Job Description

An Assistant Practitioner will work as a member of the Community Physiotherapy Team within the Gloucester Integrated Community Team to assist with specific duties, taking responsibility for their own workload. They will assess, implement and progress a patient treatment programme within assessed competencies. They will work jointly with qualified physiotherapists for complex patients, but also as a lone practitioner.



The Assistant Practitioner will hold their own caseload for which they are responsible in the treatment progression and implementation. They will be required to undertake initial assessments that have been triaged as appropriate by a Qualified Physiotherapist.



They will be required to support the Physiotherapists with administration, clerical and housekeeping duties.



We have a skilled and dedicated workforce of over 5000 colleagues working in a diverse range of services over 55 sites and within people's homes. We strive to enable a welcoming workplace culture that builds and celebrates civility, inclusivity and diversity, while providing a sense of belonging and trust.



Annual staff surveys, regular Pulse surveys and other engagement opportunities provide our people with lots of opportunity to tell us about their experiences of working with us. In the latest staff survey, 61% of colleagues gave us their views. It was great to hear that:



72% of colleagues would recommend the Trust as a place to work, ranking us 1st for Provider Trusts in the South West region on this question.



76% would recommend the standard of care provided in our services if a friend or relative needed treatment, also ranking us 1st in the South West region.



81% said that care of patients and service users is the Trust's priority, compared with an average in comparable NHS Trusts in England of 64%.



This high-level overview shows we are in a healthy position, with higher scores than average for comparable organisations, alongside a great response rate, indicating good staff engagement. However, we also know we have plenty of room for improvement in many areas. To that end, we continue to prioritise and invest in our commitment to genuinely becoming a Great Place to Work with consistent top-quartile performance in the annual staff survey and Pulse surveys.



Following initial triage and review of the referral by a Registered Physiotherapist in the Integrated Community Team:



To complete a comprehensive patient assessment. To interpret the assessment information and plan the treatment accordingly. To be able to formulate patient centred goals and document them accordingly and select and use appropriate outcome measures in order to measure the effectiveness of their intervention. To devise and implement patient therapeutic treatment programmes, as well as regularly monitoring, evaluating, analysing and modifying them without needing prior consultation with a qualified physiotherapist. To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating for example, hearing loss, altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia, pain, fear or the inability to accept diagnosis. To assess for, issue, adjust and demonstrate a range of patient equipment to promote independence within a competency framework. To provide guidance and instruction, and relay information regarding the aims of Physiotherapy intervention to patients/relatives/carers. Employ effective time management skills to organise and prioritise caseload, under the guidance of a Physiotherapist. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date clinical records in accordance with Trust and National Guidelines. Ensure all written and electronic records and activity data are accurate and maintained in accordance with professional and Trust standards. To be able to complete referrals on to appropriate services eg, other members of the ICT, specialist services, orthotics. To conduct a moving and handling risk assessment of non-complex patients.

Professional



Maintain accurate written records in line with Professional standards, as well as statistics to ensure that service user details and details of the assessment/interventions delivered is recorded in the Trust database(s) in line with Trust policies. To take personal responsibility for lifelong learning through reflective practice, participation in the appropriate competency programme and attendance at local in-service training as identified within a personal development plan. Any other appropriate task as required by the Integrated Community Team

Leadership



To supervise less experienced Physiotherapy Assistants and to support them with learning and development. * To support Physiotherapists with the learning and development of Physiotherapy students whilst on placement.