Physiotherapy Assistant – Full time (37.5 hours per week)
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Physiotherapy Assistant to join the Orthopaedic physiotherapy team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This area specialises in the care of orthopaedic patients.
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.