Physiotherapy Assistant

Job overview

Applications are invited from candidates who are interested in working at Band 2 level to support the physiotherapy team working within orthopaedics. Experience will be gained within the orthopedic team across trauma and elective surgery. The successful candidate will mainly work clinically at Wansbeck General Hospital but may be required to work at other sites.  Duties will include: clinical caseload delegated by qualified staff, documentation, ordering equipment, assistance with activities of daily living. Previous experience of working in the health service would be beneficial.

This post will involve weekend, bank holiday and shift working.

Please note that this post will close once we have received a suitable number of applications.

Main duties of the job

• To assist physiotherapists in the treatment of their patients, working to defined protocols and treatment plans.
• To assist a qualified Physiotherapist in the implementation of treatment programmes for individual patients or groups of patients.
• Work with the physiotherapist to improve the patient’s quality of life, aiming to achieve maximum functional ability and independence.
• To facilitate arrangement of appointments, transport and ordering of equipment.
• To be responsible for the overall hygiene & maintenance of the department and equipment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To implement treatment programmes prescribed by qualified staff.
• To liaise with physiotherapist in progression of individual treatment programmes.
• Involvement with individual and group activities.
• To be responsible for general and specific administrative duties as required and delegated, including the extraction of relevant information from patients’ medical records for use within patients’ physiotherapy records.
• To record patient treatment in an accurate and timely manner in accordance with trust standards.
• To work to the standards of individual clinical areas and to ensure that background knowledge is acquired through independent learning and collaboration with senior staff.
• To participate and support out of hours working when appropriate.
• To participate in the in-service training programme and CPD activities as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent
• To be flexible to the needs of service delivery and provide care across Northumberland and North Tyneside.
• To support qualified staff in the monitoring and re-ordering of walking aids and other basic equipment.
• To supply aids and appliances under the direction of a qualified physiotherapist (e.g. walking aids, collars, corsets, splints) ensuring appropriate sizing, and educating the client in correct use of appliance.
• To reassess suitability of aids and appliances and progress as appropriate.
• To be responsible for the care of equipment, checking it is safe to use on delivery and issue, reporting faults appropriately and ensuring records are up to date.
• To be responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of equipment as required by the department .e.g. non invasive ventilation or resuscitation trolley.
• To be responsible for the correct and safe use of the physical environment.