Job summary
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.

About us
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.

Job 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:

1. Referral taking and information gathering through searching clinical records and through liaison with the client, carers and colleagues from health and other relevant agencies.
2. Completing assessments, through interview, observation of functional tasks and using standardised assessments
3. Identifying needs and forming SMART goals and plans for interventions
4. Completing a wide range of interventions including giving advice and support, rehabilitation, equipment provision and home adaptation.
5. 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.
6. Evaluate patient progress through regular re-assessment and ensure continuous progression by graded activity for improving conditions.
7. 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 patients 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 ( eg physical and verbal aggression.)

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, cares 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.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Degree in Physiotherapy
• Current Registration with Health and Care Professions Council.
• Evidence of relevant CPD

Desirable

• Membership of special interest group/s

Experience
Essential

• Evidence of completing core rotations as a student during placements and / or experience in a variety of clinical settings including Stroke rehabilitation and management of neurological conditions.
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/ CPD.
• Evidence of experience and learning demonstrated by professional portfolio
• Experience in equipment assessment and provision.
• Experience of MDT working.
• Experience of use of Physio outcome measures.

Desirable

• Evidence of completing core rotations as a band 5
• NHS Experience in the community
• Experience of teaching, supervision and mentoring of support staff or under graduate students
• Experience of working at Band 5 level.
• Experience of audit/research.
• Awareness and understanding of seamless service across health providers.

Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Broad clinical and therapeutic handling skills encompassing a wide range of different conditions and with a special interest in rehabilitation of elderly/falls and complex multi pathology.
• Knowledge of cognitive assessment and treatment strategies
• Sound assessment skills with advanced clinical reasoning Activity analysis skills
• Administration and interpretation of a variety of standardised assessments.
• Ability to plan, deliver and evaluate Physio programmes to address complex and changing health, functional and social well-being needs
• Ability to manage own caseload and prioritise workload pressures.
• Time management skills.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of environmental assessment and equipment provision.
• Keyboard skills and computer literacy.
• Evidence of self-directed learning, reflective practice and commitment to personal, team and service development Ability and enthusiasm to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team and build effective relationships.
• Commitment to personal team/service development.
• Ability to maintain judgement under pressure.

Desirable

• Ability to assess and manage behavioural difficulties.
• Basic knowledge of wheelchair provision and optimising postural support
• Teaching and presentation skills

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).