/ Marie Curie
Job Description

Job titlePhysiotherapist

DepartmentHospice

Reports to:Community Team Leader or Clinical Service Manager

Accountable to:Hospice Manager

Job Purpose/Summary

  • To work as part of a specialist multidisciplinary team providing holistic palliative care.
  • To provide a high standard Physiotherapy service to in-patients, outpatients and day service patients with specialist palliative care needs.

Key Relationships

Accountabilities (Duties & Responsibilities)

  • The focus of the post is symptom control, rehabilitation and maintaining quality of life and independence within the specialist palliative care setting. Provision of physiotherapy to patients with specialist palliative care needs, including those with a highly complex presentation; patients may be suffering from malignant and non-malignant conditions e.g. MND, COPD.
  • Work as part of the multidisciplinary team within the hospice. Ensure effective communication and close working relationships with all members of the team demonstrating a broad knowledge of physiotherapy interventions
  • To work autonomously as a specialist Physiotherapist, and plan, co-ordinate, deliver and develop Physiotherapy service within a multi-disciplinary framework
  • Participate in and maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of new developments, evidence and incorporating into practice
  • Contribute to the development, implementation and management of the clinical governance strategy within the hospice
  • Discharge planning

Clinical

  • To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work.
  • To be responsible for assessment, treatment and management of patients with highly complex needs on a daily basis. Work autonomously and independently making all decisions in own clinical field. Manage own caseload of patients and organise this effectively with regards to clinical priorities and use of time.
  • To undertake comprehensive assessments, formulate individualised treatment programmes and monitor progress to ensure each patient achieves the maximum rehabilitation potential, being aware of the sensitive nature of Palliative Care and adapt treatment programmes in response to patient wishes and changes in the patient’s condition.
  • To assess and treat each patient holistically covering not just the physical but also the psychological, social and spiritual aspects of care.
  • Obtain informed consent from patients to treatments and work within a legal framework with patients who are unable to give informed consent
  • Provide advice, education and information to patients, relatives, carers and staff to promote understanding of physiotherapy services and equipment available and the management of individual problems.
  • To communicate effectively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include multidisciplinary team meetings, case conferences and discharge planning.
  • Communicate effectively and appropriately with patients, family, carers, the public and all memebers of the extended health and social care team. Ensure quality/accuracy of patient records in accordance with professional standards and guidelines.
  • Convey information in a sensitive manner when it is contrary to patients, carers and family expectations and desires. Convey highly complex and sensitive information into easy to understand language. Frequently having to communicate unwelcome news regarding patient’s rehabilitation potential.
  • To act as a specialist clinical resource for patients, carers, staff, volunteers and non-specialist groups of staff and provide specialist advice regarding the role of Physiotherapy and physiotherapy interventions
  • To participate in discharge planning within the multi disciplinary team and liaise with external agencies as required to optimise patient care. Where indicated carry out home assessments.
  • Specific physiotherapy skills are required to perform a wide range of physiotherapy interventions. Carry out safe manual and therapeutic handling of patients with a range of dependency needs within a clinical environment on a daily basis. Act as a resource regarding moving and handling
  • To be able to respond to variable and unpredictable working pattern. Ability to switch treatment focus from one clinical speciality to another and to be able to utilise a wide range of knowledge on a daily basis.
  • To asses, order andprovide equipment specific to physiotherapy. To be responsible for safe use and maintenance of all physiotherapy equipment.
  • To demonstrate a working knowledge of appropriate general and specialised software packages and use of Intranet technology.

Professional, Educational and Managerial responsibilities

  • Work within Code of professional conduct and scope of professional practise at all times. Observe professional standards at all times and comply with Marie Curie and departmental policies and current legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act, Access to Medical Records Act and Data Protection Act.
  • Contribute to the development of specialist palliative care and physiotherapy practice within the hospice. Monitor physiotherapy service activity and report changes in activity which may affect the running of the service to attention of Line manager in a timely manner
  • Participate in Hospice Personal Development and Performance Review to promote personal and service development in line with the charities strategic plan. To maintain own clinical professional development to ensure that clinical practice is developed using evidence based approach
  • Participate in or initiate audit and research projects as appropriate. Participate in clinical supervision programme
  • Undertake formal and informal training to continually develop and update clinical knowledge and skills to ensure delivery of evidence based practice.
  • Provide specialist advice, teaching and training to others (both in the hospice and externally) about the role of the physiotherapist and physiotherapy in Palliative Care through talks, presentations, lectures, demonstrations etc.
  • Work positively with colleagues to maintain effective working relationships. Network with appropriate Physiotherapy colleagues and others to ensure clinical effectiveness.
  • Train, supervise and performance managejunior staff and assistants on a day to day basis,ensuring competency frameworks are updated and completed
  • Provide clinical education for undergraduate and post-graduatephysiotherapy students on placement. This includes use of formal appraisal documentation.
  • Maintain an efficient system of stock control for supplies and equipment. Ensure faulty equipment is reported and repaired/ exchanged without delay
  • To maintain registration with the HPC and comply with their requirements in compiling and keeping updated personal portfolio.

General
In addition to the specific duties and responsibilities outlined in this job description, all Marie Curie employees should be aware of their specific responsibilities towards the following:

  • Marie Curie is committed to encouraging volunteering throughout the organisation and as such the post holder will be expected to support and respect volunteers, and may be asked to work alongside or supervise a volunteer as part of their role whilst working at Marie Curie.
  • Marie Curie operates a no-smoking policy. The post holder should either be a non-smoker or be prepared not to smoke in any Charity premises, grounds or vehicles or when on Marie Curie business outside the office.
  • Adhere to all health and safety and fire regulations and to co-operate with the Charity in maintaining good standards of health and safety.
  • Adhere to all Marie Curie policies and procedures at all times
  • Actively promote and support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, young people and children, observing and adhering to Marie Curie policies on safeguarding
  • Uphold ethical and professional standards and not behave in a manner that is likely to bring the Charity into disrepute.
  • Promote and sustain a responsible attitude towards equal opportunities and diversity within the Charity.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing registration requirements or any national professional or occupational standards associated with the role.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.
  • For designated roles, the post holder will be responsible for health & safety, business continuity planning and/or risk management. (These responsibilities will be notified on appointment).

This job description is not exhaustive. It merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the charity at any time after discussion with the post holder.

/ Marie Curie
Person Specification

Job title: Physiotherapist

Criteria / Essential / Desirable / How assessed
Skills / Abilities / Decision making skills
Excellent communication skills
Planning and goal setting
I.T. skills
Knowledge / - / - / -
Qualifications,
training and education / Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
MCSP/HPC Registered
Evidence of continued learning / Post registration qualification or working towards this,
Clinical Interest Group Membership / CV
Certificates
Experience / Wide range of post qualification experience including the following areas:
- Rehabilitation
- Respiratory Care / Specialist Palliative Care
Care of the Elderly
Research/Audit
Manual lymphatic drainage
Pain Control – TENS, Acupuncture
Oncology / Application / Interview
Other requirements / Mature, self confident
Flexible, adaptable, enthusiastic
Team Worker
Confidentiality
Be sensitive and caring
Reliable and forward thinking
Good time management
Show initiative
Problem solving approach
Organised
Self directed learning
Hold a current full driving licence / Interview

Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments to these criteria will be considered to accommodate personal circumstances such as disabilities

/ Marie Curie
Terms & Conditions

Job titlePhysiotherapist

Salary scaleAgenda for Change Pay Scale Band 6

Annual leave entitlement35 days (including 8 bank holidays)

Notice periodOne Month (after probationary period)

Working hours11 hours per week

Probationary periodSix months

Disclosure Check Enhanced with barred

Otherbenefits

  • Continued access to NHS Pension Scheme (subject to eligibility)
  • Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme
  • Season ticket loan
  • Loan schemes for bikes; computers and satellite navigation systems

1

March 2011