Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Duties

1.     To undertake a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of patients who may have neurological and complex conditions including multi pathology. Use well developed clinical reasoning to select appropriate assessment techniques, which leads to determining 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 appropriate treatment techniques from a wide range of specialist skills available. The selection of techniques will be based on both theoretical and practical knowledge and evaluated past experience.

5.     To be personally responsible for all aspects of safety relating to equipment used when treating the patient or issued to the patient for their own use. To be responsible for checking and/or teaching competency of non-qualified staff in using equipment e.g. walking aids, appliances etc.

6.     To produce clear written information and exercise programmes for patients to follow at home or when not with a Physiotherapist. This may include teaching health care assistants, carers and caregivers.

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

8.     To plan and undertake discharge of patients from the Rehabilitation Ward or the ESD service when agreed goals have been reached or treatment is no longer appropriate.

9.     To be able to review referrals received from the acute hospitals and assess for appropriateness against criteria.  Correctly identify inappropriate referrals to and confidently refer on or back as required.

10.  To provide specialist evidence based advice to more junior physiotherapists and other professionals working within the field on clinical issues.

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

12.  To maintain knowledge of development of Stroke Pathways and Models including potential for 7-day services in future

Communication Skills

13.  Using verbal, non-verbal and written communication tools ensure that patients and carers have an understanding of their condition and the role and aims of Physiotherapy in relation to this. The Physiotherapist must effectively amend their communication techniques according to individual needs of the patient (for example the patient may have a learning disability, communication problems, neurological difficulties or may not use English as their first language). The Physiotherapist must be able to persuade, motivate and negotiate, as well as demonstrate empathy and reassurance.

14.  In the best interests of the patient, to objectively present clinical information regarding patients to the Multi-disciplinary Team 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, education or other allied health professionals and to ensure the delivery of a coordinated inter-disciplinary service.

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

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

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

18.  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.

19.  To promote and develop links with key personnel in other organisations, including in the voluntary sector, involved in providing services to the same patient population in order to facilitate the delivery of appropriate care in a seamless fashion.

20.  To maintain confidentiality at all times.

Professional Skills

21.  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, poor memory) to those who are extremely well informed about their condition.

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

23.  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.

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

25.  To support and guide non-qualified staff in both clinical and organisational skills.

26.  To deputise for more Senior Physiotherapy staff and delegate duties in a competent and safe way to other members of staff.

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

28.  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 the Epping Forest PCT Physiotherapy service.

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

30.  To delegate tasks appropriately to Assistant Practitioners, Therapy Assistants, carers and other professionals considering the complexity of the task and the skills and competence of that person.

31.  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.

32.  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. meeting). 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.

33.  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.