Specialist Physiotherapist

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities

Clinical

• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of clients in your care.  To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the clients under your management.
• Undertaking the comprehensive assessment and diagnosis of clients, using investigative and analytical skills.  To formulate and deliver individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning, and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options.
• Accepting clinical responsibility for a caseload of clients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, both acute and chronic.  To manage this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• Demonstrating highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of clients.
• Providing timely and appropriate professional advice and information to clients.  This may be verbal, face to face or telephone, or written in the form of leaflets, articles etc.
• Conducting triage assessments at Maryfield and occasionally in clients’ homes, for our outsourced regional service.  Liaising with physiotherapy providers to ensure that clients receive an appropriate and timely service in accordance with contractual arrangements.
• Assess and refer suitable clients for our outsourced hydrotherapy service. Contribute to the evaluation of the service in liaison with the provider and the Head of Department.
• Assess suitable clients for individual or group pain management programmes.  Refer appropriate clients to our cognitive behavioural therapists and work closely with them to devise and deliver appropriate treatment plans.
• Assess and refer suitable clients to appropriate group exercise programmes and participate in the delivery, development and evaluation of these
• Work collaboratively and communicate effectively with other health care professionals, within the Trust and outside the Trust and with clients and their families, ensuring a holistic approach to case management.

Professional

• Providing a high-quality professional service by adhering to the principles of clinical governance, in particular the pursuit of clinical effectiveness, evidence-based practice, continuing professional development and to evidence these through outcome measurement and audit.
• Developing knowledge and skills base in this speciality.  Providing a high standard of care, using safe, effective and appropriate techniques in accordance with current research and clinical guidelines.
• Playing an active role in peer review and clinical education, by contributing to and delivering in-house training sessions and attending external courses. 
• Maintaining accurate, comprehensive and up to date electronic client records and documentation in accordance with departmental and legal requirements and physiotherapy standards, with due attention to security and confidentiality.
• Communicating client assessment, treatment and outcomes to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
• Ensuring safe practise by assessing and managing clinical risk. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, including competence and safety in their use.
• Undertaking the measurement and evaluation of the service provided to clients through the use of audit. In conjunction with the Head of Service produce reports for stakeholders and make recommendations for change.

Organisational

• Working as an effective and responsible team member, understanding own role in the team and the wider organisation.
• Representing the Trust by taking part in presentations to client groups and other stakeholders. On occasion these may fall outside normal working hours so some flexibility of working is required.
• Participating in the Trust’s performance management system to include annual appraisal and the production of an agreed Personal Development Plan, to take responsibility for the implementation of this plan in liaison with the Head of Service.
• Contributing to and participating in working groups/projects to develop and expand existing physiotherapy services, adapting to the changing needs of the client group and current best practise.
• Providing statistics and data to the Head of Department as required.
• Adhering to the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Trusts own Policies and Procedures to ensure the safety of self and others, including prompt recording and reporting of accidents and near misses to senior management.
• Implementing Trust policies and service developments, adapting to change when required.
• Complying with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in review and updating of these as required.
• Undertake such additional duties as may be reasonable delegated

This job description is a reflection of the current position, and is subject to review and alteration in its detail and emphasis in the light of future changes or developments.  Any changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Personal Specification

Essential Criteria

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Registered with the Health Professions Council (HCPC)
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Five years post qualification experience including the following areas: orthopaedics, elderly care and/or neurology, general medical and/or rheumatology
• At least two years (full time equivalent) in the last 5 years working at a senior level (minimum NHS Band 6 or equivalent) in the management of musculoskeletal outpatients
• Evidence of clinical development in the management of musculoskeletal conditions, to include at least 2 Masters level MSK courses.  For example, Society of Orthopaedic Medicine, MACP/Masters modules in manual therapy, McKenzie Method, Acupuncture or Exercise prescription.
• Post graduate training or experience in biopsychosocial approaches to the management of chronic pain and/or use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) in physiotherapy
• High level of computer literacy to include experience in the production of documents.
• Current driving license valid in the UK and/or access to a means of transport that would enable you to carry out Province wide home visits if required.

Desirable Criteria

• Masters in manual therapy or pain management
• Experience and/or knowledge of occupational health issues and/or membership of ACPOHE
• Experience of using electronic record management systems
• Membership of a Special Interest Group relevant to the field of physiotherapy, for example ACPOHE or AACP.