We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Assistant to join the Physiotherapy team at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust. The role involves supporting physiotherapists with outpatient clinics, helping to conduct and run a variety of exercise classes, as well as admin duties.
PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS.
In conjunction with the Physiotherapists, to provide high standards of physiotherapy input and high quality of care to patients within MSK across Walsall.
To help run exercise classes, support with the admin process and seeing patients
As directed by the Physiotherapy Team leads, to have responsibility for the organisation and clerical administration of certain aspects of the service.
To assist the physiotherapist in the co-ordination of other physiotherapy technical instructors and university students.
To help with the admin team at Darlaston as required by the Team leads.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
Clinical
- To manage a caseload of patients fulfilling a pre-specified criteria from all various sources eg Primary or Secondary care, and deliver an assessment or treatment session.
- To undertake physiotherapy rehabilitation programmes as delegated by qualified staff, to assist the patient to achieve optimal function and safe discharge. To report back to the physiotherapist any changes or unexpected outcomes from the programme including lack of progress or deterioration.
- To work with patients in a group/class setting, either with the physiotherapist or on own, after selection of patients by the physiotherapist.
- To assess patient’s mobility, including progression of walking aids, without direct supervision of physiotherapist.
- To measure, issue and instruct patients in the safe use of a variety of walking aids.
- To clean and check any physiotherapy equipment in their area and report any faults immediately to the appropriate department, taking the item out of service where required.
- To monitor stock levels of equipment such as walking aids in order that patient treatment or discharge is not delayed due to the lack of equipment.
- To provide support for all clinics to maintain its cleanliness and efficiency, including keeping each clinic tidy and well kept.
- Select and safely implement the correct moving and handling techniques for each patient individually.
- To initiate and carry out specific physiotherapy treatments after appropriate competency based training.
- Where applicable, assist patients to help improve their ability to perform their own activities of daily living.
- To have theoretical knowledge of patient observations and their implications for the rehabilitative process, in order to determine patient suitability for treatment.
- To have a basic theoretical knowledge of the common medical conditions encountered and their implications for treatment, in order to determine patient suitability for treatment. To reassure patients and ensure understanding of the treatment process and what is expected of the patient, using appropriate means of communication dependent upon the requirements of the patient (ie. patients may be deaf, confused etc).
- To write accurate and timely records of treatment undertaken and progress, complying with the CSP documentation standards.
- Take personal responsibility for putting the person receiving care first, and to challenge poor care/practice, doing so as soon as any shortcomings are seen.
- To provide outpatient physiotherapy interventions/treatments for pre- agreed conditions as directed by the physiotherapists.
- Under the direction of the physiotherapist, to interpret referrals and undertake patient interviews to collate relevant information and problems identified, and report back information to the physiotherapist.
- To accurately report to the physiotherapist the progress of the patient and where necessary identify areas of concern
- To recognise and anticipate any concerns and report these to the multidisciplinary team.
- To monitor and maintain a diverse caseload and organise and implement your own workload within an agreed timescale. To report any changes within your caseload to the Service leads / senior Physiotherapist and adjust your timetable/workload accordingly.
- Work collaboratively with other disciplines and agencies across the MDT to ensure that services for individual patients are co-ordinated, seamless, timely and robust
- To deal sensitively and appropriately with patients who may have emotional or cultural issues.
- On behalf of the physiotherapist, to accurately complete orders for equipment and keep up to date records to ensure these orders are fulfilled and equipment collected.
- On behalf of the Physiotherapy service, as required provide a link between occupational therapy in social care discussing specific issues and sharing appropriate information.
- To receive and process telephone calls and other messages; to maintain an effective filling system and carry out computer/typing work as required.
- To process mail and written referrals and prioritise issues for staff to deal with, under the overall supervision of the Team leads.
- Arrange outpatient appointments for the physiotherapy clinics under the overall supervision of the team leads.
- To discuss with patient as well as relevant agencies discharge planning and re-referral routes.
- External communication may include discussion with multi-disciplinary team members regarding patient management including GPs, midwives, health visitors, carer services and Social Care.
- Liaise with and aid the physiotherapy team in both a clerical and patient facing role if needs of service require this.
- Be an active participant in departmental In-Service Training Rota.
PROFESSIONAL
- To be responsible for maintaining own levels of knowledge and ability through CPD activities and maintain evidence records of this.
- To actively participate in the departments CPD programme by delivering and attending training sessions
- To attend organised training sessions, including all mandatory Trust training and any in-service training in agreement with supervisor
- Adhere to trust guidelines regarding patient consent and confidentiality of information about patients, staff and health service business in accordance with data protection act.
- To undertake, as directed, collection of data for use in service audit and PEPI projects and make recommendations to clinical lead/manager changes to practice by the team. May implement specific changes to practice.
- To be responsible for own professional actions and recognise own professional boundaries through interpretation of clinic/professional policies relevant to the local team and/or identified area of expertise.
- To work on own initiative ensuring that the organisational requirements and standards are met.
- To demonstrate an understanding of risk management and clinical governance and apply to all work environments
- To be involved in the co-ordination, induction and training of new members of staff, in addition to supporting Physiotherapist in the supervision of students and newly appointed staff to the department.
- To keep up-to-date with clinical developments by the use of clinical databases, electronic technology e.g. interactive CSP, Carflow, ESR, fusion etc.
- To work as an effective and responsible team member, arriving and leaving promptly, working effectively during agreed hours.
- To be responsible for accurate and timely data input into careflow data collection system
- To represent physiotherapy service, and/or individual patient to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service presenting a positive impression of the MDT team and the Women’s Health Physiotherapy Service
ORGANISATIONAL
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements
- To be able and willing to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the work day. To include manoeuvring and mobilising clients; spending prolonged periods on the floor or at very low level
- To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department and the directorate.
- To be aware of Health and safety aspects of your work and follow policies which may be required to improve the safety of all your work areas, including the prompt reporting and recording of incidents to managers.
- To be aware of and work according to confidentiality and data protection issues in relation to written and electronic records.
