Physiotherapists - Prosthetics

Job overview

• To provide specialist assessment and treatment of patients undergoing pre prosthetic and prosthetic rehabilitation including complex patients and those with high specification prosthetic components including microprocessor knees.

Main duties of the job

• To be an autonomous physiotherapy practitioner providing a high standard of therapy service to patients within the prosthetics team
• To provide specialist assessment and treatment of patients undergoing pre prosthetic and prosthetic rehabilitation including complex patients and those with high specification prosthetic components including microprocessor knees.
• To communicate and liaise with other physiotherapists and healthcare professionals within Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and other colleagues within the Service’s catchment area to facilitate best practice in pre-prosthetic and prosthetic rehabilitation.
• To supervise and teach physiotherapy assistants/students
• To provide teaching and training to other therapists, other members of the MDT both within the Trust, patients and carers.
• To undertake evidence-based projects, including recommendations for change in practice and to participate in departmental research and audit.
• Deputise for Band 7 physiotherapist (Clinical Lead) in their absence and manage clinical caseload.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical:

• To provide specialist autonomous clinical management of patients who have undergone amputation including those with diverse or complex presentations/multipathologies.
• To be able to assess, formulate a problem list and treatment plan, along with SMART goal setting for patients who have undergone limb amputation(s) who wish to be considered for prostheses.
• To be able to use all early walking aids as a form of assessment and treatment for lower limb amputees.
• To be able to assess and treat accordingly residual limb oedema, with clinical reasoning for treatment choice.
• To be able to assess pain (residual limb, phantom and referred) and decide appropriate course of action.
• To be confident to liaise with GPs, carers, social workers and other internal and external professionals regarding patient care.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques/equipment provision, in line with National and trust guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.
• To participate in the referral process to ensure appropriate referrals are being made and accepted and that the effectiveness of decision outcomes are reviewed.
• To liaise with the prosthetic MDT and agree joint prosthetic goals and treatment plans. Have a good understanding of lower limb prosthetics including microprocessor knees (MPKs) and sound clinical reasoning to ensure the most suitable prosthetic prescriptions for lower limb unilateral and multiple limb loss patients.
• To use recognised and validated outcome measures in line with local policies.
• To carry a designated case load, be able to prioritise case load efficiently taking into account clinical and service needs.