Physiotherapy Assistant in London

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic Physiotherapy Assistant to join the Orthopaedic physiotherapy team at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This area specialises in the care of orthopaedic patients. Working under the guidance and supervision of qualified physiotherapists, you will have the opportunity to implement and progress rehabilitation programmes to optimise patients' recovery within the inpatient physiotherapy setting.

Main duties of the job:

• You will need to be a good communicator, have strong interpersonal and organisational skills and the ability to work flexibly under your own initiative, as well as part of a team.
• You will be required to work with patients on a 1:1 basis, as well as carrying out duties to ensure the best service delivery to patients.
• Within your role, you may also be required to work within other inpatient Physiotherapy teams.
• You will be required to contribute to 7 day working, including bank holidays, on a rota basis.

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate good teamwork, time management and empathy skills. A comprehensive in-service training programme is provided and we support staff in continual professional development. We will also support you to contribute to exciting service developments on site as part of the emerging changes to therapy services and rehabilitation in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Job responsibilities:

• The Physiotherapy Technician will work under the supervision of qualified Physiotherapist contributing to assessment and treatment programmes within an episode of care.
• The Physiotherapy Technician will carry a clinical caseload delegated by a qualified member of staff, in addition they will work with qualified staff to assist in the management of their caseload.
• This will include working in a wide variety of settings including ward, gym and outpatients settings.
• The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and Department.
• The post holder may be required to work at any of the sites within the Trust.
• 7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and it is anticipated that the postholder will be required to work at weekends on a roster basis during some of the above rotations.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to carry a delegated caseload of patients under the direct and indirect supervision of a qualified therapist.
• To work to departmental standard operating procedures and clinical protocols and in conjunction with the supervising clinician to decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and service demands.
• To be responsible for implementing programmes of care assessing patient progress and using initiative to suggest changes to treatment plan within agreed competencies.
• To assess patients' capacity, gain valid informed consent to treatment and where such capacity is lacking/absent to work within a legal framework in the management of the patient.
• To assist the therapist to undertake the assessment and progression of treatment for patients identified within a delegated caseload.
• To undertake physical treatment techniques utilising developed manual skills.
• To implement individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a range of treatment skills and options to deliver a suitable programme of care.
• To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of Therapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.
• To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies.
• To participate in multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care.
• To ensure accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records are maintained in accordance with Trust guidance and agreed criteria.
• To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis.
• To ensure that individual practice and that of the local pathway team is user focused and patient views are incorporated into treatment planning.
• To communicate with empathy routine patient information.
• To receive patient related information from patients, relatives, carers and other professionals to effectively deliver individual care.
• To be integral in discharge planning including liaison with referring hospitals or community staff to which patients are discharged.
• To participate in the measurement and evaluation of own work through audit, outcome measurement.
• To follow service policy regarding current clinical and service developments.
• To fully participate in whatever pattern of working is required by the service in the future.

Person Specification:

• Education & Training: BTEC or HND or NVQ level 2 or equivalent experience in relevant subject.
• Experience: Experience in health or social care setting. Experience and ability to work collaboratively within MPT.
• Knowledge & Skills: Able to demonstrate a base level knowledge of conditions, clinical pathways and therapeutic interventions. Awareness of clinical governance and its implication for Therapy.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.