WESTERN ISLES NHS BOARD
PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
JOB DESCRIPTION
1.Job title:
Senior Physiotherapist – Medical/Neurology
Department
Physiotherapy Department
Responsible to:
Physiotherapy Manager
Job Holder reference:
Number of Job Holders:
1
2. Organisational Chart attached
This post is based in the Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, this
modern hospital has 140 beds The post holder would be responsible for provision of
physiotherapy to two medical wards (approximately 40 beds) and a rehabilitation
ward (24 beds) and for some patients in the Community. The post holder would join
our small team of 13 Physiotherapists and Assistants. The Isles of Lewis and Harris
have a total population of 26.000, and are a popular tourist destination.
3. Job purpose
To be the sole Physiotherapist responsible for medical and neurological physiotherapy
rehabilitation service and its development in Lewis and Harris.
To provide a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, treatment and advice to
medical inpatients and neurological inpatients, outpatients and community patients,
incorporating general medicine, elderly rehabilitation, respiratory and palliative care,
as an autonomous practitioner
To supervise and teach Physiotherapy assistants and Technical Instructors, providing
clinical supervision, and to act as a source of advice to other members of staff as
appropriate.
To educate carers, staff members and students regarding aspects of care specific to
patient’s requirements.
4. Principal duties and responsibilities
Clinical
To be responsible for own practice and accountable for all aspects of Physiotherapy
treatment and care delivered to medical and neurological patients.
To undertake Physiotherapy assessment and treatment as an autonomous practitioner.
To have knowledge of a variety of physiotherapy techniques involved in the treatment
of neurological, respiratory and other general medical conditions.
To treat patients using highly developed physical skills, using a variety of
physiotherapeutic techniques, where a high degree of precision, and hand and eye and
sensory co-ordination are essential, e.g. bronchial suction, manual respiratory
techniques, re-education of balance, mobilisation of patients, accurate palpation,
facilitation and re-education of movement.
To assess, diagnose and develop individual care/treatment plans for a range of
neurological conditions including: Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone
Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Traumatic Head Injury, all of which are highly
complex, and for patients with complex clinical, social and behavioural needs.
To be skilled in the assessment and treatment of respiratory patients.
To be skilled in the assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of general medical
patients
To undertake home visits with other members of the multidisciplinary team if
necessary and if required
To be responsible for reassessing patient care as treatment progresses and alter
treatment programmes as appropriate.
Be able to analyse clinical and social information from a range of sources and
integrate it into Physiotherapy assessment and development of care/treatment plans.
To analyse and understand the impact on patient care of information obtained by
personal assessment and analysis of information held in various medical records, and
to assimilate this information and formulate treatment plans accordingly.
To be responsible for maintaining accurate and up to date patient notes.
To be a source of clinical advice for other members of the Physiotherapy staff.
Be responsible for maintaining a high standard of clinical practice both for self and
others
To work with and instruct physiotherapy assistants and technical instructors, and to
make clinical decisions as to when it is appropriate to delegate work tasks, including
patient caseloads to assistant and technical instructor staff.
To advise patients with long term and progressive conditions on home exercise and
maintenance programmes, encouraging their own responsibility for aspects of self
care
To advise and instruct nursing staff in moving and handling and positioning and
stretches which are beneficial to medical and neurological patients in the wards.
To advise and instruct carers/family members in moving and handling and positioning
and stretches which are beneficial to patients in a domiciliary setting.
If workload permits, to provide and be responsible for a Hydrotherapy service for
neurological patients, if necessary and appropriate. This involves being in the
Hydrotherapy Pool, performing a range of techniques, stretches and exercises
To provide clinical Physiotherapy cover during periods of staff absence, e.g. Cardiac
Rehabilitation
Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Physiotherapy Manager.
Communication
Be skilled in communicating with patients, presenting with numerous medical
conditions, who may have significant barriers to understanding e.g. cognitive
impairment, neglect, neuro-behavioural issues, dementia, denial, deaf, Gaelic
speaking only etc.
Be skilled in communicating with patients, whilst providing clinical care, including
motivating, persuading, negotiating and reassuring distressed patients where there
may be significant barriers to understanding, working towards shared treatment goals.
Be skilled in communicating complex and sensitive information to other health
professionals, e.g. Medical staff, nursing staff and other Allied Health Professionals.
To provide advice on care to other health and social care professionals, this may
involve challenging or requesting changes to treatment programmes previously set by
other professionals.
To employ high levels of communication and interpersonal skills to convey complex
information to family members, carers and other relatives regarding the Physiotherapy
treatment plans for patients, where there are significant barriers to acceptance and
where the communication can be of highly distressing, or of a very sensitive or
emotive nature.
Producing detailed progress reports, and discharge summaries as requested by the
Medical staff and/or social services, where this information may impact/influence
future medical treatment or social circumstances.
To represent the Physiotherapy Department at multidisciplinary meetings and case
conferences
To be an integral member of the team involved in the discharge planning of patients
from hospital who may have complex physical and social needs and to follow them up
in the community.
To produce information leaflets, based on best practice, for patients and their carers.
To produce exercise programmes using the PhysioTools computer programme.
To refer patients to other Health professionals as appropriate.
Professional
To be responsible for implementing policy within the Physiotherapy Department,
proposing changes to these policies and working practices for own work area.
To be involved in the formulation of policies regarding the physiotherapy service in
Lewis and Harris
To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance, audit and national
guidelines, demonstrating evidence based to the development and improvement of
clinical practice.
To work to the standards set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and other
National Service Frameworks.
To liase with Allied Health Professionals, GP’s, Consultants and other healthcare
professionals as required, and develop and maintain good working relationships.
Maintain and improve own clinical knowledge and skills.
Organisational
To plan, organise and prioritise own patient caseload.
To be responsible on a daily basis for Physiotherapy Assistant/Technical Instructors
working within your area, and to provide them with clinical supervision and
instruction regarding individual treatment programmes. To organise and manage the
appropriate delegation of patients to assistant/technical instructors.
Be responsible for attending multi-disciplinary case/team meetings to discuss own
individual patients.
To undertake the supervision of physiotherapy and work experience students on
placement in the Department.
Education and research
To undertake a health promotion role as and when required.
To co-ordinate and deliver presentations to other multidisciplinary team members.
To participate in staff meetings and In service training in support of continuing
professional development and education.
To undertake regular audit to review current working practices, clinical activity and
effectiveness.
To maintain and record personal Continuing Professional Development, as required
by the Health Professions Council
Managerial
To implement changes where authorised and to propose further changes to the
Physiotherapy Manager.
To work with colleagues to establish clinical guidelines, protocols and standards to
meet clinical governance targets and to establish evidence based practice.
To maintain full clinical records, provide statistical returns and information for
activity monitoring and comply with general administrative procedures.
To monitor waiting lists and prioritise patients as required.
5. SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
Physical effort
Frequently throughout each day you will be required to exert intense physical effort
whilst transferring patients on the wards, for approximately 4 hours each working day.
Frequently throughout each day you will be required to exert moderate physical effort
whilst re-educating balance, for approximately 4 hours each working day.
Frequently throughout each day you will be required to exert intense physical effort
whilst re-educating gait patterns, for approximately 4 hours each working day.
Frequently throughout each day you will be required to use moderate physical effort
when applying manual techniques for respiratory physiotherapy (autogenic drainage)
and frequent repetitive movements for percussion and vibrations, for approximately 4
hours each working day.
Frequently you may be required to exert intense physical effort whilst transferring
patients and to move furniture in a domiciliary setting, for approximately 2 hours,
three times weekly.
At regular times during the working week you will be required to exert moderate
physical effort when transferring patients in and out of the hydrotherapy pool, for
approximately one hour twice weekly.
Whilst in the hydrotherapy pool, you will be required to maintain a prolonged period
of moderate physical effort when supporting neurological patients in the water, for
approximately one hour twice weekly.
Frequently during the day you will be required to use intense physical effort whilst
moving heavy equipment to and from the wards, for approximately one hour daily.
Frequently during the day you will be required to use moderate physical effort to
transport mobility aids to the wards and out into domiciliary settings, for
approximately one hour daily.
Frequently during the day you will be required to use moderate physical effort to
perform mobilisations, for approximately 2 hours daily
Frequently during the day you will be required to use a high level of dexterity,
sensory, coordination and accuracy for the assessment and manual treatment of
patients, for approximately 5-6 hours daily.
A high level of dexterity and accuracy is required when inserting/removing airways
and suction catheters at speed, for approximately 2 hours daily.
Mental effort
Due to unpredictable working patterns on a daily basis, there is a prolonged
requirement for concentration, for approximately 6-7 hours daily.
Occasionally, you may be required at any time to fit in emergency domiciliary visits,
without prior notice.
Occasionally, you will be expected to have an intense period of concentration whilst
performing suction on a patient, for approximately 2 hours daily.
You will be expected to have a prolonged period of very high concentration whilst
treating patients in the hydrotherapy pool, for approximately one hour twice weekly.
Emotional effort
On occasion, frequently throughout the day, you will be required to perform suction,
which can be extremely distressing for the patient, for approximately 2 hours daily.
Occasionally you may have to assess and treat patients, who are upset or abusive in a
calm and professional manner, both in the wards and in the community.
You may have to treat challenging patients with extensive neuro-behavioural
problems both in the wards and in the community, on a daily basis for 5-6 hours daily.
Frequently you are the first point of contact for a patient who has been diagnosed with
a neurological condition, and as a result may be highly distressed, emotional or angry.
Frequently you may be imparting news of a highly distressing nature, e.g.impending
discharge from physiotherapy, poor prognosis, unable to return to pre morbid lifestyle
in a highly emotional atmosphere.
Working conditions
On a daily basis you may be asked to obtain samples of infected sputum.
On a daily basis you will frequently be exposed to MRSA, body fluids, faeces and
vomit.
Occasionally in the Hydrotherapy Pool, you will enter the water thereby exposing
yourself to an environment, which is hot humid and chemically treated, for one hour
each Hydrotherapy session.
You may on a daily basis be expected to treat patients in a domiciliary environment
without proper clinical facilities and where the conditions are not conducive to
treatment.
On occasion you may encounter aggressive relatives or carers in a domiciliary
environment.
On occasion you may treat palliative care patients in Nursing and Residential Homes
On occasion you may be driving to domiciliary visits in inclement weather.
6. STANDARD ELEMENTS
Confidentiality
 Comply with the 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 appropriate
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 my 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:……………….
PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT
AGENDA FOR CHANGE PERSON SPECIFICATION
Senior Physiotherapist – Medical/Neurology
Qualifications/attainments
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Experience
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Skills/Competencies
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Essential
Diploma/Degree in
Physiotherapy
Current HPC
registration
Evidence of relevant
Clinical post
graduate courses

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Broad post graduate
experience to
include rotations in
Elderly
Rehabilitation,
Medical,
Respiratory care
Previous experience
of working within
the NHS
Previous work in
acute and in
rehabilitation
settings
Previous experience
of working with
neurological,
respiratory and
Community patients
Previous experience
of working within a
Multi Disciplinary
Team

Ability to manage
own caseload and
work independently
Excellent
organizational skills
Ability to assess,
manage & treat
patients with
complex multiple
pathologies


Desirable
Member of the
Chartered
Society of
Physiotherapy
Member of a
relevant Clinical
Interest Group
Experience in
several acute Inpatient areas
Supervision of
Physiotherapy
Technical
Instructor and
Assistant staff
Previous
experience of
working within
Cardiac
Rehabilitation,
Respiratory
Rehabilitation,
Falls Prevention,
Elderly
Rehabilitation,
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Personal qualities
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Special circumstances

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Skills in goal setting
and using outcome
measures
Problem solving
skills
Good clinical
reasoning skills in a
wide range of core
areas
Ability to pass on
skills and
knowledge to others
Ability to delegate
tasks appropriately
Ability to work
flexibly depending
on needs of the
service
Highly motivated
Good time
management and
organizational skills
Ability to use own
initiative
Reflective
practitioner
A committed
approach to ongoing education and
professional review
Evidence of highly
skilled
communication and
interpersonal skills
Team worker
High level of
professional
commitment
IT literacy skills
Good physical
health to be able to
move and handle
patients
Current driving
license
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Stroke Unit or
Neurological
Unit
Knowledge of
evidence based
practice relating
to relevant
conditions
Knowledge and
experience of
remote and rural
island living
Member of
Special Interest
Group
Access to own
car
Sheila Nicolson
26 February 2010