Detailed job description and main responsibilities

CLINICAL 

•    To undertake routine physiotherapy assessments using detailed questioning, physical examination and utilising routine techniques and tests.  
•  To formulate and deliver individual treatment programmes based on evidence-based practice and routine treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of routine rehabilitation techniques. 
•   To agree the treatment plan and goals, with the patient, and to continually re-assess their response, to progress treatment effectively.
• To recognise contraindications to treatment from the assessment and to manage appropriately. This may involve referring on for further investigations or seeking advice from a more senior professional.
• To assess capacity for consent with all patients and whenever possible ensure that valid informed consent is agreed with the patient / family working within the legal framework. This will involve fully explaining the outcome of assessment, the options for treatment and the benefits and risks of any procedure or treatment and then reaching agreed treatment goals and outcomes.
•  To possess efficient communication and interpersonal skills required to ensure the delivery of effective care, considering the complexity and variety of difficulties presented e.g. age, physical, emotional, cultural, cognitive, social, and behavioural. 
•  Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team where shared skills will form part of the working practice, and act as a physiotherapy resource to the team.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise a patient’s rehabilitation potential.  
•   Plan and co-ordinate with other agencies e.g. social services and education as necessary.
•   To ensure that all treatment plans are regularly reviewed and revised as appropriate.
• To facilitate referral to other services the need for which has been identified from an assessment, to ensure holistic patient care.
• To be responsible for ensuring accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records are kept in line with the Trust, Service and CSP standards.
• To ensure statistics are maintained according to departmental, Trust and CSP standards.  
•  The post holder will work closely with senior members of staff to ensure optimal learning opportunities and effective supervision.
•  To have professional and legal accountability, including the treatment of patients within your area in accordance with the CSP Core Standards of Physiotherapy Practice and the HCPC standards of proficiency, conduct, performance, and ethics
•   To attend multi-disciplinary case conferences, meetings etc where appropriate to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service with physiotherapy treatment integrated into the treatment programme.
• To seek regular advice and support from senior staff.
•  To be responsible for the safe and competent use of equipment, patient appliances and aids both by yourself, assistants and patients in your care.
•     To manage clinical risk in line within the Trust guidelines.  
•    To be an active member of the respiratory evening and weekend on call rota. When working on the on call rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill children with respiratory problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner.

          PROFESSIONAL

•       To have professional and legal accountability in accordance with CSP core standards and Health Professions Council standards of proficiency, conduct and ethics.
• To develop a working knowledge of other health and social care disciplines and services. To liaise, advise and refer as appropriate. 
•    To recognise clinical risks in all forms, identified from physiotherapy assessment, and acting accordingly to minimise risk to self, patients and other staff following Trust policy and procedures.
• To provide evidence of continuous professional development in the form of a portfolio, which includes the identification of learning needs through reflective practice.
•  To develop and maintain up to date knowledge of Evidence Based Practice (EBP), local and national standards.
• To use EBP, audit, outcomes, and published research to inform, measure and evaluate your work and current practice.
• To participate, as an appraisee, in appraisal and be responsible for working to the agreed planned objectives
•   To support evidence-based practice, audit, and research activity.
•  To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in audit and research.
•  To represent the physiotherapy team as required at relevant meetings and feedback to the team as necessary.

EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

•       To ensure all mandatory training is completed and updated as required by the Trust
• To be an active member, attending and participating in, the departmental in-service training programme and other training opportunities as identified through your Personal Development Plan.
• To teach relatives/ carers and other healthcare workers when required.

 ORGANISATIONAL

•   To keep up-to-date and comply with Trust Procedures and Policies including Health & Safety, Fire Regulations, Equal Opportunities etc
• To comment on service developments within the physiotherapy and occupational therapy service through discussion with line manager and at team meetings
• To be responsible for checking the safety of any therapy equipment provided before use.
•  To be responsible for reporting any equipment defects identified, accidents and complaints to the senior therapist and using Trust procedures to deal with them.
• To maintain a high standard of confidentiality at all times.
• To promote quality communication across the whole Health and Social Care Community.
•  To act as an ambassador for the service at all times.
•  To comply with Clinical Governance guidelines.