PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT

Job description – Senior Community Physiotherapist – Paediatrics/Learning

Disabilities

1. JOB IDENTIFICATION

Job Title: Senior Physiotherapist – Paediatrics/Learning

Disabilities

Grade:

Accountable to: Physiotherapy Manager

Responsible to: Physiotherapy Manager

Job Holder reference:

Number of Job Holders: 1

2. ORGANISATIONAL CHART ATTACHED

3. JOB PURPOSE

The highly specialised Paediatric/Learning Disability (LD) Physiotherapy service

provides a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, treatment and advice to
patients, carers and families throughout the Isle of Lewis and Harris. Undertaking the
lead role in the assessment, diagnosis and formulation of physiotherapy treatment
plans. The caseload encompasses all aspects of community Paediatrics/adult LD and
is a mixture of both ages and conditions.

Working as the only Paediatric/LD specialist practitioner, be the Physiotherapy lead

within the multi-disciplinary team, providing specialist advice to other specialist
health professionals, such as child psychologists, health visitors, GP’s and other social
care professionals, education services and others as necessary.

To act as a source of specialist advice for Physiotherapy staff and others, where
appropriate.

Work closely with Voluntary Agencies, Wheelchair Services, Orthotic Services,

education, medical staff and others to ensure the Physiotherapy treatment is fully
integrated into the patient care programmes.

4. PRINCIPLE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

To be responsible for own practice and accountable for all aspects of highly specialist
Paediatric/LD Physiotherapy treatment and care delivered to the patient, as an
autonomous practitioner and sole specialist.
Manage the physiotherapeutic treatment of children with a range of conditions,
including children with severe physical and cognitive the impairment or disabilities.

Manage the physiotherapeutic treatment of adults with Learning Disabilities,

including adults with severe physical and cognitive impairment or disabilities.

To undertake specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment as an autonomous

practitioner.

To act independently to assess, diagnose, and develop individual care/treatment plans

for a range of paediatric/learning disability clients, some of which will be highly
complex or will be for patients with complex clinical, social and psychiatric needs.

To act independently to plan, implement, evaluate, treat and progress patient care to
maximise the child’s potential, providing highly specialised advice, which contributes
to an accurate diagnosis.

To be responsible for reassessing patient care as treatment progresses and alter

treatment programmes as appropriate

To plan, organise and manage group activities, some of which are multidisciplinary.

To liase with a wide range of individuals, developing links with other community staff
to enhance patient care and provide continuity of service.

To educate staff within the Physiotherapy service, and other members of the
multidisciplinary team, to promote understanding of the role of physiotherapy, and
therapeutic techniques for specific children.

To educate, support and empower parents/carers to provide effective patient

management.

Be able to analyse clinical and social information from a range of sources and
integrate into physiotherapy assessment and development of care/treatment plans

To participate in all indirect activities associated with the holistic care of the
children/clients within the Physiotherapy caseload (e.g. wheelchair/orthotic/podiatry
clinics)

Be the main source of clinical expertise and advice for junior and less senior
physiotherapists in the team, regarding Paediatric and LD issues.

To provide specialist advice on patient care to other health, social, educational and
voluntary sector services as part of a multidisciplinary team. This may involve
challenging or requesting changes to treatment programmes/care plans set by other
paediatric professionals
Analyse and understand the impact on clients and physiotherapy treatment of various
treatment plans/diagnosis from other disciplines. This includes interpreting medical
and educational and psychological assessments of the patient

Be responsible for maintaining a high standard of clinical practice both for self and
other Physiotherapy staff, regarding paediatric or learning disability clients.

Be highly skilled in communicating with children and adults, who may have a range
of physical and psychological barriers to understanding.

Be able to motivate and persuade children of all ages with a range of complex
conditions/disabilities to work with treatment programmes and work towards
treatment goals.

Be able to communicate and motivate relatives, carers and members of the

multidisciplinary team to work towards rehabilitation goals.

To assess paediatric and learning disability clients for specialist equipment and
recommend its purchase by having an expert knowledge of the options available.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance, including the ability to

audit own and teams practice.

To use audit results, current research and government guidelines to recommend

changes to service delivery and to clinical practice, demonstrating evidence based link
to the development and improvement of clinical practice.

Lead on aspects of change in working and clinical practices of the physiotherapy

team. Ensure that where this impacts on the work of other health professionals or
services they are informed and assisted with managing the changes to work
organisation/service delivery.

Be responsible for initiating and participating in multi-disciplinary case

meetings/team meetings to discuss individual patients or groups of patients.

To work to standard set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and other national
and local standards.

Be responsible for maintaining accurate and up to date patient notes to reflect care
provided and meet professional standards, including complex reports involving
sensitive and emotive information e.g. Child Protection issues/severity of disability

Service development/Management

To participate in Western Isles Health Board/MDT working parties to develop clinical

and policy changes with regard to paediatric/learning disabilities clients. This may
involve being the lead physiotherapy contributor to local treatment protocols or
improvements to cross-organisational communication regarding patients.
To be responsible for monitoring and developing high service standards and patient
care.

Propose changes to service delivery within the paediatric team and implement when
necessary, acting in partnership with the Physiotherapy Department.

To develop, implement and maintain appropriate clinical guidelines ensuring clinical

effectiveness, where possible to maximise patient care.

To advise the Physiotherapy Manager on highly specialised paediatric/LD

physiotherapy treatments and all aspects of Physiotherapy care.

To monitor activity/workload and prioritise resources to meet demands.

To plan organise and prioritise own patient caseload and to teach and lead delegated
physiotherapy treatments, ensuring regular supervision when required.

Write reports in accordance with service procedures/guidelines and ensure timely

delivery to other members of the wider care team, including reports containing
sensitive and emotive information, e.g. child protection issues/severity of disability

Participate in Departmental appraisal and development review process.

Undertake own CPD, participate in peer reviews and maintain up to date knowledge
of speciality through research and work of clinical interest groups.

General

Be responsible for Physiotherapy equipment, ensuring it is safe to use, and ensuring

the safe use of equipment by patients during treatment.

Assess and provide appropriate paediatric equipment, i.e. standing frames, walkers,
specialised seating, wheelchairs, orthotics, sleep systems etc

Ensure good communication with patients and carers, demonstrating ability to deliver
difficult diagnosis with tact and sympathy. Providing ongoing support to families
during times of emotional distress. Managing distressed or aggressive patients or
carers in complex and sensitive situations.

Provides and receives information regarding assessment, diagnosis, prognosis and

treatment to encourage compliance.

Patients will have a wide range of medical and cognitive problems and require the
physiotherapist to utilise developed interpersonal skills to facilitate rehabilitation in
both an individual and group setting.

To attend and contribute verbally and write reports for Child Protection proceedings
as necessary, often dealing with highly sensitive information

To teach a range of patient management strategies to optimise patient care.

Deal with verbal complaints.

To network with appropriate physiotherapy colleagues and others to ensure delivery

of clinically effective care.

Use of Microsoft word processing for reports/documents/letters. E-mail for

communication and internet for information. PhysioTools program for providing
exercise intervention information to patients.

5, SUPPORTING INFORMATION

Physical effort

To comply with Physiotherapy Manual Handling policy at all times

To carry out physiotherapy assessment and treatment, requiring significant physical

effort on a daily basis, involving highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and
palpatory senses.

Assess and treat clients in difficult/cramped conditions at time, such as in their homes,
schools or in cluttered ward areas, when they are not able to come into the
Physiotherapy gym.

Assessing and treating clients involves kneeling, crouching, bending and stretching,
frequently and for a long duration on a daily basis.

Occasional exposure to unpleasant working conditions, e.g. bodily fluids, sputum,

vomit, urine, blood, wounds, MRSA

Frequent transportation of bulky equipment both in hospital and community settings

(often in poor weather conditions)

Frequent moving and handling of clients, both in the community and in hospital,
involving the use of hoists and other manual handling equipment.

Pushing wheelchairs/specialised seats

Use of keyboard skills.

Mental effort

Long periods of concentration daily, for approximately 5-6 hours, while assessing and
treating patients, often as a lone practitioner and therefore having to respond to
interruptions from other staff and the public

Frequently dealing with patients with complex needs, which requires highly
specialised clinical reasoning and communication skills to assess and treat.
Teaching clinical and manual skills to carers, parents and other staff, daily, for
approximately 4-5 hours daily

A wide diversity of conditions/specialities, which have to be seen and responded to

requiring a depth of knowledge, which has to be updated continuously.

Availability to all staff and public in remote areas, frequently being approached for
physiotherapy advice/opinion, both in work and own time, leading to daily
unpredictable working patterns

Emotional effort

Frequently providing unwelcome news to staff, patients or carers, e.g. regarding

limited outcome of rehabilitation or possible changes in lifestyle

Dealing on a daily basis with patients and carers in considerable distress.

Dealing on a daily basis with difficult social situations, where relatives/carers are not
coping with patients at home

Dealing regularly with patients and carers who can become angry, upset or aggressive.

Dealing with verbal complaints

Frequently deal with patients who are terminally ill

Exposure to a caseload, which includes children who die before adulthood.

Supporting parents/carers who have been advised of a child’s life limiting condition.

Having to give unwelcome news regarding limited expectations from treatment and
instruction in physiotherapy regimes, which will impact on school and family life.

To negotiate with parents and children to ensure optimum management and care of
patients.

Lone working often dealing with highly complex emotional/social situations in the
community with no immediate support.

Working conditions

At all times work as a sole Paediatric physiotherapy practitioner

Daily drive to remote/rural locations often enduring inclement weather, for

approximately 2-3 hours per day

On occasion be exposed to body fluids, vomit, blood, urine, MRSA, and sputum,
which may or may not be infected

6. STANDARD ELEMENTS
Confidentiality
 Comply with Western Isles NHS Board’s policy on confidentiality
 Respect the confidentiality and privacy of patients and staff at all times

Health and Safety

 To comply with all aspects of the Western Isles NHS Board’s health and safety
policies and to participate in mandatory training as required
 Maintain at all time a safe working environment and report any issues of
concern as appropriate

NHS Western Isles attaches the greatest importance to the health and safety of its
employees. It is the Board’s policy to do all that is reasonable to prevent personal
injury and hazard to health by protecting staff and others including the public from
foreseeable hazards compatible with the provision of proper services to patients. The
Board expects its entire staff to take reasonable care of their own health and safety
and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work. More
detailed information is given in Departmental safety policies where appropriate.

Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights

This involves:
a) Acting in ways consistent with the Board’s policies and procedures
b) Treating those you come into contact with equitably and with respect
c) Recognising the need for aids and adaptations

JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT

I,……………………………………………………………….confirm that the Job

Description(s)/Person Specifications(s) attached have been discussed with me and are
an accurate and up to date account of the duties and responsibilities and
skills/qualifications required to undertake the post.

Job Holders signature:………………………………………….Date:………………

Head of Department’s signature:………………………………...Date:……………

 Western Isles NHS Board

Physiotherapy Department

Person Specification – Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist

Qualifications

Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy

Post graduate courses relevant to paediatric speciality:

 Paediatric Bobath
 Child Development
 Specialist courses/study on conditions that affect child development, Neuro-
muscular, congenital, orthopaedics
 Knowledge of gait analysis and biomechanics

Experience

Minimum of 5 years post registration experience:

Minimum of 2 years experience at Senior level, working in a paediatric rotation plus
other relevant rotations e.g neuro developmental, neuro rehabilitation, paediatric
medicine, respiratory care, orthopaedics

2 years rotational junior experience across a broad range of rotations

Work in a community setting, delivering paediatric care

Casting and orthotics

Seating and postural management

Sound understanding of Child Protection procedures

Sound understanding of the process of statementing for special educational needs

Management and organisation

Experience in teaching junior and undergraduate physiotherapists

Experience of delegating work to physiotherapy assistants and junior staff

Experience of supervision of junior staff and physiotherapy assistants

Ability to prioritise, delegate and organise

Experience of and ability to work as part of a broad multi-disciplinary team/cross

organisational working
Professional

Member of the APCP (Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists)

Demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk

Able to demonstrate ability to audit own and others practice, have postgraduate
research skills

Be state registered (with Health Professions Council)

Demonstrate ability to provide professional/clinical leadership

Personal attributes

Ability to work as part of a team

Ability to demonstrate empathy, sensitivity and tact

Ability to communicate effectively with children of all ages and abilities

Knowledge of working in a remote and rural area

Other

Good IT skills

Current driving licence

Car owner