Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

· To provide a specialist level of clinical skill in paediatric physiotherapy.

· To be responsible for a clinical caseload of children and young people as identified by the service specification

· To use clinical assessments, interview and observational skills to determine physiotherapy needs of children and young people and effectively set goals and plan intervention.

· To manage a defined caseload ensuring time management to enable effective service provision

· To assess and treat individual children in the clinic setting, school or home environment, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, and liaising closely with parents/ carers and nursery / education staff.

· To contribute to the development of information that enables the child / young person, their family, nursery/school and the wider community to understand and self manage the condition whenever possible. Ensure adequate carryover of information to enable ongoing treatment programmes to be carried out in the child or young person’s environment.

· To recommend, provide or advise on physiotherapy programmes and take responsibility for demonstrating their usage and training clients/ carers or nursery / school staff.

· To recommend, provide or advise on equipment related to physiotherapy programmes. This may include, but is not limited to, postural management equipment, standing and walking aids.

· To have a full understanding of the working of any equipment and ensure regular checks are completed to maintain safety.

· To communicate complex assessment findings and treatment plans to the child / young person and their parents / carers, dealing sensitively with distressing or emotional circumstances and being realistic about their expectations.

· To provide written reports and programmes to those directly involved in the child / young person’s care and keep accurate, up to date records.

· To monitor the effectiveness of intervention through goal setting, outcome measures and evaluation of practice and to communicate these to the relevant parties.

· To liaise and establish communication networks with the multidisciplinary team and statutory organisations as appropriate in planning of the child or young person’s treatment.

Managerial and Leadership (HR, Financial and other resources)

· To assist the Team Leader in planning and providing appropriate physiotherapy to children including attendance at appropriate meetings, developing guidelines and protocols and reviewing service provision.

· To keep the Team Leader up to date with service provision issues and report any untoward incidences clinical or non-clinical, promptly, co-operating with any investigation undertaken.

· To actively review efficacy of service delivery and facilitate setting up of new standards, or amend existing ones, in close liaison with the team.

· To keep up-to-date with the department and Trust standards and policies and facilitate dissemination of this knowledge to colleagues.

· To develop good working relationships with multi disciplinary teams, outside agencies and voluntary agencies to ensure that professionalism and service delivery are maintained.

· To provide support and supervision to other physiotherapy staff including assistants, where appropriate, monitoring the standard of treatment and giving training and instruction as appropriate.

Communications

· To participate in team meetings so fair and equal opportunities are given to share knowledge and ideas with colleagues.

· To possess excellent verbal and written skills, including the use of IT

Administrative

· Ensure that patient notes are kept up to date and effectively maintained in accordance with the HCPC Guidelines

· Comply with the obligation to maintain data through EMIS.

· Assist in the accurate collection of data relating to patient activity that may be requested for audit purposes.

· Protect patient confidentiality and act according to the Data Protection Act.

Quality Standards and Governance

· To ensure that statistics and notes are kept in accordance with local and national policies.

· To work in accordance with the standards and policies issued by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Health and Care Professions Council, the Trust and the Physiotherapy Department and to meet legal requirements.

· To keep up to date with clinical developments and changing trends in practice, including National Service Frameworks and Special Interest Groups.

· To be responsible for demonstrating safe usage of equipment by other staff and outside agencies.

· To be involved in monitoring and evaluation of physiotherapy intervention as part of the multidisciplinary service and to liaise as necessary with other departments / disciplines and with the wider physiotherapy service.

· To undertake specific projects as necessary, support Clinical Governance and Quality initiatives and assist in developing audit tools within Integrated Therapy

Human Resources and People Management

· Adhere to all of the relevant Trust policies and guidelines e.g. sickness reporting, absence management and the uniform policy.

· Support recruitment process in line with Trust guidance ensuring that appropriately skilled staff are appointed.