Communication and Working Relationship Skills To work as clinical specialist in Learning Disability Physiotherapy with the responsibility for a specialist caseload and to provide advance clinical supervision for the Physiotherapy team. To deputise for the Lead Physiotherapist for Learning Disabilities, taking the lead on delegated tasks and providing relevant feedback and reports as required to ensure the progress and development of the service. To communicate effectively when imparting comprehensive information relating to diagnosis, prognosis, physical and functional recovery and lifestyle adjustments to patients and their relatives/carers. To spontaneously use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to discuss complex information about underlying influences, diagnosis, prognosis, progression of rehabilitation and treatment programmes with patient or carer. To confidently communicate with patients who may have difficulties relating to complex emotional, psychological as well as physical conditions relating to the presenting complaint. This client group includes those who have difficulties in understanding or communicating, clients may have severe sensory impairment or challenging behaviour. Demonstrate advanced skills in motivating, negotiating, counselling and training and the ability to adjust communication as required in the situation. Confidently communicate with clients, relatives and carers as well as other health and social care staff including Devon Partnership staff, Residential Home Staff, Day Services staff and Educational staff. Analytical and Judgemental Skills To take a lead role in the advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of learning disabled patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, psychological and behavioural conditions, to provide a diagnosis and prognosis to formulate and deliver a specialised physiotherapy treatment programme. This includes the appropriate selection of referrals for inclusion in a range of treatment programmes, one to one sessions using advanced communication, questioning and reasoning skills. To be responsible for accurate and timely recording of information on assessment, interventions and decisions. To produce letters, reports and discharge summaries in line with the Trust Record Keeping Policy. To assist the Lead Physiotherapist in monitoring the standard of Physiotherapy assessment and intervention and the use of audit to provide evidence of improvement in services To analyse and make judgements on competing and conflicting demands and formulate actions to ensure that the Physiotherapy service is delivered and resourced effectively. To share information and advice with Lead Physiotherapist relating to service planning, changes of clinical practice and complaints. Demonstrate highly advanced problem solving and clinical reasoning skills. Ability to maintain judgement under pressure. Planning and Organisational Skills To co-ordinate core group and service review meetings to integrate physiotherapy management in to the overall management plan. This may involve health, education and social care staff, voluntary and private sector. This will involve providing highly specialist advice to the multi-disciplinary team on management of physical recovery and discussion of patient care, progress and discharge planning. To be responsible for organising and planning a complex caseload to meet the service and patient priorities. This may include setting up complex physiotherapy and hydrotherapy programmes, trialling equipment, training staff etc Be responsible for the clinical supervision and co-ordination of less experienced physiotherapists, students and assistants. To confidently delegate and work closely with physiotherapists and assistant physiotherapists to ensure the professional and efficient provision of the Physiotherapy service. Be responsible for organising loan and trial of equipment such as standing frames, walking aids, postural support systems and orthotics, ordering definitive equipment as required. Clinical workload involves daily lone working, assessing and managing the risk. Ensuring the safety of less experienced staff in these settings. Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy To take a lead role in the advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of learning disabled patients with diverse presentations and complex physical, psychological and behavioural conditions. To provide a diagnosis and prognosis to formulate and deliver a specialised physiotherapy treatment programme. This includes the appropriate selection of referrals for inclusion in a range of treatment programmes, one to one sessions using advanced communication, questioning and reasoning skills. To educate, train and supervise physiotherapists, physiotherapy assistants, students and other health education and social care professionals in physiotherapeutic management of clinical conditions and physiotherapy record keeping. To be responsible for safe and competent assessment, provision and use of physiotherapy equipment, wheelchairs, standing frames, walking aids, orthotics, gym equipment and postural management equipment by patients ensuring that less experienced physiotherapy staff and assistants attain competency prior to use. Assess patient and parent/carers understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid formal consent and jointly agreed goals. Consent may be gained from the client using total communication skills and from the parents, carers or medical panel where a client has severe barriers to understanding. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. Advanced communication skills are needed to impart and understand communication, such as signing, symbols, gesture and electronic communication aids. To teach and assess carers competency to carry out physiotherapy treatment programmes. To maintain accurate comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal, departmental and CSP standards of practice. To communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports, letters or verbally Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation To comply with and be involved in reviewing, updating and implementing, as appropriate, national and local policies and procedures.. To have an advanced understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for services, including experience of quality issues and audit. To work closely with the lead physiotherapist and other service managers in the development of the Physiotherapy service. To participate in working parties and subgroups developing policy changes within Learning Disability services. To represent Physiotherapy and the Devon Partnership Trust at local, regional and national level, in the form of lectures, presentation, training, higher education and professional body working parties. Responsibility for Finance, Equipment and Other Resources Be responsible for ordering and maintaining equipment and consumables To be a prescriber of community equipment, assessing, providing, monitoring and evaluating the use of complex equipment and ensure responsible use of funding. To be an authorised signatory for special orders of complex and high value equipment Report any health and safety issues to the Lead Physiotherapist Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practise in learning disability physiotherapy, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types as required. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and appraiser and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies. To provide an environment commensurate with lifelong learning. To take an active role in the in-service training programme by attendance at, participation in and contribution to in-service training programmes, tutorials, delivering individual training sessions, external courses, peer review and undertaking reflective practice. Provide regular supervision and support, caseload allocation and co-ordination and training and learning opportunities to qualified and assistant staff. Act as a Physiotherapy student supervisor and liaise with relevant Higher Education staff. Ensure efficient management of time and resources Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties Ensure all records are up to date and compliant with the data protection act and Trust recording standards Use all available IT applications to enhance the communication of treatment plans to users, care providers and carers Responsibility for Research and Development Undertake evidenced-based audit and research projects to further own and teams clinical practice. Make recommendations to the Lead Physiotherapist for changes to practice by the Learning Disability Physiotherapy team and Devon Partnership Trust. To take the lead in the implementation of specific changes to practice and contribute to service protocols. Freedom to Act Work autonomously following protocols and professional standards from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists. Expected results are defined but the post holder decides how they are best achieved and is guided by principles and broad occupational policies or regulations. Guidance may be provided by peers or external reference points.