Senior Physiotherapist

Job overview

Ontario Ward is a 20-bed specialist neuro-rehabilitation unit based at Orpington Hospital, designated as a Level 2b service in line with BSRM guidelines. We provide rehabilitation for a diverse and complex caseload, including:

• Stroke
• Spinal cord injury
• Neurosurgical and neuro-oncology patients
• Progressive and long-term neurological conditions

Our team is supported by specialist rehabilitation equipment and access to an on-site therapy gym, enabling high-quality, goal-focused therapy for patients with a broad range of functional needs. We routinely collect and complete UKROC outcome measures to ensure robust monitoring of patient progress and service quality.

We are a dynamic, forward-thinking therapy team with a strong commitment to continuous improvement. We offer:

A robust in-service training and teaching programme

Regular clinical supervision and support

Opportunities to be involved in service development and innovation

A friendly, collaborative working environment

What We’re Looking For:

HCPC-registered Physiotherapist

Experience within neuro-rehabilitation, acute neurology, medicine, or complex rehabilitation settings

Strong assessment skills and clinical reasoning

Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team

Commitment to high-quality, patient-centred care and ongoing professional development.

Passionate interest in neuro-rehab and keen to learn and develop both themselves and the service.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver comprehensive physiotherapy assessment and treatment for patients with complex neurological and rehabilitation needs.
• Use evidence-based interventions to support patients in achieving meaningful functional goals.
• Work closely within a skilled MDT including OTs, nurses, consultants, therapy assistants and neuro-psychology colleagues.
• Supervise Band 5 staff, students and rehabilitation assistants.
• Contribute actively to quality improvement, service development and audit projects.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in line with Trust and HCPC standards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional / Clinical responsibilities

• To work within Trust, Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Standards of Practice. To always adhere to personal and professional standards, which reflect credit on the profession and encourage others to do likewise.

• To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with the legal requirements, Trust guidelines and CSP Standards of Practice.

• To be responsible and accountable for management and implementation of patient care programmes for the physiotherapy services to patients in the identified areas of work and to input into trust wide care programmes.

• To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with complex presentations and to use clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence-based practice and rehabilitation expertise to determine appropriate care plan utilising specialist treatment skills and options.

• To formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans.

• To be responsible for own and department patient care plans and to be consulted frequently for expert advice and guidance by junior and senior team members and other health care professionals both within and outside the Trust.

• To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling.

• Able to interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, which may be conflicting, to form accurate diagnoses in the most highly complex types of conditions for patients in the designated area.
• To communicate with and educate patients in a way that it empowers them to make informed choices about the management of their condition and engages them in the planning and delivery of treatment.
• To take into account cultural, linguistic, medical, emotional, psychological and physical factors and utilise resources that are available to facilitate patient compliance.
• To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have high levels of anxiety, frustration and aggression caused by a variety of issues, such as pain or limited mobility.

Management and Leadership

• To be involved in policy and service development and implementation for the physiotherapy service and to ensure that quality standards and effectiveness of patient care are continually monitored and improved.

• To ensure as a specialist physiotherapist that designated staff implement policy and service developmental changes.

• To be responsible for protection, maintenance and repair of all equipment within Physiotherapy service and to ensure that designated staff attain competency prior to use.

• To provide clinical teaching and staff development of peers and other health professionals within this clinical area, across the trust and outside the organisation.

• To maintain service links with external NHS, voluntary and speciality related organisations to ensure seamless inpatient, outpatient and community based care.

• To support Band 5 and 3 staff when indicated in the management of challenging patients.

• To support Team Lead Physiotherapist and Clinical Lead Physiotherapist when indicated in the management of staff disciplinary matters.

Planning and organisation

• To plan and organise time efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management, appropriate use of time and scheduling of other tasks.
• To decide priorities for own work, balancing other patient related and professional demands, and ensure that these remain in accordance with those of the team as a whole.
• To deputise for the Team Lead Physiotherapist (Band 7) and to be responsible for efficient running of the Ontario ward physiotherapy service.
• To assist the senior staff in the planning and delivery of the service.
• To take the lead in planning and organising own appraisal reviews and arranging regular formal and informal meetings with physiotherapists, liaising with other senior staff as appropriate.

Communication

• To use advanced communication, implementing a range of verbal and non-verbal skills, with patients and carers to motivate, maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure an understanding of their condition.

• To communicate the condition-related clinical findings gained from assessment to carers, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team and other professions.

• To utilise a range of personal, external and technical resources for patients and carers that have communication difficulties. These may include non-English speakers, including those that require or decline interpreters and dysphasic or confused patients.

• To communicate with patients in a way that empowers them to make informed choices about the management of their condition and engages them in the planning and delivery of treatment. To take into account the factors that may prevent this engagement and utilise resources available that may facilitate communication.

• To clearly convey knowledge of assessment and treatment techniques, anatomy and physiology to patients and staff, both individually and in groups.

• To articulate the Physiotherapy perspective on a patient’s condition to the MDT.

• To use advanced communication skills to frequently manage and resolve difficult situations, at times involving aggressive or challenging behaviour from patient or carers.