Job Description

SPECIALIST PHYSIOTHERAPIST – ADULT THERAPY

Unit: / Adult Therapy Team
Job Title: / SpecialisedPhysiotherapist – Adult Therapy
Responsible For:
(through line management structure) / Therapy Assistants, Students and Volunteers
Responsible To:
(through appraisal process) / Therapy Coordinator
Job Purpose: / Provision and delivery of specialist neurological physiotherapy to adults with neurological disability and long term conditions in an outpatient setting.
Job Context: / White Lodge Centre is an independent voluntary organisation working with children and adults with disabilities. All staff must adhere to its agreed aims and objectives.

White Lodge Centre General Employment Policies

  1. To work within the context of all the organisations policies and procedures.
  1. To work in a way consistent with the principle of equal opportunities, giving each person using the service practical skills and social status that are valued within their communities, ensuring anti-racist and anti-sexist work practices which help service users value anti-discriminatory attitudes and behaviour.
  1. To be aware of and sensitive to the impact of class, gender, race and prejudice on attitudes, professional relationships and professional judgement and be willing to intervene.
  1. To maintain confidentiality at all times and to ensure respect for, proper observance of and adhere to the organisation's confidentiality policy for all staff.
  1. To ensure all relevant aspects of Health and Safety requirements are known and adhered to, ensuring the health and safety of staff and volunteers at all times.
  1. To undertake any other duties which are consistent with the post.
  1. This job description is subject to periodic review and it is expected the post holder will contribute to the active development of the role as the needs of the organisation alter and to be available and willing to undertake training as appropriate.

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Reviewed April 2017
Job Description: Specialist Physiotherapist - Adult Therapy Team / Page 1

Specialist Physiotherapist – Adult Therapy

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

  1. Hold clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of physically disabled adults with neurological disability and manage this efficiently and effectively with regard to clinical priorities and other clients and service activities.
  2. Maintain an up-to-date clinical evidence based knowledge of assessment, treatment and management of people with neurological disabilities and to undertake further internal and external training and education as appropriate to maintain and up to date CPD.
  3. To undertake specialist assessmentof the individual’s needs using interviewing skills, medical notes, clinical observation and outcome measures.

a.)Use highly skilled, dextrous and sensitive physical handling skills and techniques.

b.)Further develop clinical handling skills, to practice at an advanced specialist level, incorporating knowledge of impaired neurological function and of motor relearning.

  1. Plan and implement treatment and management programmes for the individual including specialist treatment intervention (eg: orthotics, splinting, posture management, hydrotherapy and fitness programmes)
  2. Evaluate treatment and management plans through the use of outcome measures and indentifying and reviewing short term andlong term treatment goals considering the individual’s diagnosis, the nature of their condition and prognosis.
  3. Communicate and discuss, alongside the person their therapy goals, sharing with their families/carers where neededand other involved practitioners.
  4. Keep detailed clinical records and complete written reports as required to various external agencies.
  5. Complete assessment of therapy equipment including standing frames, walking aids, fitness equipment. Demonstrate to the individual their families/carers how to use it safely, advise on its use and monitor the effect of the equipment as the person changes.
  6. Referral to health and social services for the procurement of equipment and advice of sources of equipment and funding as required.
  7. Where appropriate attend and give professional advice towards the individual’s annual reviews, health reviews and other clinical appointments including wheelchair services, consultant appointment, orthotic clinic, botulinum toxin services.
  8. To have active involvement in inservice training of peers, staff, volunteers and to offer training to carers and other outside agencies when appropriate.
  9. Provide clinical supervision and training for therapy assistants and students.
  10. Attend team meetings, inservice training and mandatory training sessions
  11. Be actively involved in the recruitment of staff.
  12. Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work including adhering to White Lodge Centre policies & procedures, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
  13. Be aware of safeguarding adults and act promptly regarding any concern in accordance with guidelines.

Personal Requirements for the Role

  1. An comprehensive specialist knowledge of the causes, diagnosis and presentation of long term condition especially of neurological origin as seen in cerebral palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson, Head Injury, Spinal Cord injury and muscles and nerve disease and similar conditions in adults.
  2. Have expert knowledge on the impact of disability on the individual and their family and guide the person and family/carer in planning for a future that maximises their independence.
  3. To be able to demonstrate empathy and high level communication skills when explaining complex and sensitive issues related to neurodisability to adults and families/carers.
  4. To be able to motivate and encourage individuals using the service through high level of commuication and negotiation skills to optimise individuals participation and engagment within their therapy program.
  5. An understanding of treatment interventions from a wide range of clinical options including motor relearning and neurorehablitation, 24 hour postural management including wheelchair and seating, splinting and orthotics and hydrotherapy.
  6. A thorough theoretical knowledge of practical application of specialist neurological assessments and outcome measures and the ability to apply these.
  7. To be able to adjust communication to the individual including use of written communication, gesture and augmentive communication aids where their may be difficulties to understanding such as communication difficulties, cognitive impairment, denial and grief and
  8. To have a thorough understanding of health and safety in the work place, clinical risk and the importance of clinical goverance

Legislation and Health and Safety

  1. Actively ensure physiotherapy is carried out in accordance with the policies and procedures of White Lodge Centre, current legislation and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy code of conduct and standards, developing and changing practice as needed.
  2. Undertake or ensure that appropriate risk assessments are complete.
  3. Ensure that all therapy equipment, materials and tools are clean, safe and fit for purpose.

Continuing Professional Development of Self and Others

  1. Be responsible for your own continued professional and personal development.
  2. Attend and actively participate in regular supervision, appraisals and staff meetings.
  3. Attend external and internal courses, feeding back new knowledge through inservice training and making appropriate changes in service delivery with discussion with therapy coordinator
  4. Demonstrate increasing specialist knowledge through improving and advancing own practice and contribute to the promotion of practice across the service.
  5. Actively explore the use of new treatment approaches and assessments and implement and evaluate them as appropriate.
  6. Actively seek out new research to increase White Lodge Centre evidence base for current and new practice.
  7. Provide training both internally and externally to colleagues, parents, carers, students and practioners.
  8. Actively contribute to the service outcomes and policies.
  9. Record your own personal development through a reflective portfolio in accordance with the current HPC and CSP guidelines.

SpecialistPhysiotherapist – Adult Therapy Team

Personal Specifications

Education/Qualifications/Training
1.1 / BSc degree in Physiotherapy / E
1.2 / Registered with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) / E
1.3 / Evidence of post graduate qualifications within neurosciences / E
1.4 / Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy / E
1.5 / Active member of a neurosciences interest group / D
1.6 / Student supervision or teaching skills course / D
Experience
2.1 / 5 years post graduate work experience / E
2.2 / Minimum of 2 years neurological experience / E
2.3 / Specialist experience in the field of neuro outpatients and/or neurorehabilitation / D
2.4 / Hydrotherapy Level 1 qualification or hydrotherapy experience / D
2.5 / Experience of teaching a wide range of groups (eg: students, therapy assistants, other MDT members) / E
2.6 / Evidence of participation in audit and service review / E
2.7 / Evidence of active participation in and organising inservice training / E
Skills and Knowledge
3.1 / Autonomous practitioner who is able to work unsupervised at a specialist level / E
3.2 / Ability to supervise and appraise staff / E
3.3 / Broad knowledge of current best evidence based practice in neurophysiotherapy / E
3.4 / Ability to plan, coordinate, implement and evaulate appropriate physiotherapy treatment for a diverse client group / E
3.5 / Able to demonstrate highly specialist clinical reasoning skills during assessment and intervention / E
3.6 / Ability to manage own caseload, assessing and treating complex and challenging clients / E
3.7 / Committed to own continous professional development and evidenced based practice and for that of the team / E
3.8 / Evidence of up to date continous professional development including training, courses, reflective practice / E
3.9 / Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to individuals and their families and carers / E
3.10 / Effective communication skills including negotiation skills / E
3.11 / Evidence of using initiative and being self motivated / E
3.12 / Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work efficiently and effectively in a team
3.13 / Demonstrate good time management skills and ability to work under pressure / E
3.14 / Demonstrate knowledge of clinical governance through examples of participation in projects to improve patient care and service development
3.15 / Effective written communication, including accurate record keeping and report writing
3.16 / Competent IT skills
3.17 / Application of Health & Safety and risk assessment policies
3.18 / The emotional capability be able to copewith potentially distressing situations eg: treating individuals with terminal illness/ supporting individuals, their family and carers, who have acute, chronic and progressive conditions where quality of life and/ or prognostic issues are discussed
Physical Requirements
To have the physical capabilities to be able to frequently, and in line with Health and Safety guidelines:
4.1 / Use ceiling and mobile hoists with very dependent individuals
4.2 / Physically assist individuals into electric and manual standing frames
4.3 / Assist wth standing and transferring individuals
4.4 / Manoeuver manual handling equipment within the centre
4.5 / Physically support individuals who have neurological impairment and or balance problems when walking
4.6 / Squat, kneel, crouch, crawl, bend
Reviewed April 2017
Job Description: Specialist Physiotherapist - Adult Therapy Team / Page 1