Surgical Physiotherapy Assistant

We have a exciting role for a Physiotherapy Assistant to join our friendly Physiotherapy team. You will play a key role in facilitating patients to reach their goals and discharge from Wexham Park Hospital, with a key support role in the inpatients team., Following appropriate training and completion of competencies, you will play a key role in the rehabilitation of patients recovering from general surgery. Working under the guidance of qualified physiotherapists, you will:

• Assist patients in restoring mobility and functional independence
• Carry out selected mobility and balance assessments
• Progress patients' mobility and exercise programmes
• Independently manage and discharge appropriate patients
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) handovers
• Identify patients for your caseload and escalate those needing physiotherapist review

You will receive regular supervision and ongoing support to ensure you feel confident and competent in your role.

• Assist patients in restoring mobility and functional independence
• Carry out selected mobility and balance assessments
• Progress patients' mobility and exercise programmes
• Independently manage and discharge appropriate patients
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team (MDT) handovers
• Identify patients for your caseload and escalate those needing physiotherapist review

• Monitoring and ordering clinical supplies
• Cleaning and safety checks of physiotherapy equipment
• Supporting the organisation of cleaning rotas
• Contributing to the monthly physiotherapy assistant team meetings
• Getting involved in the care certificate process, and after a period of training to be responsible unsupervised for implementing the standards and policies relevant to the speciality working within codes of practice and professional guidelines
• Within specific guidelines and following training, to be solely responsible and accountable for a clinical case load working within codes of practice and professional guidelines
• Following appropriate training you will teach basic breathing exercise for preventative management of post-surgical respiratory complications in patients with a "normal" respiratory assessment/screen
• Following appropriate training you will complete transfer assessment & practice with other members of the MDT for patients after amputation surgery
• You will have the opportunity to assist qualified physiotherapist with out-patient treatments following amputation surgery
• To seek advice from Senior staff when progression of a specialised programme of treatment is required, deterioration in the patient's progress has occurred, or uncertain on how to proceed
• To demonstrate a physical ability to carry out physiotherapy interventions and therapeutic handling without direct supervision
• There is frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods of time during a day
• To be responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties adhering to the department's medical devices policy

• After a period of time in post, to be delegated a caseload to treat on a daily basis, including possible urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns, liaising with the Senior Physiotherapist
• With some assistance to manage potentially upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner
• To work well within the Outpatients team and MDT to provide an efficient and effective service
• To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to your line manager and the Physiotherapy Manager immediately
• To be responsible for cleaning and checking the conditions of relevant equipment

• To undertake administrative duties e.g. basic reception desk cover when necessary, photocopying etc
• Ordering office / physiotherapy supplies as needed
• Collect and manage patient feedback questionnaires / responses
• After instruction, use EPIC for making/changing patient appointments and registering new patients
• After instruction, locate/enter patient notes on EPIC electronic notes system
• To organise archiving / retrieval of patient notes, which are stored off site as and when required

Please refer to the job description and person specification for further information relating to this role.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) is proud of its strong reputation, record of achievement and ambition for the future. We serve a population of over 900,000 people across Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey and South Buckinghamshire, and remain committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Our new organisational strategy - FHFT 2030 - sets out our ambition to be the best place to receive care and the best place to work in the NHS. Underpinned by our Trust values - Committed to Excellence, Working Together, Facing the Future, and being a modern, compassionate, Healthcare Organisation - we are creating a culture where our people can thrive and patients always come first.

We continue to invest heavily in our services and facilities. This includes the development of a new hospital at Frimley Park, major expansion of diagnostics and inpatient capacity, and the continued transformation of services across our sites. We have already delivered a brand-new £100m state-of-the-art Heatherwood Hospital, a £49m Emergency Assessment Centre at Wexham Park, and a £10m upgrade to maternity services.

We are also committed to sustainability and the NHS Net Zero ambition. Our new hospital and estate developments are being designed to be environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and future-proofed, featuring on-site renewables energy and intelligent energy systems. Through our green plan, we are embedding sustainable practices across all areas of care and operations, ensuring we reduce our environmental impact while improving population health and wellbeing. Our staff are key to helps us deliver on our ambition and to ensure sustainability is a core component of care delivery and our operations.

Alongside estates' investments, we are embedding a strong focus on digital innovation and quality improvement. Our electronic patient record (Epic), launched in 2024, is already enabling safer, more connected, and more effective care for patients, while giving staff the tools they need to do their best work. Our electronic patient record also supports safe and effective digitised care pathways, savings time and carbon, whilst delivering excellent quality of care.

Everything we do is guided by our values, shaping how we care for patients, support colleagues, and build a sustainable future for healthcare together.

We are looking for candidates with good communication skills and the ability to work flexibly. Good written, computer, organisational and time management skills are essential. The successful candidates should be able to work independently and as part of a team.

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust is committed to being an inclusive and disability confident employer and has been awarded the Gold for the Armed Forces Employment Recognition Scheme. We provide first class development opportunities for all staff and have a wide range of professional, management and leadership, and clinical skills training available.

Here at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, we know how important it is to have a healthy work life balance; this benefits not only individuals but the patients we care for too.

We encourage applications from people who wish to work on a flexible basis, recognising that flexibility may mean a range of different working patterns and hours, we do our utmost to work with our staff to meet their needs and the needs of our service and its users.

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Please include in your supporting information section of your application your understanding of a Band 3 role within the NHS and also include any experience you feel relevant to this role.