Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner for The Front

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and adaptable Band 4 Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner to join our front door and frailty (FDFT)team to provide excellent patient care in an environment where staff are supported to innovate and lead improvement.

You will be based at Worthing Hospital within the Emergency Floor and frailty wards focusing on acuity rapid assessments and facilitating discharges, providing excellent patient flow within our Trust. You will be well supported by the highly experienced team-leads with excellent opportunities to develop your own clinical and leadership skills, working within a strong peer group of other physiotherapists and occupational therapists alongside a strong and supportive multi-disciplinary team.

Worthing Hospital is an attractive seaside location on the South Coast, situated adjacent to the South Downs National Park, 20 minutes from the City of Brighton and Hove, with excellent transport links to London and across Southern England. You will be joining a strong and supportive Physiotherapy Department within the top performing University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. We look forward to welcoming you on an informal visit or discussing any aspect of this exciting opportunity further.

Provide a high level of Physiotherapy support to patients following admission.

Provide skilled and insightful aid in the Rehabilitation of patients.

Conduct a full episode of care from assessment to discharge for a specified designated clinical caseload independently.

Manage a patient caseload and treat appropriately; being able to make alterations when required by assessment of patient progression or regression.

Work in varied and unsupervised settings, with personal or telephone access to qualified Physiotherapist.

Provide non-clinical services to the physiotherapy team e.g. administrative duties, maintaining a safe environment and maintaining equipment.

Undertake relevant service development projects.

Undertake the assessment and discharge of a range of patients.

Provide educational support to patients, carers, and less experienced staff in unsupervised settings.

To be able to assess and discharge a range of patients including patients with Frailty, Dementia, Parkinsons, Complex social history, multiple comorbidities.

To have a clear understanding of common conditions such as Dementia, Delirium, Parkinson, Frailty, Fractures in the elderly, patients with falls history

Having awareness of discharge options for elderly frail patients

To be responsible for Band 2 apprentices within the team

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a
buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

Main

**Responsibilities**:
Patient caseload, use of Manual Handling equipment and working within the MDT.

Communication

Work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (e.g. Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.

Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g. blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties, 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.

Communicate effectively, in a variety of adaptable ways to optimise communication with patients with dementia.

Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition e.g. therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and i