trust also reserves the right to change your base on a permanent basis to a location determined by it at the time that the change is made.
• You will also be required to travel between different Trust’s premises for the performance of your duties.