Senior Musculoskeletal PhysiotherapistinSt. HelensinSt. HelensPUBLISHED TUE 17 DEC 2024

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced senior physiotherapist who is passionate about delivering excellent standards of care, to join our committed Physiotherapy team at Fairfield Independent Hospital.

The successful post holder will work flexibly as part of a 7-day working rota according to the needs of the service, which will include weekends and on-call.

You will be treating a variety of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic disorders and have workload that includes in-patient and out-patient post-operative orthopaedic rehabilitation. You will be expected to deliver high quality physiotherapy assessments and deliver appropriate physiotherapy treatment programmes.

A Physiotherapy Degree or equivalent and HCPC professional registration is essential.

The role will involve the physiotherapy management of musculoskeletal/orthopaedic disorders. The caseload is variable and involves in-patient orthopaedic rehabilitation.

The main duties of the role are to assess and make treatment plans for individual patients and communicate this to them referring to other agencies if appropriate. You will evaluate patients progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.

You may have to work in isolation without support from other physiotherapy staff and so will require specialist knowledge of musculoskeletal disorders including orthopaedic surgery. A sound understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk is required.

About us

Main duties of the job

• To Assess and make treatment plans for individual patients. Communicating information to patients in a sensitive and understanding manner, which enables them to understand their condition and be able to ask relevant questions. Refer to other agencies if appropriate. Maintain records as an autonomous practitioner.
• To undertake a caseload to a high professional standard using highly developed and wide ranging specialist knowledge from theoretical and practical experience including postgraduate training.
• To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management and treatment of patients.
• To insure a high standard of clinical care for patients involving carers and relatives as necessary.
• To discuss assessment with consultants in order to initiate non-physiotherapeutic investigations where appropriate.
• Formulate and deliver an individual therapy management and/or treatment plan based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment sills. To evaluate patients progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required. Involve carers with treatment when appropriate, which can involve teaching and assessment of their ability to be involved.
• To adapt practice to meet individual patients circumstance, including due regard for cultural, social and linguistic differences.
• To be highly skilled in communicating effectively with patients and their relatives/carers to enable them to understand their condition, and to give sensitive/emotive information about diagnosis and or outcomes. Understanding and overcoming barriers to effective communication. E.g. loss of hearing, dysphasia, speech loss, inability to communicate in English, altered perception, pain and unrealistic expectations.
• To gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal/ethical framework with patients and relatives/carers.
• To work in isolation without support from other physiotherapy staff. This requires specialist knowledge of musculoskeletal disorders including orthopaedic surgery. You will be able to choose the most effective treatment/s for the individual patient.
• To encourage patients to follow self-treatment programmes to establish self-reliance and to use non-medical facilities in the community where appropriate.
• Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans, including appropriate referrals to other specialities.
• To demonstrate the physical ability to carry out treatments and interventions that requires exertion of moderate physical effort on a daily basis. This frequently includes heavy patients and confined spaces.
• Work within Hospital clinical and professional guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and clinical risk and to demonstrate this in daily practice.
• To be responsible for maintaining accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous patient treatment records in line with professional standards of practice.