PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
Job Description
JOB IDENTIFICATION
Physiotherapy Assistant Job Title:
Grade:
Accountable to:
Responsible to:
Physiotherapy Manager
Physiotherapy Manager, Senior Physiotherapy staff
Job Holder Reference:
Number of Job Holders: 1
2. ORGANISATIONAL CHART ATTACHED
3.JOB PURPOSE
Clinical
To undertake specific skilled support work to aid the rehabilitation of patients.
To accept patients referred by a physiotherapist and carry as own patient caseload.
Treat patients according to set treatment protocols, monitoring patient progression and make minor alterations to patient treatment protocols as required.
Work single-handed and unsupervised, reporting back patient progress and informing physiotherapist of any change in patient’s condition.
Organisational
Undertake all administrative duties within the Physiotherapy Department.
Be an authorised signatory for the Physiotherapy Department, responsible for procuring Physiotherapy Department supplies.
4. PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical
1.
Assist the Senior Physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of patients using a range of delegated duties, including exercises and gait re-education.

2.
To manage the rehabilitation of patients as delegated by the Senior
Physiotherapists, working without direct supervision and responsible for assessing patient progress and reporting back to the Senior Physiotherapists.
3.
Treat patients individually without the direct supervision or presence of a
Senior Physiotherapist within the Western Isles Hospital.
4.
Instruct patients, providing direction and guidance on a range of physical therapy and mobility activities, as part of own clinical work or as directed as necessary by the Senior Physiotherapist.
5.
Supply appropriate walking aids to patients, and educate and advise patients in the safe use of this equipment.
6.
Assist Senior Physiotherapists whilst instructing patients in the safe manner of ascending and descending stairs, 2-3 times per week.
7.
Assist the Senior Physiotherapists whilst moving and handling heavy and immobile ward patients, using a mechanical aid (e.g.Arjo Encore), on a daily basis, for up to one hour each day.
8.
Transfer and transport patients from Western Isles Hospital wards to the
Physiotherapy Department, using a wheelchair, 3-4 times per week.
9.
Assist Senior Physiotherapists whilst undertaking manual physiotherapy respiratory techniques, including bronchial suction, thereby being exposed to unpleasant working conditions and body fluids, such as sputum, urine faeces and vomit, with potential exposure to verbal and physical aggression, 3-4 times per month.
10.
Daily assist Senior Physiotherapists whilst caring for terminally and seriously ill patients, for 2-3 hours per day.
11.
Daily encourage patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills.
12.
Use effective communication tools on a daily basis, verbal and non verbal, to communicate treatment programmes to patients who have barriers to understanding or communicating e.g. blind, deaf, Gaelic speaking only or patients suffering from dementia.
13.
Provide and receive complex information regarding patients from Senior
Physiotherapists on a daily basis.
14.
On a daily basis make accurate records of work undertaken and keep daily statistics as required, including documenting patient contacts in line with CSP standards.

15.
To liase with Senior Physiotherapists daily, as necessary, regarding patient care, in particular highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programmes you deliver.
16.
To attend In-service training as required
17.
Training newly appointed physiotherapy assistants, physiotherapy and work experience students and new members of Physiotherapy Department staff, in basic elements of patient care, safety and Physiotherapy Department procedures
18.
Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team departmental or other appropriate meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision
19.
Collate and enter statistical data for all Physiotherapy Department staff, onto the Departmental data –base, on a daily basis for 3-4 hours.
Organisational
1Continually keep the Physiotherapy Department tidy, cleaning up accidental spills and leakages e.g. vomit, urine, blood, faeces, using supplied spill packs
2.On a daily basis decontaminate returned Physiotherapy equipment, from ward and
Community patients, inspecting for damage prior to re-issuing to patients, 3-4 times per day.
3. Be responsible for the safe use of Physiotherapy equipment and aids by patients in your care, at all times.
4. Change sheets covering treatment couches following each patient use, frequently having to deal with unpleasant odours and soiled linen. Ensure ongoing supply of clean laundry within the Physiotherapy Department, by physically collecting sheets, towels etc from the Laundry Department, and transporting to Physiotherapy.
5. Manage and prioritise own patient caseload, delegated by Senior Physiotherapists.
6.Be responsible on a daily basis for the administrative arrangements for organising all Outpatient and Community Physiotherapy staffs’ clinics, including clinics in remote GP Surgeries and within the Western Isles Hospital.
7. Be responsible for changing appointments at short notice when Physiotherapy staff are off sick
8. Be the first point of contact for members of the public and others when they enter or contact the Physiotherapy Department.
9..Daily photocopying of discharge information, letters, exercise sheets, travel and subsistence claims etc within the Physiotherapy Department, 2-3 hours per week.

10.. Processing referrals entering the Physiotherapy Department and allocating appointments as requested by Senior Physiotherapists, 4-6 times per day.
11..To attend mandatory training on manual handling, CPR and fire safety on a regular basis
12. To arrange patient transport to and from the Physiotherapy Department, liasing with the Scottish Ambulance Service based in Inverness, ensuring correct information regarding patient’s mobility and location is passed onto Scottish Ambulance Service,
Inverness, weekly.
13.. Ensure safe disposal of clinical waste within the Physiotherapy Department e.g. sharps bins for acupuncture needles
14..Continually provide telephone and written communication to colleagues, other staff, patients, carers, public or other external contacts frequently throughout the day, where there may be barriers to understanding due to language differences or physical or mental special needs.
15.. Daily answer and deal with telephone messages, passing information to Senior
Physiotherapists, and frequently deal with aggressive and irate patients or carers in a highly emotive atmosphere.
16. Collect patient medical records and X-rays as requested by Senior
Physiotherapists from relevant departments, and return, ensuring confidentiality and safety of those records, on a daily basis as required.
17.. Monitor stock levels of Physiotherapy supplies and equipment on a daily basis, and be responsible for maintaining stock levels, selecting external suppliers and authorising purchases as necessary, taking into account cost, quality, delivery time and reliability. Monitor and order supplies from Western Isles Hospital stores department.
18.. Process all Locum Physiotherapists time sheets, authorising if necessary and providing Locum Agency and Accounts Department with all relevant paperwork, weekly for approximately 1-2 hours.
19.. Weekly identify equipment requiring repair, instigate repair process with Works
Department, and check all electrical equipment on a yearly basis as required by
Health and Safety regulations.
20. Moving and handling of Physiotherapy equipment within Physiotherapy Gym and in the Department, frequently lifting heavy mats, treatment equipment etc, often in cramped conditions, bending and twisting is required, at least twice per week.
21..Frequently moving and handling deliveries of bulky supplies (e.g. zimmer frames and crutches), unpacking supplies and ensuring safe storage, approximately twice a week.

22. Sole member of the Physiotherapy Department responsible for adapting Tynedale computer system and, within SCI/Compass computer systems, altering or adding confidential patient details, requesting numbers from Medical Records for new patients, checking with GP Surgeries that information is correct before amending
Physiotherapy Department’s records, on a daily basis.
23..To take part in Personal Development Planning programme.
24.. Monitor and develop own performance, aiming to achieve and maintain a high standard at all times
25.. Any other appropriate duties as delegated by the Physiotherapy Manager or
Senior Physiotherapists.
5.SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Physical demands of the job

Daily physically assist Physiotherapists in the treatment of patients with varying degrees of impaired mobility, for approximately 2-3 hours per day.

Daily physically assist Physiotherapists in the manual handling of immobile and heavy patients, for approximately 2-3 hours per day.

Daily work in confined, awkward spaces which may involve moving and handling patients and items of furniture, for approximately 2-3 hours per day.

Daily transporting a wheeled, heavy standing/walking frame from the
Physiotherapy Department to wards unassisted, for approximately 1 hour per day.

Three to four times per week lift laundry bags from the Physiotherapy
Department to main corridor for uplift by portering staff

Daily transport various walking aids between the Physiotherapy Department, storage areas, wards and A&E

Twice weekly, clear Physiotherapy gym of heavy items of equipment, on completion of classes, return these items to original positions

Lift exercise mats from rack, in an awkward corner of gym, lay same on floor and on completion of use, return to rack
Mental effort

Daily concentrate for prolonged periods entering statistical information onto statistical computer programme

To be constantly aware of patients condition and variances of same whilst treating patients, on a daily basis for approximately 2-3 hours per day

Constant interruptions throughout the working day

Daily concentration during treatment sessions

Constantly throughout the working day, for approximately 2-3 hours, ensure good communication skills with patients who have impaired understanding or communication difficulties

Emotional effort

Daily assist the Physiotherapy staff during treatment of terminally ill patients, for approximately 2-3 hours per day

Daily be involved with seriously ill patients and their relatives for approximately 2-3 hours per day

Daily treat patients who may be aggressive, depressed or withdrawn, for 2-3 hours per day.
Working conditions

Daily contact in ward environments with offensive smells and body fluids e.g. urine, vomit, faeces and blood, 2-3 hours per day

Daily contact with cleaning materials whilst decontaminating returned walking aids and equipment, these materials are very strong smelling, for 2-3 hours per day

Daily exposure to Infectious Diseases, e.g. MRSA, for approximately 2-3 hours each day

Occasional cleaning of spills within the Physiotherapy Department, using spill packs, e.g. vomit, urine, faeces

Frequent cleansing of patients following toilet visits

Constantly treating unpredictable and aggressive patients, for approximately
2-3 hours per day

On a daily basis dealing with irate phone calls from patients and/or relative/carers, for approximately 1 hour per day.
STANDARD ELEMENTS
Confidentiality
 Comply with Western Isles NHS Board’s policy on confidentiality

Respect the confidentiality and privacy of patients and staff at all times
Health and Safety
 To comply with all aspects of the Western Isles NHS Board’s health and safety policies and to participate in mandatory training as required

Maintain at all times a safe working environment and report any issues of concern as appropropriate
NHS Western Isles attaches the greatest importance to the health and safety of its employees. It is the Board policy to do all that is reasonable to prevent personal injury and hazard to health by protecting staff and others including the public from foreseeable hazards compatible with the provision of proper services to patients. The
Board expects its entire staff to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. More detailed information is given in Departmental safety policies where appropriate.

Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights
This involves: a) acting in ways consistent with the Board’s policies and procedures b) Treating those you come into contact with equitably and with respect c) Recognising the needs for aids or adaptations
JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
I,……………………………………………………………………………….confirm that the job description(s)/person specification(s) attached have been discussed with me and are an accurate and up to date account of the duties and responsibilities and skills/qualifications required to undertake the post.
Job holders signature:………………………………………………Date:………
Head of Department’s signature:…………………………………Date:………….
Person Specification –Physiotherapy Assistant – Band 4
Essential Desirable
Qualifications/attainments
Experience
Good general education
Formal qualification in relevant area or equivalent portfolio of knowledge and skills, to include basic anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology equivalent to NVQ3
Basic competency training in mobility assessment, progression of mobility, stair assessment, individualised and group exercise programmes
Significant previous experience of working in a healthcare setting
ECDL or other IT training
Cleanliness Champion Infection
Control training
Experience of working with patients in a Community setting

Experience of working with elderly, in particular frail elderly people
Previous experience of dealing with clinical diaries and appointment systems
Skills/knowledge/aptitude Demonstrable excellent communication skills
Ability to communicate with patients with impaired communication abilities
Able to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive and physical abilities
Proven ability to organise and plan own workload
Personal qualities
Special circumstances
Ability to work on own initiative
Ability to work as part of a small team
Excellent general health and physical fitness
Good organisational skills
Car driver
Experience of leading exercise groups
Good general health and physical fitness
Car owner

PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
Person Specification
Physiotherapy Assistant
Qualifications
Good general education
Basic competency training in mobility assessment, progression of mobility, stair assessment, passive movements and passive stretches, individual exercise programmes
Experience
Experience working in healthcare setting
Experience of working with elderly people, and in particular frail elderly people.
Computer skills, ECDL or equivalent.
Special aptitudes
Demonstrable excellent communication skills
Ability to communicate with patients with impaired communication abilities
Able to demonstrate empathy, motivate and persuade patients with impaired cognitive abilities, or physical senses.
Good organisational skills
Proven ability to organise and plan own workload
Ability to work on own initiative and to manage own caseload.
Able to work as part of a team.
Flexibility within working day to accommodate others
Personal circumstances
Good general health and physical fitness