Physiotherapy Assistant

Physiotherapy Assistant – Full time (37.5 hours per week)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Physiotherapy Assistant to join the Medical Rehabilitation and Frailty physiotherapy team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This area specialises in the care of older people.

Working under the guidance and supervision of qualified physiotherapists you will have the opportunity to implement and progress rehabilitation programmes to optimise patients recovery within the inpatient physiotherapy setting

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

You will need to be a good communicator, have strong interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work flexibly under your own initiative, as well as part of a team. You will be required to work with patients on a 1:1 basis, as well as carrying out duties to ensure the best service delivery to patients.

Within your role you may also be required to work within other inpatient Physiotherapy teams. You will be required to contribute to 7 day working, including bank holidays, on a rota basis.

Successful Candidates will be able to demonstrate good team work, time management and empathy skills.

A comprehensive in-service training programme is provided and we support staff in continual professional development.

We will also support you to contribute to exciting service developments on site as part of the emerging changes to therapy services and rehabilitation in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Working in Therapies

PLEASE NOTE: We may not be able to offer sponsorship for this post

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:

Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development

Widening access (anchor institution) and employability

Improving the experience of staff with disability

Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development

Making equalities mainstream

The Physiotherapy Technician will work under the supervision of qualified Physiotherapist contributing to assessment and treatment programmes within an episode of care.

The Physiotherapy Technician will carry a clinical caseload delegated by a qualified member of staff, in addition they will work with qualified staff to assist in the management of their caseload. This will include working in a wide variety of settings including ward, gym and outpatients settings

The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and Department

The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.

7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and it is anticipated that the postholder will be required to work at weekends on a roster basis during some of the above rotations.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a delegated caseload of patients under the direct and indirect supervision of a qualified therapist

To work to departmental standard operating procedures and clinical protocols and in conjunction with the supervising clinician to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and service demands

To be responsible for implementing programmes of care assessing patient progress and using initiative to suggest changes to treatment plan within agreed competencies. When care deviates from standard operating procedures report back to therapist.

To own competency level to be accountable for all aspects of own work. This will include the management of clinical risk, clinical governance, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines and protocols where they exist.

To assess patients' capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient

To assist the therapist to undertake the assessment and progression of treatment for patients identified within a delegated caseload

To undertake physical treatment techniques utilising developed manual skills

To implement individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a range of treatment skills and options to deliver a suitable programme of care.

To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Therapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.

To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of Physiotherapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.

To participate in multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This may include the review of patient progress and discharge planning

To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and agreed criteria

To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis. To facilitate the best possible communication outcome in every situation and use appropriate services e.g. interpreters, SALT

To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.

To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion and tact to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme

To communicate with empathy routine patient information

To receive patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively deliver individual care.

To communicate and advise regarding patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working within the Physiotherapy service and with other professionals across health and other agencies to ensure the delivery of a co- ordinated multidisciplinary service.

To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with referring hospitals or community staff to which patients are discharged.

To participate in the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement

To follow service policy regarding current clinical and service developments

To be accessible and provide clinical information to colleagues

To fully participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future

All clinical staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they are deemed competent in line with trust and professional guidance.

Education, Training and Research

To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the aims of therapy intervention

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan

To participate in peer review as appropriate

To participate in regular training in pathway and local site

In collaboration with the Pathway Team, to participate in implementation of new working practices on designated site

To participate and contribute to the delivery of a specific in-service training programme for staff in the designated pathway

To provide information and instruction to other disciplines to ensure a consistent approach to patient care

To assist/support colleagues undertaking higher education, audit and research projects

To participate in mandatory/statutory training as required by the Trust and national standards

Service Management

In collaboration with supervising therapist to manage day to day workload, maintain level of service within the pathway at the local site and assist other members of the team to make appropriate prioritisation choices. To ensure the effective exchange of information across the pathway team and co-ordination of service delivery

To use prioritising and time management skills to meet the unpredictable and conflicting needs of the service

To participate in ensuring clear and open channels of communication exist within the Physiotherapy pathway team.

To maintain communication links and collaborative working patterns with other multidisciplinary staff working in the speciality

To participate in Therapy pathway meetings and to attend staff and managerial meetings as requested by the Team Lead and senior Therapy managers

To assist in the management of informal conflicts, disagreements and complaints in the local site pathway by using tact and persuasion

To ensure all incidents, accidents and complaints within the pathway are reported and documented in the appropriate timeframe and in line with Trust policy. To ensure senior Therapy managers are made aware of all incidents, accidents and complaints

To maintain the quality of care provided in the designated pathway at the local site

To follow policy within own role and comment or recommend changes where indicated

To take responsibility for the regular inspection and safe use of equipment. To advise appropriate personnel of the need to review availability of suitable resources for patient care. To comply with Health & Safety requirements and follow the policy for safe disposal of equipment

To be aware of the cost/benefit implications in the selection and ordering of appropriate equipment to be provided to the patient for long term use as an individual and by the local pathway team

To maintain and provide accurate and timely activity information both as an individual and for the designated pathway. To do this in accordance with local and national requirements to help inform service delivery and evaluation

To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Trust and Therapy service

To undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as requested by the Team Lead

Service Development

To contribute to the development of a designated Therapy speciality in line with Trustwide Pathway development

To contribute to the implementation of service agreed policy and service changes for local work area in line with policy agreed for Pathway as a whole. The post holder will work with the other members of the Pathway Team to achieve this.

To contribute to developments within the Therapy service and the wider multidisciplinary/multi-agency team and if requested participate in related project groups

Human Resource Management

To demonstrate own duties to other support workers and provide practical training to less experienced staff

To participate in the Trust individual performance review process

To be aware of and comply with Trust policies and procedures

To facilitate effective team working within the pathway, assisting and supporting other team members

To contribute to the clinical induction of Therapy staff