Physiotherapy Assistant

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, well-motivated physiotherapy assistant to work as part of our acute medical, surgical and orthopaedic physiotherapy team. The successful candidate will be joining a large and supportive team, which operates as part of a greater multi-disciplinary service. The team cares for people with a wide range of medical, surgical, orthopaedic and rehabilitation needs ensuring a varied, interesting and challenging workload.

Band 3 responsibilities include supporting qualified therapists with patient treatments, working independently with patients practising transfers and mobility, teaching and practising exercises, devising and producing exercise plans with guidance from a physiotherapist, monitoring and maintaining stock levels, and IT and admin tasks.

The successful candidate will be fully supported to establish a full understanding of the role and be provided with opportunity for ongoing learning and development to improve clinical skills and knowledge.

Physiotherapy To support the physiotherapists and work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide a high quality Physiotherapy service within South Warwickshire.

To provide some administrative support to the department.

To contribute to the physiotherapy out of hours service.

Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.

We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.

Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work. It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.

Clinical

To gain informed consent for treatment in accordance with Trust policy. This will frequently be to patients/carers and relatives who may have diverse or complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. deafness, dysphasia, depression, chronic pain, etc. and will require use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools.

To develop and deliver physiotherapy treatment programmes using guidelines set by qualified physiotherapists. E.g. patient education, exercise programmes, or classes.

Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if necessary following discussion with qualified Physiotherapists.

To ensure own competency prior to using any medical device e.g. gym equipment, hoists and mobility aids.

To ensure own competency when issuing equipment to patient e.g. patient appliances, splints and other aids.

Maintain accurate documentation both written and electronic in accordance with professional (CSP), legal and Trust guidelines.

To hold responsibility for own caseload within a defined area of the service and work without direct supervision.

To maintain a clean, tidy and safe environment and equipment both in Trusts premises or clients home, having due respect for Health and Safety.

To use and apply clinical knowledge and experience to assess and manage clinical risk within the limits of own scope of practice.

To work within infection control guidelines to ensure that therapy/treatment/care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the healthcare professional to the client or to any persons visiting/working in Trust premises.

Support other physiotherapy assistants as required.

To collect clinical data relevant to the service, as required.

To achieve and maintain necessary competencies require to fulfil the role.

Communication

To communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives on an individual or group basis to maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and non-verbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance.

To be committed to a team approach in order to provide continuity and efficiency of service provision.

To liaise with multidisciplinary team/colleagues/medical nursing staff as required.

Take formal handover from wards in the absence of the Physiotherapist.

Other

To order general stores articles and equipment required by the department and maintain adequate stocks of such equipment, liaising with manager for authorisation.

To carry out administrative duties as required, working collaboratively with clerical staff i.e. data input, typing, filing, provide reception cover etc.

To attend any meetings as designated by senior physiotherapists.

To identify opportunities to improve the physiotherapy service in order to provide the best patient care within the available resources.

To contribute to the out of hours service.

Physical & Mental Effort

Physical Effort –The post holder will be required to use moderate physical effort throughout a number of short periods during the day, such as moving patients and equipment.

Mental Effort –The working pattern will be unpredictable and there will be a requirement for frequent concentration with patients.

Emotional Effort –There will be frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances with some occasional exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances.