Physiotherapist - Urgent Community Response

Job overview

Are you a dedicated and motivated Physiotherapist looking to make a real difference in the community? Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) is seeking an enthusiastic clinician to join our Urgent Community Response (UCR) team, delivering timely and compassionate care to patients in their own homes.

The postholder will work as a Therapist/Allied Health Professional within a team or as part of a rotation in Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust. They will manage a caseload of patients with a variety of conditions. There will be an expectation to formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment and reasoning skills.

Staff are expected to treat all patients with respect and courtesy, maintaining dignity and respecting individual needs and differences, both physical and cultural.

The postholder will complete the SCFT Preceptorship through regular supervision and professional support (staff in their first year post-qualification). They will be involved in the support of band 2, 3, and 4 staff as well as student education and be expected to take part in and contribute to in-service training, keeping their own Personal Development plans up to date.

Main duties of the job

A job plan will be created by your line manager in line with the service blueprint and discussed with you. It will be reviewed annually at your PDR and updated as required. The main tasks you will spend your time doing are:

a) To work effectively as a team member in providing and facilitating a high standard of therapeutic, social, and rehabilitative support in the unit,  department or in the community.

b) To work within the conditions of a rotation if required.

c) To provide assessments that appropriately inform therapy, social and  rehabilitative pathways taking account of the fluctuating needs of the patient and assist in evaluating the outcomes.

d) To undertake a holistic assessment of all the patients’ needs and understand the routes for escalating issues that are not directly resolved by own profession.

e) Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using specific clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills.

f) To report and document variances in a patient’s condition or planned pathway of care.

g) To offer advice, support, and education on healthcare to both patients and carers.

h) To take referrals for services using the criteria specified in the team’s  operational policies.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

a) Supervision and Appraisal - Review and reflect on your own practice through regular participation in clinical supervision and annual appraisal with a nominated supervisor and/ or the Team Lead.

b) To be responsible for own professional action and recognise own professional boundaries through interpretation of clinical and professional policies and national protocols seeking advice and support from senior therapists.

c) Training staff and students - To support the training and development of the other members of the team and students of all disciplines as required.

d) Service delivery - To ensure the maintenance of assessment and treatment equipment in a satisfactory condition, and ensure careful use and return of 3 same, cleaned, where appropriate. Report any suspect or faulty equipment to the Team Lead.

e) Professional development - To maintain professional registration with the HCPC, and show proof of registration to the Team Lead/ supervisor/ locality manager when requested.

f) To be responsible for maintaining and developing own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.

g) To undertake professional training that may be required by the Trust and attend appropriate study days and team meetings.

h) Personal management - to exercise good personal time management,  punctuality, and consistent reliable attendance.

i) Documentation - to be responsible for maintaining accurate and  comprehensive patient treatment records in accordance with SCFT  Information Governance and professional bodies, as well as the supervision of students’ and assistants’ record keeping.

j) Research and development - to participate as necessary in service  development, service audit and outcome measurement to ensure the  provision of evidence-based practice.