Job Overview

To provide specialised rehabilitation assessment, education, advice and treatment to adult patients in the intermediate care unit who have a range of health and social care needs. To enable these patients to reach their maximum functional potential and facilitate safe discharges.

To independently manage a defined caseload of patients, contributing to the provision of the physiotherapy service.

To undertake seven-day service provision where required.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a specialised physiotherapy assessment and treatment service without direct supervision for delegated patients with varying degrees of physical, psychological and sensory impairment often with multi-pathology and pre-existing co-morbidities.
• To plan, implement and evaluate treatment and management programmes to ensure the identified needs of the individual are met at all stages of the rehabilitation process or disease progression.
• To educate and advise patients, their families and carers in order to facilitate self-management of their condition and optimise their rehabilitation potential and quality of life.
• To be an active member of the multidisciplinary team working collaboratively with other members of the team and recognising the skills and expertise of others.
• To provide support and supervision to rehabilitation support workers, therapy technicians and delegated undergraduate physiotherapy students, including monthly supervision and annual appraisal.
• To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To maintain clinical records as an autonomous practitioner.

The job description and person specification are an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The job holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager.

Working for our organisation

The Hawthorn Intermediate Care Unit (HICU) is situated in the grounds of Hillingdon Hospital but owned by Central and North West London Trust.

HICU offers physical rehabilitation to Adults aged 18years + for a varying range of physical disabilities.

CNWL is devoted to staff development and enhancing staff well-being at work.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

• To provide specialised physiotherapy advice in relation to patients 18 years and above with a range of psycho-social, physical and emotional problems working in a rehabilitation setting.
• To ensure safe, effective and efficient physiotherapy practice within this field of practice.
• To work independently seeking support from the seniors when required.
• To accept clinical responsibility and professional autonomy for a designated caseload of patients, from referral to discharge, and to organise this efficiently and effectively in relation to clinical priorities and use of time.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.
• To undertake all stages of the physiotherapy therapeutic process:
  • Referral taking and information gathering through searching clinical records and through liaison with the client, carers and colleagues from health and other relevant agencies.
  • Completing assessments, through interview, observation of functional tasks and using standardised assessments.
  • Identifying needs and forming SMART goals and plans for interventions.
  • Completing a wide range of interventions including giving advice and support, rehabilitation, equipment provision and home adaptation.
• To formulate an individual management and/or treatment programme, using clinical reasoning and a range of evidence-based treatment skills including, manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise classes, electrotherapy and other options.
• Evaluate patient progress through regular re-assessment and ensure continuous progression by graded activity for improving conditions.
• Discharge planning and referral onto alternative services.
• To accept responsibility for ensuring the effective selection, use and fitting of equipment used both in the ward and community (e.g. toilet equipment).
• To independently plan and carry out assessments in the patient’s own home where required. This may involve unforeseen exposure to environmental hazards (e.g. squalid home environment).
• To communicate effectively with patient and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential whilst being realistic about patients expectations. Communication skilled persuasion, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent will be used with a variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident, e.g. sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, pain, emotional state, behavioural and communication difficulties.
• To be able to deal effectively and appropriately with patients who display inappropriate behaviours (e.g. physical and verbal aggression).
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals.
• To maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with Service, Trust, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).
• To take responsibility for appropriate delegation of tasks to Health Care Assistants and other junior staff.
• To ensure effective communication and collaboration takes place between yourself and members of the multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams across hospital and community (both written and verbal). This may require communicating complex information on sensitive issues.
• To evaluate the outcome of the communications and ensure there is adequate carry over of information to enable ongoing care of patients once discharged.
• To support others and recognise the limitations of your own clinical practice and seek the advice of others as appropriate.
• To demonstrate an awareness of wider team and service issues.
• You will need to be able to prioritise caseload and work flexibly around interruptions relating to patient care.