Specialist Physiotherapist

Key Result Areas

Post holder responsibilities cover specialist clinical practice, leadership of clinical practice, management of resources, and professional development. The following outlines the duties under each area.

1. Specialist Clinical Practice

• 1.1 Maintain specialist clinical skills and provide expert advice in relation to identified specialism.
• 1.2 Organise and prioritise own workload and monitor those you clinically supervise within a defined area.
• 1.3 Independently screen, prioritise and plan interventions for routine and urgent referrals received within the specialist area.
• 1.4 Use sound clinical judgements to prioritise patients within a demanding and unpredictable environment ensuring effective use of resources. Assist staff under supervision to prioritise their caseloads and advise them on appropriate interventions in response to urgent and/or complex cases on a daily basis.
• 1.5 Undertake holistic and comprehensive specialist assessments of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies that change across the caseload. Utilise analytical and clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide accurate diagnosis of their condition; skills may be advanced; interpret facts and select the appropriate treatment and implement rehabilitation programmes. Manage crisis intervention within the community when role demands.
• 1.6 Assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• 1.7 Maintain timely documentation of clinical records and audit the documentation of supervisees, ensuring compliance with standards set down by the Trust, HCPC and relevant professional bodies.
• 1.8 Establish and maintain empathetic relationships with patients and carers to reassure, support and engage their involvement and co-operation in the rehabilitation process and enable the giving and receiving of sensitive, often highly emotional information.
• 1.9 Communicate complex and often highly sensitive and emotional information regarding diagnosis, rehabilitation aims and expected outcomes of treatment to patients and carers in a manner they will understand, using a range of verbal, written and demonstration techniques to overcome barriers to understanding caused by physical disability, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment or emotional factors.

2. Leader of Clinical Practice

• 2.1 Communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and ensure understanding of their condition.
• 2.2 Liaise with, refer to and advise the multidisciplinary team and other professionals regarding management and discharge of patients in your care. Take delegated responsibility from more senior therapist in managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and treatment for patients with these conditions in a designated specialism.
• 2.3 Take delegated responsibility from more senior therapist in managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing comprehensive therapy assessment and treatment for patients with these conditions in a designated specialism.
• 2.4 Be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work, including management of patients in your care.
• 2.5 Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service.
• 2.6 Participate in clinical governance procedures including the prompt recording and reporting of incidents, equipment defects and first line management of informal complaints.
• 2.7 Deputise for the Band 7 clinical lead therapist in terms of operational issues when asked to do so.

3. Manager of Resources

• 3.1 Plan and implement a team profile and participate in the recruitment, selection, induction and retention of staff. Ensure appropriate skill mix is maintained and skills are developed effectively in line with changing patient/client needs.
• 3.2 Appraise and develop clinical activities within the team through monitoring and reviewing both individual and team performance, addressing performance capability issues where necessary.
• 3.3 Contribute towards the provision of flexible and timely services.
• 3.4 Formally supervise lesser experienced staff and assistants to whom you allocate clinical and non-clinical tasks, ensuring their input is within the remit of their role and competencies, and be responsible for the safe use of equipment used by self, assistants and students.
• 3.5 Actively participate in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

4. Professional Development

• 4.1 Be responsible for your own Continuous Professional Development evidenced by attendance at relevant courses (in-service and external), achievement of appraisal objectives and maintenance of a professional portfolio, which includes reflective practice. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and Personal Development Plan as both appraiser and appraisee.
• 4.2 Be an active member of the in-service training programme, including attendance and participation in the provision of training to staff; attendance at training sessions in house, external courses, and practicing reflective practice. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit, research and outcome measures, either individually or with colleagues, clinical lead or manager.
• 4.3 Participate in clinical supervision.
• 4.4 Contribute to identifying own development needs on an annual basis in line with the Trust's appraisal scheme.
• 4.5 Develop self-awareness of interpersonal skills in relation to cultural values and beliefs of others.
• 4.6 Maintain own registration with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and adhere to codes of conduct as set by the HCPC and relevant professional body.

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