Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE:

To support leadership and work within the Pelvic & Breast Health team, providing an effective and evidence-based service through assessing, planning and implementing treatment programmes.

To deliver therapeutic intervention, acting as a specialist clinician within the specialty of Pelvic & Breast Health including perinatal pelvic health, by using the principles of Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way.

To assume responsibility for personal development and supporting the development and supervision of others including registered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students, therapy support workers and other members of the multidisciplinary team by CPD (continuing professional development), linked to appraisal. 

To support evaluation and service development in the clinical area in line with national and local drivers.

KEY RESULT AREAS:  

1. To use clinical reasoning skills and techniques to assess, diagnose, plan and offer a range of treatment options; deliver, evaluate and amend the treatment plan. This will include patients with diverse or complex presentations/multi-pathologies in individual or group therapy sessions. Working as an autonomous practitioner with access to guidance from the clinical lead therapist when necessary. To undertake internal (vaginal/anorectal) examinations as part of a pelvic floor dysfunction assessment.

2. To be responsible for the organisation of own caseload and appropriately delegate to junior therapists and support workers.  To ensure the team is effective in the day to day running of the clinical area.

3. To communicate with the multi disciplinary team (MDT) to aid effective patient care, which will include taking an active role in team meetings, joint treatment sessions, case conferences and specialist interest group meetings. Either working alone or as part of the multi-disciplinary team, to make recommendations for appropriate management.

4. To develop clinical reasoning and treatment techniques through the active participation in training and development. To consolidate knowledge and skills learned through this process with the direction of senior staff, and deliver evidence-based training. This will involve facilitating own learning opportunities, reflecting on practice and learning through this process.

5. To participate in the supervision, caseload monitoring and clinical education of therapists, support workers and undergraduate students. Providing support, guidance, training, and assessing and evaluating competence, in order to fulfil clinical governance requirements and retain a skilled workforce. To progress to participating in the undergraduate education process, as a clinical educator for undergraduates from the University of the West of England or other universities. This involves the assessment of student’s competency to practice and contributes to their BSc honours award in the defined profession. 

6. To maintain clear, accurate and concise patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures. This will include writing patient reports for e.g., medical practitioners and solicitor’s requests.

7. To support audit and research projects, to further own and team’s clinical practice. To be involved in making recommendations for changes to practice and procedures for the relevant clinical area, and the implementation of these changes.

8. To contribute to the Clinical Governance and Quality agenda by active participation in service initiatives, health and safety and risk management.

9. To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g.  Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and  patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.

COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

1. To communicate effectively with patients and carers potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information; in order to provide patient centred care, to encourage self-management, maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of the condition.  Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties.

2. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, other allied health professions and other colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.

MOST CHALLENGING PART OF THE JOB:

Dealing with an unpredictable workload and ensuring priorities are met especially during times of staff shortages.

Balancing the day-to-day clinical work with the non-clinical responsibilities of the post. 

Managing stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner including managing own stress and developing resilience.

Taking responsibility for the supervision and appraisal of undergraduates, support workers and less experienced staff.

Working within a changing national and local context and adapting to meet these demands. Patient to take part in rehabilitation and to promote independence, when there may be reluctance or communication difficulties.