Specialty Physiotherapist – Acute and Emergency Medicine

Job overview

Dear Prospective Candidate,

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join our team of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants who as a team provide high quality therapy intervention to patients across Emergency, Acute General Medicine, Trauma and High Care Unit.

As part of a multi professional team you will identify and undertake a comprehensive assessment of need at the point of hospital admission and deliver rehabilitation interventions to maximise the recovery of patients. Key areas of responsibility will be:

• Delivery of early therapy intervention post operatively and/or during the first 24 hours of hospital admission.
• Assessment, intervention and treatment of patients with Respiratory Physiotherapy amenable conditions.
• Implementation of programmes that minimise sedentary behaviour during the hospital stay.
• Supporting prevention (where appropriate) and early resolution/management of delirium and other cognitive spectrum disorders through physical and cognitively stimulating activities.
• Collaborating with local health and social care providers to minimise institutionalisation through a ‘home first’ approach to hospital discharge.
• Supporting and willing to contribute to a 7 day service.

If you are interested in applying for this post,  please do not hesitate to reach out to discuss this role further. We are open to discussions around flexible working.

Best wishes,

Hannah Spencer, Horton Therapy Clinical lead

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide high quality, safe and effective Physiotherapy services to patients across Acute and Emergency Medicine, including Trauma and High Care.

With support of the wider MDT, you will be expected to work collaboratively with patients and their carers to effectively assess, goal plan and treat patients in the Emergency Department and/or following admission to hospital. The post holder will strive to maximise patients' independence and quality of life, working towards the wider Therapy aims of early intervention, active recovery and discharge. The post holder will also provide assessment and intervention to patients with Respiratory Physiotherapy amenable conditions.

The post holder will be involved in student education and supervision, and there are opportunities to be involved in supervising junior members of staff. Support from senior members of the team will be provided and education, training and development is supported. Active participation in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects will be encouraged to enable relevant and best practice to be delivered.

The ability to work flexibly across 7 days is required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and responsibilities Communication

• To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
• To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
• To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.
• To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
• To be able to motivate and positively influence others through effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
• Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients’ clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

Clinical Responsibilities

• To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
• To carry out comprehensive assessments for patients within acute and emergency medicine, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
• To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate physiotherapy diagnoses in acute and emergency medicine; drawing on guidance from senior physiotherapists when required.
• To assess and provide intervention to patients with respiratory Physiotherapy amenable conditions across all clinical areas.
• To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
• To assess individuals and form a plan of care and recovery with patients who have a respiratory need.
• To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
• To determine a patient’s mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
• To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
• To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.
• To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trust’s manual handling policy.
• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling
• To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients
• To represent physiotherapy and/or individual patients at multi disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.
• To contribute to the provision of a seven-day service.

Leadership and management

• To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
• To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
• To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
• To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

Education and training

• To organise and contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
• To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
• To be responsible for individual undergraduate student physiotherapists’ supervision and practice-based learning.
• To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the physiotherapy profession.
• To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.
• To maintain contemporary knowledge to apply and maintain best practice in acute and general medicine and rehabilitation.
• To actively participate in the department’s quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects.
• To implement and maintain evidenced-based physiotherapy practice through continuing professional development.
• To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards.