Physiotherapy Assistant

Job Specification & Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade

Physiotherapy Assistant, Community Healthcare West

(Grade Code: 6503)

Campaign Reference

CHW085-PA-2022

Closing Date

Tuesday 27th September 2022 at 12 noon

Proposed Interview Date (s)

As soon as possible following the closing date

Taking up Appointment

A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.

Organisational Area

Community Healthcare West

Location of Post

There is currently one permanent whole-time vacancy as follows:

• Galway City North & West Primary Care Network in St Francis Primary Care Centre, Upper Newcastle, Galway

A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Physiotherapy Assistant, Community Healthcare West from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.

Informal Enquiries

Olwyn Hanley

Physiotherapy Manager

Email: olwyn.hanley@hse.ie

Tel: 091 546021 / 086 8585221

Details of Service

Physiotherapy is a therapeutic healthcare profession concerned with enhancing human function and movement and maximising potential and quality of life. Physiotherapists help people gain as much movement and physical independence as possible so they can resume their normal job or lifestyle. Physiotherapy assistants work together with Physiotherapists to achieve these aims.

The Physiotherapist works closely with other disciplines such as nursing, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and dietetics. The physiotherapy assistants are critical in the smooth running of the service, assisting physiotherapists with the day to day management of their caseloads.

Reporting Relationship

Your professional reporting relationship for clinical governance and clinical supervision will be to the Physiotherapy Manager and / or supervising physiotherapist through the professional line management structure or other designated Manager as required.

Purpose of the Post

• The Physiotherapy Assistant’s role will be to work under the direction and guidance of the Physiotherapy Manager or supervising Physiotherapist to support the provision of high quality patient-centred therapy services and to manage administrative duties, maintain hygiene and health and safety policies as appropriate.

• To provide direct and indirect day-to-day care for patients particularly in relation to rehabilitation and exercise programme as part of the multidisciplinary team under the supervision of Therapists in the Primary care/Social Care clinics and in patient’s own homes.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the patient comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every patient to the greatest possible degree.

• The post holder will work under the guidance and supervision of the Physiotherapists and help to maintain the service as a member of the team wherever they will be working.

• Duties will be according to the requirements of the specific work area and the day-to-day needs of the service and will include the following:

Clinical Responsibilities –Physiotherapy Assistant:

• To assist patients with therapeutic activities which may include activities of daily living and leisure activities

• Prepare resources for assessment/intervention, including clinic appointments and group interventions.

• To assist patients with established rehabilitation activities such as mobility and strengthening exercises, balance and walking programs independently and unaccompanied, or in collaboration with appropriate other staff( following the Therapist’s direction)

• To assist patients in therapeutic activities to develop/improve physical skills

• To assist the physiotherapists in the provision of appliances and equipment prescribed by the physiotherapist.

• To be familiar with the operation of relevant equipment which he/she may be required to use.

• To develop appropriate rapport with patients under direction of the physiotherapist

• Under the direction of the physiotherapist to be responsible for liaising with patients, carers, relatives, equipment and voluntary and community agencies as required

• To adapt individual and/or group activities as delegated by the physiotherapist and in line with pre-agreed parameters

• To observe general behaviour, ability and responses of patients, record information as requested and report observations to the supervising physiotherapist

• To undergo training/education as required.

• To assist the physiotherapist in the assessment of clients and the implementation of treatment interventions as directed by the physiotherapist.

• To carry out one to one interventions under the direction of the physiotherapist

• To prepare the client and the environment for treatment as directed by the physiotherapist.

• To organise and supervise therapeutic activities, with individual clients/groups as directed by the physiotherapist.

• Deliver prescribed care in a domiciliary setting working under direction of Physiotherapists, and complete multidisciplinary documents as required and provide regular feedback and updates on care.

• To use knowledge and training in the safe use of physiotherapy equipment during therapeutic interventions as directed by the physiotherapist

• To use knowledge and understanding of a clients’ needs to involve and motivate the client in the therapeutic process.

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Compliance with all relevant department regulations including and not limited to documentation and recording of statistical data.

• Schedule appointments e.g. phoning clients and sending appointments.

• To assist in regular monitoring and control of stock and equipment, reporting same to the relevant team member as required

• To assist with equipment orders, administrative tasks, orientation of visitors or new staff as requested.

• To comply with all relevant statutory, local and hospital regulations and policies at all times, e.g. Health, Safety and Welfare at Work Act, 1989. Guidelines on Medical Devices Regulations, 1994, and the Freedom of Information Act, 1997.

• To notify the Department Manager of sickness, annual and other leave in accordance with the Hospital’s policy.

• Participate in staff/ team meetings as required

• To support physiotherapists in the organisation of the treatment program, e.g. scheduling of treatment, booking of rooms, preparation of patient information packs, collection of routine patient data from IT systems

Care of facilities and equipment:

• Maintaining tidiness and cleanliness in the Physiotherapy Department, treatment and waiting areas

• To be involved in the preparation and cleaning of equipment and materials.

• Where necessary, complete laundry duties and changing of curtains and cleaning of equipment.

• To bring equipment to and from treatment areas as required by the physiotherapists

• To assist the physiotherapist in the running of the hydrotherapy pool in line with guidelines and procedures

Safety:

• To be familiar with and uphold the policies and principles of the Physiotherapy Safety Statements, professional guidelines and the Hospital Health and Safety protocols.

• To deal with emergency situations or accidents by summoning professional help in accordance with guidelines.

• To report all incidents / accidents relating to self, patients or visitors to the Physiotherapy Manager or supervising physiotherapist

• To participate as required in Occupational Health and Safety training.

• Report immediately to Physiotherapy Manager any defect in equipment or the environment, which might cause a hazard to staff or patients.

• Familiarise oneself and adhere to the HSE lone working policy 2012 and departmental implementation of same.

Education:

• To participate in Mandatory Training as outlined in departmental, hospital and HSE policies

• To participate in the induction of new staff as directed

• To participate in continuing professional development as appropriate.

• To participate in appraisal and the development of a personal development plan in conjunction with his / her line manager.

• 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.

• 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 Continuous 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, 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.

• It is the post holders’ specific responsibility for Quality & Risk Management, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety this will be clarified to you in the induction process and by your line manager.

• 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 Code of Practice.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties 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.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

Candidates must on the closing date:

1. Professional Qualifications & Experience, etc.

a)

(i) Possess the Certificate in Health Service Skills or Healthcare Support with Physiotherapy Assistant modules 1 and 2 at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).

Or

(ii) Possess a relevant healthcare qualification at not less than Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) and give an undertaking to participate in the appropriate Physiotherapy Assistant training modules 1 and 2 within 1 year of taking up duty.

Or

(iii) Are currently employed as a Physiotherapy Assistant, Healthcare Assistant, Attendant, Multi-Task Attendant or in a comparable role for at least 1 year and give an undertaking to acquire the appropriate Level 5 or Physiotherapy Assistant training programme within 1 year of taking up duty.

And

b) Candidates must have the personal competence and capacity to properly discharge the duties of the role.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Other requirements specific to the post

Access to own transport and full clean driver’s licence is a requirement of the post which involves travel.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

Knowledge & Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrate a general knowledge of Physiotherapy and work environment relevant to physiotherapy assistant

• Demonstrate evidence of experience working in Health or Social care setting

• Demonstrate depth and breadth of experience providing direct care to patients

• Demonstrate a knowledge of Health and Safety regulations

• Demonstrate a knowledge of Safety of Waste Management

• Demonstrate a good knowledge of Infection Control guidelines for patient care, cleaning equipment and laundry duties in specific cases

• Demonstrate evidence of attainment of relevant Fetac Skills course

• Demonstrate an interest in participating in self development

• Demonstrate a willingness to learn and transfer learning

• Demonstrate awareness/ knowledge of Health and Safety Regulations

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Competence in basic IT – excel databases / word / email, and a willingness to engage and develop Information Technology skills relevant to the role

Planning & Organising Skills

• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to do a variety of tasks

• Demonstrate ability to act on instruction

• Demonstrate motivation to work in a changing work environment

• Demonstrate experience of managing workload appropriately

• Demonstrate an ability to assist with administrative duties and basic IT computer skills email, word and inputting to excel

Commitment to Providing a Quality Service

• Demonstrate a commitment to the provision of a quality and person centred service.

• Demonstrates evidence in continuous learning and development in the relevant areas.

• Demonstrate awareness and ability to respect and maintain confidentially

• Demonstrate an interest in contributing to alternative methods/new ways of working to improve patient care.

Teamwork

• Demonstrate ability to work as a member of team and make positive contributions to that team

• The ability to build and maintain relationships including the ability to work effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team

• The ability to maintain professionalism and manage situations where conflict arises

• Demonstrates evidence of being able to work collaboratively with other staff in carrying out work tasks.

• Demonstrates an understanding of one’s own role and the roles of others within the team.

• Demonstrates the ability to follow the directions of the Physiotherapist and/ or Physiotherapy Manager appropriately and to utilise supervision effectively

Customer/Patient Focus

• Demonstrate experience of working with people in the acute and community setting

• Demonstrate a patient centred focus in provision of care

• Demonstrate evidence of ability to treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Demonstrate proficiency in the English language (both verbal and written) so as to effectively carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role

• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat clients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

• Demonstrates the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of service users/providers, particularly in listening, giving explanations/directions and in reporting back on observations.

• Demonstrates ability and understanding in working with people with complex needs/disabilities and/or behaviour that challenges.

• Demonstrate effective communication skills including the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner.

• Demonstrates ability and knowledge of working with and motivating people in individual and group situations

• Demonstrate motivation and an innovative approach to job & service developments and ability to cope with difficult or stressful situations.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Initiative, flexibility and problem solving skills especially with regard to working in the changing environment.

• Display ability in making effective decisions with regard to clients care.

• Demonstrating ability to know when to ask for help and awareness of the scope of practice of a Physiotherapy Assistant.

Campaign Specific Selection Process

Ranking/Shortlisting/ Interview

A ranking and/or short-listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or short-listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.

Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be placed on an order of merit and will be called to interview in ‘bands’ depending on the service needs of the organisation.

Code of Practice

The Health Service Executive / Public Appointments Service will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice. Additional information on the HSE’s review process is available in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates”.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.hse.ie/eng/staff/jobs in the document posted with each vacancy entitled “Code of Practice, information for candidates” or on www.cpsa.ie.

The reform programme outlined for the Health Services may impact on this role and as structures change the job description may be reviewed.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Physiotherapy Assistant

Terms and Conditions of Employment

Tenure

There is currently one permanent whole-time vacancy as follows:

• Galway City North & West Primary Care Network in St Francis Primary Care Centre, Upper Newcastle, Galway

The post is pensionable. A panel may be formed as a result of this campaign for Physiotherapy Assistant, Community Healthcare West from which current and future, permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.

Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 and Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Amendment Act 2013.

Remuneration

The salary scale for the post is: (1/02/22)

€29,710 €31,076 €32,515 €32,897 €33,837 €34,649 €35,819 €37,032 €38,290

Working Week

The standard working week applying to the post is 37 hours

HSE Circular 003-2009 “Matching Working Patterns to Service Needs (Extended Working Day / Week Arrangements); Framework for Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016” applies. Under the terms of this circular, all new entrants and staff appointed to promotional posts from Dec 16th 2008 will be required to work agreed roster / on call arrangements as advised by their line manager. Contracted hours of work are liable to change between the hours of 8am-8pm over seven days to meet the requirements for extended day services in accordance with the terms of the Framework Agreement (Implementation of Clause 30.4 of Towards 2016).

Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the post will be 23 days per annum.

Superannuation

This is a pensionable position with the HSE. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Members of pre-existing pension schemes who transferred to the HSE on the 01st January 2005 pursuant to Section 60 of the Health Act 2004 are entitled to superannuation benefit terms under the HSE Scheme which are no less favourable to those which they were entitled to at 31st December 2004.

Age

The Public Service Superannuation (Age of Retirement) Act, 2018* set 70 years as the compulsory retirement age for public servants.

• Public Servants not affected by this legislation:

Public servants recruited between 1 April 2004 and 31 December 2012 (new entrants) have no compulsory retirement age.

Public servants recruited since 1 January 2013 are members of the Single Pension Scheme and have a compulsory retirement age of 70.

Probation

Every appointment of a person who is not already a permanent officer of the Health Service Executive or of a Local Authority shall be subject to a probationary period of 12 months as stipulated in the Department of Health Circular No.10/71.

Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

As this post is one of those designated under the Protection of Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Infection Control

Have a working knowledge of 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.

Health & Safety

It is the responsibility of line managers to ensure that the management of safety, health and welfare is successfully integrated into all activities undertaken within their area of responsibility, so far as is reasonably practicable. Line managers are named and roles and responsibilities detailed in the relevant Site Specific Safety Statement (SSSS).

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing a SSSS for the department/service[1], as applicable, based on the identification of hazards and the assessment of risks, and reviewing/updating same on a regular basis (at least annually) and in the event of any significant change in the work activity or place of work.

• Ensuring that Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is integrated into day-to-day business, providing Systems Of Work (SOW) that are planned, organised, performed, maintained and revised as appropriate, and ensuring that all safety related records are maintained and available for inspection.

• Consulting and communicating with staff and safety representatives on OSH matters.

• Ensuring a training needs assessment (TNA) is undertaken for employees, facilitating their attendance at statutory OSH training, and ensuring records are maintained for each employee.

• Ensuring that all incidents occurring within the relevant department/service are appropriately managed and investigated in accordance with HSE procedures[2].

• Seeking advice from health and safety professionals through the National Health and Safety Function Helpdesk as appropriate.

• Reviewing the health and safety performance of the ward/department/service and staff through, respectively, local audit and performance achievement meetings for example.

Note: Detailed roles and responsibilities of Line Managers are outlined in local SSSS.

[1] A template SSSS and guidelines are available on the National Health and Safety Function/H&S web-pages

[2] See link on health and safety web-pages to latest Incident Management Policy