[ref. l27668202] Physiotherapy Assistant
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is one of the top performing organisations within the NHS. Our staff think this is a great place to work and we hope you will agree. We have recently been rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following our most recent inspection.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Royal Leamington Spa and Shipston-on Stour to Community Services across the whole county. This includes our Community Teams in North Warwickshire.
We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity. Over 6000 people work for the Trust and many of them have been here a long time. People find they don’t need to go elsewhere to find a fulfilling career in healthcare.
The first thing you will notice about us is how we take our values seriously. We believe that our values underpin everything we do. If you are interested in a role with us you need to make sure our values match your own.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide inclusive, safe, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work.It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Probationary Period
All new staff to the Trust will be subject to a standard 6 month probationary period, the details of which will duly follow in your contract of employment.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a positive and inclusive working environment for all our employees. Our aim is to ensure that employees are equally valued and respected and that our organisation is representative of all members of society.We define diversity as valuing everyone as an individual – we value our employees, job applicants, students, patients and visitors as people. This is reflected within our values of being Inclusive, Safe, Effective, Compassionate and Trusted.
Agile and Flexible Working
All our staff will have a work base. However the Trust operates as an Agile Working Team therefore staff may be working from home on a regular basis as required by the service. However, occasionally travel around Warwickshire and into your base will be required so access to your own transport would be helpful.
The Trust also welcome staff to work flexibly and we would welcome the conversation at interview regarding flexible working.
Staff Benefits
The Trust offer a wide range of additional benefits to staff. Anyone who joins us on a substantive basis can assess things such as the Lease Car Scheme, Electronics Scheme, Discounted Leisure and Travel, Cycle to work scheme amongst many others available.
Car Parking
The Trust have recently completed the construction of a multi-storey car park at our Warwick Hospital site which has allowed us to reduce waiting times for car parking passes.
To keep up to date on our latest recruitment activity follow us on twitter @swftrecruit or look us up on Facebook (Recruitment - South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust).
Job overview
We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, well-motivated physiotherapy assistant to work as part of our community hospital physiotherapy team. The successful candidate will be joining a supportive team, which operates as part of a greater multi-disciplinary service.The team cares for people with a wide range of medical, surgical, and orthopaedic rehabilitation needs ensuring a varied, interesting and challenging workload.
Band 3 responsibilities include supporting qualified therapists with patient treatments, working independently with patients practising transfers and mobility, teaching and practising exercises, devising and producing exercise plans with guidance from a physiotherapist, monitoring and maintaining stock levels, and IT and admin tasks.
The successful candidate will be fully supported to establish a full understanding of the role and be provided with opportunity for ongoing learning and development to improve clinical skills and knowledge.
Main duties of the job
To support physiotherapists and work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide a high quality Physiotherapy service within South Warwickshire.
To provide some administrative support to the department.
To contribute to the physiotherapy out of hours service.
Working for our organisation
Come and join a Trust rated Outstanding by the CQC. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust have been rated as outstanding following our latest inspection by the CQC and we are recruiting new staff to come and help us improve even further.In addition our staff survey results have placed us 4th in the country for recommended place to work.
We provide services across Warwickshire and beyond ranging from Hospitals in Warwick, Stratford-Upon-Avon and Royal Leamington Spa, to Community Services across the county. We are a progressive, expanding organisation with great ambition around improving quality, integrating pathways and delivering high levels of productivity.
Our values can be summed up in one sentence. We are ‘Trusted to provide safe, inclusive, effective and compassionate care’. Throughout the recruitment process you will be asked to think about how you demonstrate these values and how they impact on your work.It doesn’t matter what role you do, whether it is patient facing or not, we are all working in the same way with our values at the core.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical
To gain informed consent for treatment in accordance with Trust policy. This will frequently be to patients/carers and relatives who may have diverse or complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. deafness, dysphasia, depression, chronic pain, etc.and will require use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools.
To develop and deliver physiotherapy treatment programmes using guidelines set by qualified physiotherapists. E.g. patient education, exercise programmes, or classes.
Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if necessary following discussion with qualified Physiotherapists.
To ensure own competency prior to using any medical device e.g. gym equipment, hoists and mobility aids.
To ensure own competency when issuing equipment to patient e.g. patient appliances, splints and other aids.
Maintain accurate documentation both written and electronic in accordance with professional (CSP), legal and Trust guidelines.
To hold responsibility for own caseload within a defined area of the service and work without direct supervision.
To maintain a clean, tidy and safe environment and equipment both in Trusts premises or clients home, having due respect for Health and Safety.
To use and apply clinical knowledge and experience to assess and manage clinical risk within the limits of own scope of practice.
To work within infection control guidelines to ensure that therapy/treatment/care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the healthcare professional to the client or to any persons visiting/working in Trust premises.
Support other physiotherapy assistants as required.
To collect clinical data relevant to the service, as required.
To achieve and maintain necessary competencies require to fulfil the role.
Communication
To communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives on an individual or group basis to maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and non-verbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance.
To be committed to a team approach in order to provide continuity and efficiency of service provision.
To liaise with multidisciplinary team/colleagues/medical nursing staff as required.
Take formal handover from wards in the absence of the Physiotherapist.
Other
To order general stores articles and equipment required by the department and maintain adequate stocks of such equipment, liaising with manager for authorisation.
To carry out administrative duties as required, working collaboratively with clerical staff i.e. data input, typing, filing, provide reception cover etc.
To attend any meetings as designated by senior physiotherapists.
To identify opportunities to improve the physiotherapy service in order to provide the best patient care within the available resources.
To contribute to the out of hours service.
Physical & Mental Effort
Physical Effort –The post holder will be required to use moderate physical effort throughout a number of short periods during the day, such as moving patients and equipment.
Mental Effort – The working pattern will be unpredictable and there will be a requirement for frequent concentration with patients.
Emotional Effort –There will be frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances with some occasional exposure to highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Education to GCSE level or equivalent
- Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio – including certificates from relevant courses or training
- Willingness to work towards the Care Certificate
- NVQ Level 3 or willingness to work towards
- Membership of CSP
Experience
Essential criteria- Previous experience as physiotherapy assistant or equivalent
- Experience of working as part of a team
- Experience of working in acute hospital environment
Skills
Essential criteria- Competent IT skills (Word, Email)
- Able to present information, written and orally in an accurate clear and logical manner
- Ability to organise prioritise and delegate
- Ability to comprehend and work within the trust’s policies of data protection, equal opportunities and health and safety and meet the differing needs of the patients
- Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes
- Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers
- Problem solving
- Excellent command of the English language
- Good written, verbal and non-verbal communication skills
- Experience of supervising other staff
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria- Able to work as a team member
- Flexible
- Empathetic
- Reliable
Other
Essential criteria- Passes Occupational Health clearance and police checks
- Able to carry out moderate physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
- Available to work at weekends on rota system
- Car driver and independent means of transport
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sometimes we get a lot of applications for our roles. On those occasions we might close the job early. If you don’t want to miss out we recommend submitting your application as early as possible.
The Trust use an Applicant Management System called TRAC which helps us manage the recruitment process. All communications regarding your application will come via TRAC (even if you applied via NHS Jobs).
Please check your TRAC account regularly and ensure your email is set up to accept messages so they don't go into your junk/spam folder.
We aim to shortlist all vacancies within 2 days of the vacancy closing, we will get back to all candidates ASAP.
Please ensure all sections of the application form are completed fully. Please particularly ensure that you provide full details of all referees including business email address, telephone contact details and postal address.
South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust is an equal opportunities employer who is committed to Equality and Diversity and does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the grounds of any protected characteristic as defined by the Equality Act 2010.
All South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust sites are smoke free. We feel it’s a great way to help our patients, visitors and staff stay healthy.
The Trust is part of a ‘Foundation Group’ through a strategic alliance with Wye Valley NHS Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. This partnership is great for the sustainability of all four organisations and allows us to share learning and maximise opportunities to ensure the delivery of high quality health and care services for our local populations.