Community Orthopaedic Physiotherapist

Job overview

We are a small community team that plays a key role in supporting patients throughout their orthopaedic journey, facilitating seamless care across community and hospital settings. We provide:

Prehabilitation classes for patients awaiting Total Hip Replacement (THR)

Specialist community rehabilitation following Total Hip Replacement (THR) and Total Knee Replacement (TKR)

Both multidisciplinary and uni-disciplinary rehabilitation programmes tailored to individual patient needs

We are looking for a flexible and dynamic Band 6 Physiotherapist to join our small, specialist community team providing orthopaedic rehabilitation within patients' homes. This post would be ideal for a Physiotherapist with an interest in orthopaedics who is keen to consolidate and develop their clinical knowledge and experience in the post-operative phase of recovery following hospital discharge after elective joint replacement surgery.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

Manage and prioritise their own community caseload independently

Assess, plan and deliver specialist rehabilitation programmes for patients following elective hip and knee arthroplasty

Contribute to the delivery of prehabilitation services

Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team

Provide supervision, support and appropriate delegation to therapy support staff

Promote patient-centred care and support patients in achieving their rehabilitation goals within their home environment

Essential Requirements

HCPC registration as a Physiotherapist

Experience relevant to a Band 6 Physiotherapy role

Strong organisational and communication skills

Ability to work independently and manage a varied caseload

Full valid driving licence (essential)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex orthopaedic, physical and psychological conditions; to provide a provisional diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

To take responsibility for own caseload being responsible for a defined area of the service, participate in caseload management with other team members, with the support of a Band 7 physiotherapist.

With the team, to participate in evidence-based audit / research activity to further the team's clinical practice..

To make recommendations to the lead Band 7/8 for any changes to practice by the team.

To supervise Therapy Assistants, Junior Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy students in the clinical setting.

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work,

including the management of patients in your care.

To undertake a comprehensive, and holistic, assessment of patients including

those with complex presentations / multi-pathologies.

To use manual and other assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to

provide an accurate diagnosis of patients' conditions and identify their problems.

To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed

consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who

lack the capacity to consent to treatment.

To use clinical assessment and reasoning skills combined with a specialist

knowledge and clinical experience of patho-physiology, evidence-based practice

and treatment strategies to provide an effective treatment plan and goals in

collaboration with the patient.

To evaluate patients' progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes as

required.

To formulate accurate prognoses and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team

regarding discharge planning, where necessary, to ensure safe, timely and effective discharge from hospital and following a community-based episode of care.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of electrotherapy, manual

handling and respiratory equipment, as well as the use of other aids and appliances by patients in your working area, ensuring that any Band 5 Physiotherapists and assistant staff attain competency prior to use.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicate

effectively with patients during assessment and treatment. To communicate

appropriately at all times with all individuals in a respectful manner.

To use active listening and optimum communication skills to discuss patients’

concerns, worries and prognoses with them and their families, for example patients who have progressive, degenerative or terminal illnesses and those with newly acquired disabilities.

To work within Trust, departmental and CSP guidelines, ensuring a good working knowledge of national and local standards.

When working in the community and domiciliary settings, to work as a lone

practitioner with telephone support from a senior physiotherapist if required.

To maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system in accordance with the Trust and departmental policies, and which can be used for audit and legal purposes.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.