Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Communication

• To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure effective communication with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g., medical notes and reports to assist achievement of patient centred goals and maximising the patient’s potential.
•   To communicate effectively with patients with a variety of communication difficulties e.g., blind, deaf, dysphasic, learning difficulties, dementia, and for people who do not have English as their first language. This will involve the effective use of verbal, written, pictorial, tactile and visual communication tools.
• To be able to communicate with patients effectively in both a one to one and a group or class setting. 
•    To liaise with other physiotherapists in regard to patient care and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged where required.
•      Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including exercises, mobility activities and advice and education with regards to patient condition.
•    Use empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients’ rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading / sharing of concerns and issues.
•     To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.

     ·     To be able to motivate others such as staff and patients through                  effective communication skills.    

•  Attend meetings as required to represent the Cardiac Rehab Service with regards to patient pathways and be able to make to decisions accordingly.
• To liaise with other team members and team lead with regards to day-to-day issues and department management e.g., staff shortages, increased patient caseload.
• To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc. To be able to manage situation sensitively, in accordance with trust policies and seeking senior support where required.
•  To be a patient advocate when required and liaise with those involved in patient care.      
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
• To attend and be an active participant in relevant peer group and departmental staff meetings.      
• To be aware of the standard information available for patients and use it appropriately.         
• Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact in line with CSP standards and local guidelines including university and multi-professional documentation.    
• To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups, appropriate to the clinical field.        
•  Respond promptly and appropriately to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mails received.

Service Delivery and Improvement

•  To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards, and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc.      
• To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Manager of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
• To work with the physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.         
• To propose and make changes to working practices in consultation with the team lead where applicable. To support the ongoing development and improvements of Physiotherapy services.        
• Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc.          
• To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies.          
• To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.        
• To identify areas where the service is not working as effectively or efficiently as possible and liaise with line manager, offering reasoned ideas for solutions.          
• To propose and make changes to working practices in consultation with the team lead where applicable. To support the ongoing development and improvements of Physiotherapy services.

People Management and Development

•  To assist in the supervision of various personnel such as Band 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy technicians, and physiotherapy students on clinical placements.         
• To share responsibility for the training of various personnel such as Band 5 physiotherapists, physiotherapy technicians, and physiotherapy students on clinical placements. Being proactive with teaching in practical situations, assisting with competencies, delivering good quality in-service training.          
• To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.       
• To carry out role as an appraisee by appraising staff in-line with department appraisal guidelines, at least annually and jointly helping devise learning needs, objectives, and development plans for staff.       To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives.        
•  To have a role in organising relevant in-service training programmes and supporting its delivery.          
• To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the trust and physio department objectives, plans, and vision.         
• To discuss expected outcomes of training and development activity with staff prior to attending training events.        
•  To discuss outcomes with staff after attending training and development activity and to assist staff to transfer, develop and use new skills acquired.          
• To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continued professional development activities and recording this in a portfolio and in the KSF document.         
• To keep abreast of all new developments which includes activities such as attending IST, relevant study days, visits to specialist units, attending relevant networks and reading relevant research and articles.          
• To be pro-active regarding learning from senior staff and peers within the department.