Musculo-skeletal Outpatient Practitioner

Communication To liaise with other physiotherapists as necessary regarding patient care and arrange outpatient /community /clinic appointments when required. To be an active member within the team and ensure good communication skills with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g., in the patients notes and be responsible for the writing of legal reports when necessary. To communicate effectively with other disciplines outside the immediate team both internally and externally to ensure an ongoing multidisciplinary approach to care. This communication will be both verbal and written such as by providing clinic letters, transfer reports.

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 communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g., blind, deaf, dysphasic, and for people who do not have English as their first language, on a one-to-one level and to enable the patient to integrate in group activities. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.

Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities and advice and education with regards to patient condition Use advanced empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues and providing informal counselling. To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news. To be able to manage potentially complex situations where patients, relatives or colleagues have voiced concerns, or where there is confrontation. To be able to manage situation sensitively and in accordance with trust policies, seeking senior support where required.

To be a patient advocate when required and liaise with those involved in patient care. To be able to deliver important clinical information and advice to patients and carers in a class or group setting, e.g., Rehabilitation classes. To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters. To attend and be an active participant in relevant peer group and departmental staff meetings.

To have effective telephone communication skills, thus enabling the assessing and giving of advice to patients over the telephone in Physio Direct. Service Delivery and Improvement To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards, and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc. To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Manager of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients. To work with the physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.

Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc. To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies. To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly. To identify areas where the service is not working as effectively or efficiently as possible and liaise with line manager, offering reasoned ideas for solutions.

To propose and make changes to working practices in consultation with the team lead where applicable. To support the ongoing development and improvements of Physiotherapy services. To work a rostered 7-day service when implemented. People Management and Development To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.

To assist in the supervision of Band 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy technicians, and physiotherapy students on clinical placements. To share responsibility for the training of students on placement, juniors, technicians, and assistants within the clinical area. Being proactive with teaching in practical situations, assessing competencies, delivering good quality in-service training. To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.

To carry out role as an appraisee by appraising staff in-line with department appraisal guidelines, at least annually and jointly helping devise learning needs, objectives, and development plans for staff. To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives. To have a role in organising relevant in-service training programmes and supporting its delivery To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the tru