*********PLEASE COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM FULLY, CV'S ARE NOT ACCEPTED*********** Principal Duties and Responsibilities PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE The Physiotherapist, Clinical Specialist will: Clinical Practice Work as a first contact practitioner to provide clinical leadership and expertise, in telephone triage, assessment and treatment of patients presenting with a new fracture with close collaboration of the orthopaedic team. Demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills within musculoskeletal physiotherapy and fracture management. Demonstrate evidence based practice through the process of clinical reasoning and decision making, allowing knowledge to be applied to complex/different situations. Assess and review patients with defined diagnosis at Orthopaedic Fracture clinic in the place of NCHDs. Be responsible for a clinical caseload. Ensure a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, treatment and management is provided for patients under his/her care and ensure that professional standards of practice are adhered to. Ensure the privacy and dignity of the patient is respected at all times. Work within the multidisciplinary team ethos and liaise with staff to ensure that effective communication takes place at all times. Undertake other duties within the hospital as specified by the Physiotherapy Manager which may include maintaining their own ward competency level and taking part in the on-call rota and weekend rotas. Keep abreast of research and practice developments in relevant clinical areas by attending seminars, conferences and post graduate courses. Promote changes in work practices, procedures, techniques or technology having regard to the development of best practice and advanced practice in physiotherapy. Communicate with other clinical specialists nationally and internationally to further develop clinical excellence and research. Act as resource in his/her specialist clinical area to physiotherapists and other health care professionals regarding the management of problematic cases, both within the hospital and on a national level. Serve on and advise such committees that may be set up relevant to this area of clinical specialty. Undertake other appropriate responsibilities consistent with the nature of the post. Working Practice Record, collate and submit statistics including key performance indicators for the service within agreed timeframes. Put in place evaluating mechanisms appropriate to the specialist area and continually audit and evaluate the service with a view to maximising effectiveness, efficiency and quality. Collaborate and effectively communicate with the Physiotherapy Manager and Multidisciplinary Team regarding referral pathways to the specialist area and patient management to ensure a safe, effective and efficient service. Build and maintain effective working relationships with other physiotherapists in the region and other health professionals and attend multidisciplinary, clinical interest group and staff meetings etc.
where required. Promote changes in work practices, procedures, techniques or technology having regard to the development of best practice and advanced practice in physiotherapy. Be aware of resource management and contribute to business planning and continuous quality improvement related to the Physiotherapy Department and the Orthopaedic Service. Advise the Physiotherapy Manager on matters relevant to the optimal functioning of the Physiotherapy Service in the specialist area and in service development of the Physiotherapy Department. Assist in the setting and monitoring of clinical standards, policies and procedures, evaluation of clinical practice, quality control & clinical audit. Build and maintain good relationships with other services in the HSE Southern Area and with agencies, both statutory and voluntary. Undertake other responsibilities as agreed from time to time with the Physiotherapy Manager or other such persons to whom he/she may be accountable to. Carry out other duties appropriate to the office, which the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time determine, subject to any directions of the Minister for Health and Children. Attend at such times as may be fixed by the HSE Southern Area at the hospital and at other such institutions and clinics as the HSE Southern Area may from time-to-time direct, and to remain in attendance there so long as his/her services are required Support service provision within orthopaedics & specifically fracture management in helping to provide leave cover as agreed with the physiotherapy manager. Observe confidentiality requirements: in the course of their employment the post holder will have access to information regarding the personal affairs of patients or staff.
Such information is strictly confidential.
Unless acting on the instruction of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning patients, staff or health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty.
In addition, records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them.
Records must be stored in safe custody when no longer in use. Documentation Maintain comprehensive and accurate patient and activity records in line with national documentation standards. Compile and prepare reports intermittently as requested. Compile reports of a legal nature where necessary, based on the documented physiotherapeutic care of the patient. Quality, Safety and Risk Management Physiotherapist, Clinical Specialist will: Comply with the delivery of standards in the assessment, treatment and management of patients within his/her assigned area in line with international best practice guidelines. Contribute to the development of and compliance with policy and procedure in the relevant clinical areas Lead, promote and ensure clinical effectiveness of physiotherapy in the management of fractures through performance management, education, audit and research Develop service in line with best practice developments in the field of orthopaedic physiotherapy Advise the Physiotherapy Manager/Consultants in Orthopaedics on the needs of the service Contribute to forward planning and development of fracture management Clinical Pathways Be familiar with and uphold the policies and principles of the Safety Statement, HSE Risk Management and professional guidelines Identify, assess and report any risk and contribute to the management and review of all risks Participate as required in Occupational Health and Safety training Document all accidents, incidents and potential hazards to patients or staff immediately and report them to the Physiotherapy Manager and Consultants in Orthopaedics Be aware of and adhere to relevant standards, policies and legislation, for example, Health and Safety, Freedom of Information Act 1997, Childcare Act, HIQA standards as they apply to the role. Planning, Organisation and Performance Physiotherapist, Clinical Specialist will: Work as part of the multidisciplinary team in the design, planning, organisation and delivery of fracture management services. Keep accurate written and/or electronic records on the assessment, treatment, outcome and other information relevant to patients Record, collate and submit statistics including key performance indicators for the programme within agreed timeframes Participate in relevant service and professional meetings Participate in relevant recruitment and selection, induction, staff development, and performance and review within the orthopaedic service Communication Leadership and Team Work Physiotherapist, Clinical Specialist will: Work as part of the physiotherapy and multidisciplinary team. Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings Lead and develop strong links with Orthopaedic Consultants Negotiate evidence based changes in clinical practice to deliver improved clinical pathways. Continue to build on already existing links with community based services both locally and regionally to deliver improved clinical pathways Ensure timely communication and collaboration with the Physiotherapy Manager and the Multi-disciplinary Team. Build and maintain good relationships with relevant stakeholders Serve on and advise such committees as appropriate Attend and participate in staff meetings. Undertake other responsibilities as are agreed from time to time with the Physiotherapy Manager or other such person to whom he/she may be accountable. Deputise for the Physiotherapy Manager as required. Education and Development Physiotherapist, Clinical Specialist will: Be required to evaluate and disseminate evidence based practice in the broad area of fracture management thereby influencing clinical practice Develop multidisciplinary education and training courses in fracture management & orthopaedics. Initiate and participate in own continuous professional development and performance management with the Physiotherapy Manager Contribute to the continuing professional development activities programmes of the orthopaedic physiotherapy services Attend where possible relevant post graduate courses and lectures Co-operate in the provision of safe and productive clinical placements in accordance with the departments commitment to clinical training programmes Serve as a resource to other staff in this area of clinical speciality at local and regional level Manage, participate and play a role in the practise education of student therapists. KPI's The identification and development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which are congruent with the hospital's service plan targets. The development of Action Plans to address KPI targets. Driving and promoting a Performance Management culture. In conjunction with line manager assist in the development of a Performance Management system for your profession. The management and delivery of KPI's as a routine and core business objective. Please Note the Following General Conditions: Employees must attend fire lectures periodically and must observe fire orders. All accidents within the Department must be reported immediately. Infection Control Policies must be adhered to. In line with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 all staff must comply with all safety regulations and audits. In line with the Public Health (Tobacco) (Amendment) Act 2004, smoking within the Hospital Buildings is not permitted. Hospital uniform code must be adhered to. Provide information that meets the need of Senior Management. To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service. Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety The management of Risk, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety is the responsibility of everyone and will be achieved within a progressive, honest and open environment. The post holder must be familiar with the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet this responsibility. The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate in the following areas: o Quality Improvement Initiatives
o Document Control Information Management Systems
o Risk Management Strategy and Policies
o Hygiene Related Policies, Procedures and Standards
o Decontamination Code of Practice
o Infection Control Policies
o Safety Statement, Health & Safety Policies and Fire Procedure
o Data Protection and confidentiality Policies
The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they become familiar with the requirements stated within the Risk Management Strategy and that they comply with the Group's Risk Management Incident/Near miss reporting Policies and Procedures. The post holder is responsible for ensuring that they comply with hygiene services requirements in your area of responsibility.
Hygiene Services incorporates environment and facilities, hand hygiene, catering, cleaning, the management of laundry, waste, sharps and equipment. The post holder must foster and support a quality improvement culture through-out your area of responsibility in relation to hygiene services. The post holder must take reasonable care for his or her own actions and the effect that these may have upon the safety of others. The post holder must cooperate with management, attend Health & Safety related training and not undertake any task for which they have not been authorised and adequately trained. The post holder is required to bring to the attention of a responsible person any perceived shortcoming in our safety arrangements or any defects in work equipment. It is the post holder's responsibility to be aware of and comply with the HSE Health Care Records Management/Integrated Discharge Planning (HCRM / IDP) Code of Practice. Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role. Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service. The above Job Specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other uties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.