Physiotherapy Technical Instructor

**SECTION 1- MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**: CLINICAL: Assist the therapist in the rehabilitation of patients using a range of delegated skills. Assess and treat patients of lower complex therapy need without direct supervision from a therapist. Complete therapy treatment plans for patients with appropriate and achievable goals. Prepare the environment for therapy treatment, ensuring privacy, dignity and safety at all times.

Develop a therapeutic relationship with patients, enabling them to reach their maximum potential. Promote self-care and independence in achieving therapy goals Gain consent and co-operation from patients who may have sensory, physical or intellectual impairment. Teach patients and encourage secondary prevention lifestyle behaviours relating to cardiovascular disease. Complete verbal or written reports on patients progress both to appropriate Therapy staff and to other multi-disciplinary team members.

Prioritise and evaluate case load responsibilities. Follow up with patients who do not attend to support and encourage completion of the rehabilitation programme. Evaluate patients presentation for therapy and adapt treatment accordingly. Encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence.

This requires empathy, sensitivity, and good interpersonal skills. Make accurate records of work undertaken and keep monthly statistics as required, including documenting patient contacts in line with professional and service standards. Liaise with the Therapists as necessary to optimise patient treatment, promote independence and minimise length of stay. Highlight any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programmes.

Assess, measure and instruct use of walking aids/functional aids. To effectively administer and record provision of any aids provided to patients. Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings eg Care Planning and Best Interest meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision. Assist Therapists in attending home environmental assessments and patient home visits as and when required.

Manage and prioritise a patient case load as delegated by the therapist on a daily basis. Ensure daily communication with the Therapists regarding treatment of individual patients. Manage enquiries regarding therapy from patients, relatives, general public and hospital staff, both in person and by telephone. ADMINISTRATIVE/ORGANISATIONAL: Collate and enter statistical data for the service.

Contribute to service audits as required. Contribute to ensuring all therapy areas including the gym are clean, tidy and fit for purpose. Be responsible for the safe use of therapy equipment and aids by patients in your care. Ensure all equipment that is damaged or not fit for purpose is returned to the supplier or reported for collection and repair Take part in the individual trust appraisal and performance review programme.

Actively participate in own staff development and review in order to identify personal development plans and training needs. Contribute to MDT meetings as required Assist therapists in patient related administrative duties and tasks as required, e.g. updating patient information in clinical records, managing referrals using clinical systems, completing equipment loan stores, organising equipment etc. Be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the health and safety of the work area.

Comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in reviewing and updating as appropriate. Undertake any related duties as directed by Team Leader physiotherapist/occupational therapists or relevant senior staff. HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: Assist in the induction of newly appointed therapy assistants in basic elements of patient care and safety. Support student therapists to gain experience from the setting during their placement PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Attend in-service training as required.

Actively participate in the delivery of in-service training within recognised skill set. Monitor and develop own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain a high standard. Attend/complete mandatory training as required by Trust policy. SECTION 2- KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS Understand the ethos of intermediate care and its place in the health and social care economy Use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communicating, e.g.

blind, deaf, dysphasic or who do not have English as a first language. SECTION 3- EFFORT AND ENVIRONMENT The post holder will be expected to kneel, sit on heels, move inert adult limbs, support patients while walking, move and handle patients, push wheelchairs, use hoists on a daily basis. The post holder will be expected to concentrate during treatm