Senior Physiotherapy Assistant

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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Responsibilities
• Patient care
• Once inducted, to work with minimal or no direct supervision of a physiotherapist.
• To carry own caseload of patients, with straight-forward physiotherapy problems, as delegated by the physiotherapist.
• To assist with the care of patients including receiving them, transporting to treatment area, preparing drinks, supervising or assisting with drinking, toileting, dressing and undressing in preparation for their treatment programme.
• To provide treatment to patients following a pre-prescribed treatment plan utilising a variety of basic physiotherapy techniques such as assisting a patient to walk with an appropriate aid or specific exercises.
• To be able to recognise change in the condition of a patient, decide whether to treat, and observe and document the patient response/reaction to any treatment undertaken.
• To monitor patients' joint range whilst undertaking limb care regime and report changes to the physiotherapist.
• To assist with removal and application of functional/supportive aids e.g. prostheses, splints and assist in the manufacture of splints and ensuring comfort of new splints by accurate final finishing.
• To assist the physiotherapist with individual/group treatments/exercise classes progressing to independent routine treatment sessions and supervision of classes where immediate change or progression of exercise is not required.
• To measure, adjust and supply walking aids. To teach the patient safe usage and develop clinical judgement skills and experience to progress the patient onto other aids following departmental protocol or instruction from the physiotherapist.
• To assess the safety of patients ascending and descending stairs in line with agreed protocol, documenting safety in patients' clinical notes.
• To collect data from patients for recognised outcome measures and document for the physiotherapist to interpret.
• To organise own delegated work tasks and activities being flexible to the needs of the service as indicated by the physiotherapist.
• Communication
• To take and relay messages accurately on the telephone and face to face with patients, relatives, health care professionals and others e.g. company
representatives.
• To provide and receive information from patients, carers and other professionals regarding a patient's condition and treatment progress.
• To develop skills to be able to represent the physiotherapy department at multi-disciplinary meetings and handovers, taking and receiving physiotherapy information about known patient groups.
• To be able to motivate and persuade patients through effective communication skills, utilising verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication will be tailored to the patients'/carers' level of comprehension or cognition e.g. using interpreters.
• To liaise with health care professionals and physiotherapists on a day-to-day basis in clinical area of work, with regard to patient care.
• To book transport for out-patients.
• To liaise with managers, other administrative and support staff as necessary to ensure the smooth running of the department, both clinically and administratively.
• To maintain confidentiality of patient information at all times in line with Trust and departmental policies.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience of delivering care to patients in a health or social care setting
• Demonstrate basic knowledge of the role of a physiotherapist

Desirable criteria

• Have worked with people in a caring environment
• IT skills including IT (and used email)
• NVQ level 3
• Aware of the Kings Values

Communication

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate - written and verbal - logically and accurately, in English, imparting information to others
• Good Team working skills

Desirable criteria

• Respect and value equality and diversity

Organisation

Essential criteria

• Able to work with minimal guidance
• Punctual and able to manage a workload efficiently by prioritising and sharing work appropriately

Desirable criteria

• Willing to work flexibly in various geographical areas within the Trust

Physical skills

Essential criteria

• Able to demonstrate manual dexterity and sustain moderate to high level of physical effort through the day, including manual handling
• Able to motivate patients

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Job Description & Person Specification (PDF, 221.4KB)
• Princess Royal (PRUH) Site map (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Candidate Brochure PRUH & SOUTH SITES (PDF, 182.0KB)