Physiotherapy Associate Practitioner for the Front Door Frailty Team

Job summary

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.

Main duties of the job

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 thephysiotherapyteam 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

About us

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 abuddy 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.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

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

Communication

Work collaboratively with relevant Multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals ( Health Care Assistants, Occupational Therapy Assistants, Nursing staff, Orthotists) to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential. Communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties, and for people who do not haveEnglish 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 therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition. To effectively communicate the individuals mobility needs and methods you have found of assisting that patient, to the MDT members that will be able to enhance the patients mobility and functional needs. This is mainly the nursing and HCA staff. 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. Ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning. Assist in informative / observational visits, work-shadow sessions, and specific areas of induction process new members of staff and students. To provide an orientation to the ward to all less experienced staff such as rotational band 5s, students, and non-registered staff. Attend Handover & MDT meetings to represent current Physiotherapy management with regards to patient progress and potential and be able to make to decisions within agreed parameters. Liaise with other team members on day-to-day issues and ward management staff shortages, increased patient caseload. Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact. Initiate documentation for assessment, transfer and discharge and be conversant with multi-professional documentation. To be able to manage potentially stressful, sensitive, upsetting situations in an empathetic manner. To be able to communicate clearly and efficiently with external organisations regarding staff members under their supervision linking with college tutors during apprenticeship.

Service Delivery and Improvement

Comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures. Actively involved in the evaluation of current practice, discussions, data collection, audit and relevant projects regarding service evaluation and development be able to contribute to suggestions for change. Identifying new work and working in different ways.

People Management and Development

Participate in the planning, administration and delivery of IST and other relevant courses offered to relevant staff from own and other departments and trusts band 5 team core in service training, band 3 core in service training, team general training. Responsible for or contribute significantly to the supervision, training, and appraisal of less experienced staff physiotherapy technician staff & apprentices. Responsible maintaining own competency to practice through continuing professional development activities including reflective practice, review of current research and relevant literature, maintenance of a personal portfolio and the attendance of specialist training courses as identified within a personal development plan.

Patient Care Delivery

To work flexibly across the Emergency Floor and Frailty wards. Involved in the Rehabilitation of patients using knowledge of the patients pathology, exercise-based therapy, and other relevant therapy techniques. Take responsibility for ongoing assessment, treatment, and evaluation of appropriate patients some of which may be more complex in nature. Assist nursing staff and therapists as required regarding day-to-day care of patients, toileting needs, transfers, maintaining hygienic environment. Be able to work holistically with cognitively impaired patients considering their wider needs. To be able to identify when physiotherapy intervention is not being effective or is no longer appropriate and discuss with MDT and relatives/carers. Identify when requires senior support with decisions with more complex cases or complex communication. Correctly apply various therapeutic aids as appropriate plaster shoes, collar, and cuff, polyslings, walking aids, resistance bands, sliding boards. Work with patients in the ward Be able to read and interpret monitored information to ensure Patient and Therapist safety during therapy session BP, HR, NEWS, Hb, Temperature, SaO2. Read, monitor and safely disconnect / reconnect equipment, knowing when it is acceptable to do so to enable therapeutic treatment to take place in an appropriate setting. Support Physiotherapist by undertaking skilled Physiotherapy techniques exercise instruction, manual therapy techniques, gait re-education andfunctional transfers with individuals. 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 own competency level. Work collaboratively with relevant Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Professionals (health care assistants, occupational therapy assistants, nursing staff, Orthotists)to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patients potential. Facilitate patient progression through care pathways which may involve cross therapy working following appropriate training NOF or ITU pathways. Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including covering Physiotherapy techniques, education on patient condition therapeutic positioning, exercises, mobility activities including using walking aids and indoor and outdoor mobility, and advice and education with regards to patient condition. Ability 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. Person Specification

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

Completion of Band 3 Physiotherapy Technician competencies Therapy experience in an inpatient acute hospital setting

Desirable

5 GCSE's Grade A-D including English and Maths or Level 1 Functional Skills Health care related qualification at NVQ level 3 or equivalent within last 5 years

Skills Non-Clinical

Essential

Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Desirable

An understanding or involvement in service development or audit, and an understanding of quality issues.

Skills Clinical

Essential

Previous clinical in-patient NHS experience. Knowledge of human anatomy and Physiology. Understanding of exercise rehabilitation and prescription. Ability to undertake discharge planning in an acute NHS setting with minimal senior support. Experience with and passion for working with elderly patients.

Desirable

Completion of healthcare related courses.

People Management

Essential

Proactive in own learning and develop knowledge and skills. Evidence of supervision and support of other members of a physiotherapy team. Evidence of previous experience of involvement in facilitating teaching / IST

Desirable

Evidence of own development of knowledge and skills Portfolio / CPD (continuing professional development)

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Specific Requirement

Essential

Flexible working patterns

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