Assistant Practitioner in Rehabilitation Foundation Degree FAQs .pdf
| Band | Job titles |
|---|---|
| Band 2 | Physiotherapy Support Worker |
| Band 3 | Physiotherapy Assistant, Engagement Co-ordinator |
| Band 4 | Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner |
| Band 5 | Physiotherapist |
| Band 6 | Specialist Physiotherapist |
| Band 7 | Advanced Physiotherapist, First Contact Practitioner |
| Band 8 | Expert Practitioner, First Contact Practitioner, Advanced Clinical Practitioner (The title ACP must only be used where the staff member has completed the ACP programme/portfolio) |
Summary of role
- Assists the physiotherapist in carrying out delegated physiotherapy duties.
- Assists in the administration and clerical duties of the department.
- Implements treatment programmes for patients or clients.
Qualifications
- GCSE grade C (minimum) or equivalent in literacy and numeracy.
- Willingness to work towards NVQ 2 or equivalent in related subject.
- Care Certificate is completed in all 15 areas within 12 weeks (pro rata) of commencement of contract.
Main Activities
- Take telephone calls from patients as required.
- Provide clerical support, including typing of correspondence, reports etc as required.
- Exercise judgement when dealing with patient and carer enquiries, including complaints, and pass these on to more senior colleagues as needed.
- To assist in the preparation of physiotherapy sessions (e.g. setting up the environment and equipment in preparation of intervention). Also collates and prepares worksheets/handouts. To carry out routine intervention under the direct supervision of physiotherapist or physiotherapy assistant practitioner
Competencies
- Monitor and manage the environment and resources during and after clinical or therapeutic activities.
- Administer appointments.
- Develop and sustain productive working relationships with colleagues.
- Use office equipment.
- Support individuals undergoing healthcare activities.
Summary of role
- Undertakes implementation of physiotherapy under the direction of physiotherapists.
- Assists physiotherapists in implementing treatment programmes.
- Records patient information.
Qualifications
- GCSE grade C (minimum) or equivalent in literacy and numeracy.
- NVQ 3 or equivalent
- This role involves some clerical duties.
- GCSE grade C (minimum) or equivalent in literacy and numeracy.
- NVQ 3 or equivalent in related subject.
- Care Certificate is completed in all 15 areas within 12 weeks (pro rata) of commencement of contract.
Main Activities
- To assist in the implementation of prescribed programmes e.g. carrying out activities for both individual and group therapy.
- To assist in the preparation of physiotherapy sessions e.g. setting up the environment and equipment in preparation of intervention. Also collates and prepares worksheets and handouts.
- To carry out routine intervention under the direct supervision of physiotherapists.
- To liaise closely with members of the physiotherapy team i.e. providing verbal and written feedback about therapy activities.
- To gather and collate information to enable physiotherapists to liaise with others.
- To liaise with other staff and clients as required. This will include liaison with nursing/medical staff under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
- To provide general administrative support e.g. booking appointments and transport, filing, maintaining inventories, ordering equipment and taking messages.
Competencies
- Provide advice and information to individuals on how to manage their own condition.
- Support individuals undergoing healthcare activities.
- Contribute to effective group care.
Summary of role
- Implements physiotherapy programmes devised by physiotherapists for groups and individuals. Modifies approaches and activities within programmes to meet requirements of clients.
- Develops group activities to meet defined intervention needs.
Qualifications
- NVQ 4 or Foundation Degree in related subject.
- Care Certificate is completed in all 15 areas within 12 weeks (pro rata) of commence of contract.
Main Activities
- To work independently, seeking support as required.
- To use initiative to develop and implement prescribed programmes of care to meet the needs of clients.
- To modify therapeutic approaches and activities to meet client’s needs.
- To develop and independently run therapy groups.
- To assist in the preparation of physiotherapy sessions (e.g. setting up the environment and equipment in preparation of intervention). Also collates and prepares worksheets and handouts.
- To carry out routine intervention under the direction of a physiotherapist.
- To provide advice to clients, carers, and other health care professionals regarding the management and care of clients.
- To be responsible for planning and day-to-day management of own caseload.
- To have a sound knowledge of a range of physiotherapy interventions.
- To liaise closely with members of the physiotherapy team i.e. providing verbal and written feedback about therapy activities.
- To gather and collate information to enable physiotherapist to liaise with others.
Competencies
- Obtain a patient / client history.
- Undertake protocol-guided assessments.
- Facilitate the individual's management of their condition and treatment plan.
- Contribute to the discharge of an individual into the care of another service.
Summary of role
- Assesses & treats own caseload of patients and clients, and maintains associated records.
- Liaises with other agencies e.g. education, social services.
- Provides communication advice to other professions.
- Manages time and caseload efficiently.
- Delivers health education.
- Supervises physiotherapy assistants.
Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy (or equivalent).
- Registration with HCPC.
Main Activities
- To provide physiotherapy on the basis of clinical need.
- To assess, diagnose, develop and implement programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of clients.
- To provide appropriate evidence-based outcomes following assessment and treatment.
- To maintain up-to-date, accurate casenotes in line with professional standards and local Trust policies.
- To provide advice to clients, carers and other healthcare professionals regarding the management and care of clients.
- To liaise with staff of other disciplines and to offer professional advice as required by other agencies and carers.
- To participate in multidisciplinary or agency case conferences and reviews.
- To ensure that clients and their families and carers are involved in the planning of care plans wherever possible.
- To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
- To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the client’s difficulties and implications of the same.
- To demonstrate the ability to reflect on practice with peers.
Competencies
- Assess an individual's needs.
- Establish a diagnosis of an individual's health condition.
- Select assessment and investigative techniques and procedures to meet individual needs.
- Implement a treatment plan.
- Discharge and transfer individuals from a service or your care.
Summary of role
- Assesses, treats and manages own caseload of clients and maintains associated paperwork.
- Specialist in clinical area.
- May participate in research in clinical area.
- Advises and provides clinical support to other therapists and staff on physiotherapy issues.
- Supervises work of physiotherapy staff and students.
Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy (or equivalent).
- Specialist Clinical courses.
- Registration with HCPC.
Main Activities
- To provide specialist physiotherapy on the basis of clinical need.
- To assess, diagnose, develop and implement programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of clients.
- To provide a differential diagnosis on the basis of evidence from assessments.
- To provide appropriate evidence-based outcomes following assessment and treatment.
- To participate in case conferences and reviews.
- To contribute to interagency and multi-disciplinary team building.
- To be involved in the management of clients as appropriate to your level of knowledge and skills, and refer on for specialist assessment.
- To supervise physiotherapists, assistants and technical instructors, and physiotherapy students.
- To ensure that clients and their families are involved in the planning of care plans wherever possible.
- To adapt practice to meet individual clients circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic differences.
- To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the clien'’s difficulties and implications of the same.
- To participate in student training as required.
- To provide mentoring to more junior physiotherapists.
- To participate in the development and delivery of specialist training (informal and formal) to others in area of clinical expertise with and without support.
- To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible.
Competencies
- Undertake a comprehensive assessment.
- Develop a comprehensive care plan.
- Represent your area of responsibility in meetings.
- Provide leadership in your area of responsibility.
- Initiate, and participate in, networks and discussion groups.
Summary of role
- Takes a leading role in assessment and treatment of specialist, wide-ranging, complex caseload of patients and clients, and maintains associated records.
- Leads on audit in area of specialism. Collects and interprets data.
- Leads on implementation of national guidance in specialist area.
- Undertakes research in a specialist area(s).
- Supervises work of other physiotherapists, assistants, students.
- May undertake teaching in specialist area for qualified physiotherapists and other professionals.
- Represents the physiotherapy department at various meetings.
- Leads on the development and review of training programmes.
Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
- Modules at Masters level or postgraduate clinical training.
- Registration with HCPC.
Main Activities
- To provide highly specialist physiotherapy on the basis of clinical need.
- To provide highly specialist assessment, diagnosis, and develop and implement programmes of care and treatment to meet the needs of clients with complex needs.
- To provide appropriate evidence based outcomes following assessment and treatment.
- To provide highly specialist advice to clients, carers and other healthcare professionals (regarding the management and care of clients).
- To liaise with staff of other disciplines and to offer professional advice as required by other agencies and carers.
- To participate in case conferences and reviews as appropriate.
- To use knowledge to recognise when further investigations and assessment is required and to advise on appropriate action.
- To supervise physiotherapy assistants and technical instructors.
- To ensure that clients are involved in the planning of their care plans wherever possible.
- To adapt practice to meet individual client circumstances, including due regard for cultural and linguistic difference.
- To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of the client and their carers, in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding the nature of the client’s difficulties and implications of the same.
- To participate fully in student placements.
- To provide second opinions to colleagues.
Competencies
- Undertake a comprehensive assessment.
- Translate research and development findings into practice.
- Develop clinical protocols for delivery of services.
- Give presentations to groups.
Summary of role
Team leaders work as operational managers and are responsible for the first-line management and wellbeing of the overall team and individuals within it, although they may not necessarily share the same professional background as the people they are managing. Team leaders ensure the efficient day-to-day running of clinical services and the clinical environment through appropriate planning and delegation. They report directly to area or neighbourhood managers and implement local strategy, policy and procedure. They are responsible for identifying gaps within the team regarding:
- Quality of service
- Budget and performance deficits
Team leaders ensure the development of the team and its individuals is in line with the trust vision via appropriate supervision, peer review and appraisal. They are often the first point of contact for service users and carers and develop relationships with key stakeholders such as GP's and commissioners.
Qualifications
- Degree level professional qualification in Health or Social Care.
- Evidence of post graduate qualification.
- Registration with HCPC
Main Activities
- Be a Team Leader and have relevant skills, knowledge and competence in team/line management. They will manage a group of health and social care staff within a designated neighbourhood to support people and their families.
- Be responsible for ensuring that Health and Social Care services are delivered to a high standard.
- Demonstrate initiative and be creative in finding solutions to problems.
- Have supervisory, training and leadership responsibilities and have responsibility for team performance and service developments and improvements
- To manage conflicting priorities within a team and find effective solutions.
- To identify, though regular audit, any gaps in quality of service, any budget or performance deficits and processes.
- To identify and manage risks to service delivery.
- To act as authorised signatory for services, staff and expenses.
- To ensure the right skills, experience and level of staffing resource are in place to maximise the effectiveness of the team.
- To plan, organise and allocate team activity and workload including movement to cover staff absence within own team and other teams when necessary.
- To authorise and plan annual leave to ensure uniform provision of services throughout the year.
- To monitor sickness and absence and carry out sickness reviews and referrals to Occupational Health as per the Sickness Absence Policy
Competencies
- Quality assure work in your team.
- Provide supervision to other individuals.
- Manage people's performance at work.
- Develop clinical protocols for delivery of services.
Summary of role
- Takes lead role in assessment & treatment of specialist caseload of patients/clients; responsible for clinical governance.
- Provides second opinions, specialist advice, teaching to other Physiotherapists and other professionals.
- Undertakes research, development in specialist area. May devise and implement training programmes.
- Supervises Physiotherapy staff.
Qualifications
- Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
- Masters qualification or equivalent in relevant area and specialised clinical training that will support the delivery of the service.
- Registration with HCPC.
Main Activities
- To provide clinical advice for specialist area ensuring that all members of the clinical teams have access to competency based framework for the understanding and care of clients within their specialist area through the provision of advice and consultation and dissemination of specialist knowledge, research and theory.
- To assess, formulate intervention plans, treat and monitor highly complex cases.
- Involve service users and carers where possible in the formulation of individual treatment interventions.
- To evaluate intervention and outcomes systematically.
- To support the assessment, planning, treatment and monitoring of complex cases on behalf of less qualified or experienced therapists.
- To support physiotherapists providing clinical advice
- To provide specialist clinical and technical skills for interpretative assessment techniques and interventions.
- To deliver a variety of quality training packages to carers, other clinical staff in order to support treatment programmes.
- To identify training needs of physiotherapy staff.
- To continue to develop own clinical skills and contribute to the development of others.
- To provide advice and support to carers, families, staff and other relevant agencies enabling others to facilitate eating and drinking skills.
- To mentor and joint work with less experienced or qualified therapists as required.
- To support the Trust in developing expertise in the area of speciality by contributing to pre and post graduate teaching programmes
- To support service managers in planning, prioritising and development of services.
- To supervise, support, train and organise the work allocated to Physiotherapy staff, to ensure they carry out appropriate tasks and maintain therapy programmes.
- To act as specialist advisor in the investigation of complaints or disciplinary action regarding
- interventions for specialist area.
- To be responsible for the planning, developing and implementing research and development within the trust with a wider impact wider, i.e. nationally and internationally.
- Secure appropriate research funding.
Competencies
- Conduct investigations in selected research and development topics.
- Develop clinical protocols for delivery of services.
- Translate research and development findings into practice.
- Interpret the findings of healthcare investigations.
All health professionals registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and practising in the UK are required to go through the HCPC registration renewal every two years. This process now includes the requirement to supply a profile on request to demonstrate fulfilment of the standards for CPD set by the HCPC and tested through a sample audit.
The HCPC has defined CPD as "A range of learning activities through which health professionals maintain and develop throughout their career to ensure that they retain the capacity to practice safely, effectively and legally within their evolving scope of practice."
All HCPC registrants were required to engage in CPD activities from 1 July 2006. Some Physiotherapists will be audited by HCPC each 2 years of registration. Registrants need to record and evidence their CPD activities and, if selected for audit, complete their CPD profile, which will be audited by CPD assessors.
Physiotherapists have to provide evidence of CPD relating to their previous two years of practice. The evidence will show how the CPD that has been undertaken by the individual has contributed to the quality of their practice and should demonstrate its benefit to the service user. The standards apply to clinical practice, research, management and education.
Standards of CPD
A registrant must:
- Maintain a continuous, up-to-date and accurate record of their CPD activities
- Demonstrate that their CPD activities are a mixture of learning activities relevant to current or future practice
- Seek to ensure that their CPD has contributed to the quality of their practice and service delivery
- Seek to ensure that their CPD benefits the service user
- Present a written profile containing evidence of their CPD on request
CPD Tools
The Interactive Learning Opportunities Database (ILOD) provides a range of CPD tools that will help to produce and to organise evidence of learning. ILOD also has a career planning section based on the post qualifying framework which is a Physiotherapist-specific career planning resource.
A reflective tool called "Recording CPD: transforming practice through reflection" is based around the HCPC's requirements for CPD. It can be used to structure ideas, gather evidence of learning for portfolio's and for a profile if CPD is audited by the HCPC.
| Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | Level 6 | Level 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare Support Worker |
Senior Healthcare Support Worker
Team Leader / Supervisor |
Healthcare Assistant Practitioner
Operations / Department Manager |
Physiotherapist Integrated Degree |
Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Senior Leaders (Masters Degree) |
Hello, I'm Nicola Birch and I'm a Team Leader and Extended Scope Practitioner.
What do you do in your role?
Split operational lead and clinical role including triage and treat for orthopaedic conditions
Have you always worked in this role?
In MPFT - Yes.
What other roles and departments have you worked in during your career?
- Junior Rotational Physio - Goodhope Hospital
- Senior Orthopaedic Physio - Goodhope Hospital
- Senior Musculoskeletal Physio - Nottingham University Hospital
- Senior Rotational Physio - University Hospitals Birmingham
- Team Lead Physio - University Hospitals Birmingham
- Clinical Specialist Physio - University Hospitals Birmingham
What motivated you to move roles?
Previously to progress my career and experience more elements of healthcare
More recently to improve my work/life balance
A belief that outpatient physio belongs in the community close to the patients home and not in secondary care
An interest in service improvement and health policy
What support helped you to make this change?
Excellent leadership at University Hospitals Birmingham who got to know the individual and support their gifts NHS leadership academy - Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Opportunity
What do you value about progressing your career at MPFT?
- Opportunity
- Awareness of skill set
- honest and open leadership
- Links to research organisation and an environment of learning and progression in the MSK teams
What would be your best piece of advice to others seeking a career in physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is a diverse career that can take you to a sports ground, to the biggest ITU in Europe, to helping someone clear secretions off their chest after being in a fire, to getting someone walking again after a stroke or a major trauma, to working with older people who need to get back home after a hospital stay, to providing a wheelchair or prosthetic leg, to the emergency room or to a GP surgery.
To do this physiotherapists need to be from all sorts of backgrounds with a lot of different experiences but there are a few things that bring us all together. If you are able to put your patients at the centre of everything you do, feel that you can be honest and sometimes not give the message that someone is expecting but still be able to support them to achieve their goals, are logical and think on your feet, be able to wipe away tears but strong enough to motivate when morale is low, are happy to go the extra mile and challenge the wider community to make sure that your patients get the most appropriate care then this career is for you.
Hello, I'm Rebekah Hooker and I'm an Advanced Physiotherapist with the Respiratory Team.
What do you do in your role?
Provide professional leadership to a team of physiotherapists in the delivery of pulmonary rehab, sub acute step down from hospital, hospital prevention when indicated. Develop respiratory services with the community respiratory team - more recently provide expert advice to the other physiotherapists within MPFT.
Have you always worked in this role?
I attained this post in 2007, though still employed by UHNM at the time. Development of the service over the years led to my choice of transfer of contract. In 2012 my contract was transferred from UHNM to the community.
What other roles and departments have you worked in during your career?
Junior physiotherapist - medicine, Rheumatology, surgery and ICU, Paediatrics-PICU/Senior II (Band 6) - Cardiothoracic surgery/surgery and ICU/Respiratory Outpatients/Paediatrics and PICU Medicine
What motivated you to move roles?
I was successful at attaining a Band 7 role at UHNM leading the medical physio team - as part of this role I was asked to develop pulmonary rehab in the community. I was able to secure additional funding for a 1.0 WTE Band 7 post - after 5 years and further service development my contract was transferred across organisations.
What do you value about progressing your career at MPFT?
It has been a challenge trying to develop a career pathway for Respiratory Physiotherapists in the community as for many years the acute Trust was where most respiratory specialists would work. In the current Respiratory Team in which I work, I was supported to complete my non-medical Independent Prescribers MSC module in 2018. I hope that over the coming years I can continue to work to further develop the role of Respiratory Physiotherapy in the community and scope for career progression without having to leave my profession.
What would be your best piece of advice to others seeking a career in podiatry?
Get as many rotations in as you can before you specialise - whatever area you do choose to specialise in being a competent all-rounder will always be invaluable.
For me rotations early on in my career mainly Respiratory in nature shaped the practitioner I am today. Having an array of rotations as an acute practitioner prior to transferring to the community, I think has been a massive help to me. Respiratory specialist services in North MPFT have developed since transferring from UHNM back in 2007 - I believe that if I didn't have that experience early on in my career I would not have had the confidence to develop services and have the passion still to develop services in the community the way that they should be.
Hello, I'm Diane Dunn and I'm a Physiotherapy Assistant within the community Domiciliary team, working with patients with mobility difficulties living in their own homes.
What do you do in your role?
My current role involves supporting patients to achieve the goals set between themselves and the Physiotherapist. This can be indoor/outdoor mobility practice, stair practice or a home exercise programme, for example.
Have you always worked in this role?
No, I have been in my current role for about 8-9 years
What other roles and departments have you worked in during your career?
I started working for the NHS in 2001 and I was based at Westcliffe Hospital, working on the wards treating inpatients that have been assessed by the Physios and need help to improve their mobility or to complete an exercise programme to help increase their strength, I also worked in the outpatient department there.
When Westcliffe Hospital closed I moved to Burslem Health Centre, working in an outpatient department continuing treatment plans set for the patients by the Physios as well as admin for the department. When Cobridge Health Centre was first opened I moved there carrying out the same role in the outpatient department.
Then an opportunity came up for me to move to Longton Cottage Hospital working within the Domiciliary team seeing patients in their own homes that cant get into a department. This role involved exercise programmes for patients who had a Hip/Knee replacement, stair practice, outdoor mobility around their local area, for example.
What motivated you to move roles?
I felt this would be a good opportunity for a new challenge, the position sounded like something that I would enjoy.
What support helped you to make this change?
I had a lot of support from the Physios I was working with at the time as well as my manager and my family.
What do you value about progressing your career at MPFT?
I value that I have become a respected member of the team, I also value how much I have learnt within this role.
What would be your best piece of advice to others seeking a career in Physiotherapy?
Just go for it! We have brilliant Physios within our teams and they are always very generous with their time to help with your learning. I have some lovely colleagues within MPFT that I work with and have worked with over the years.
My name is Anna Glossop and I am a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner and Specialist Physiotherapist for the Community Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS) in South East Staffordshire
I grew up in Poland and completed a MSC in Physiotherapy in 2006, defending dissertation on treatment for scoliosis in children. After graduating, I relocated to UK and initially worked as a live-in and community carer in the south of Staffordshire, before securing a first NHS Healthcare Assistance post at Good Hope Hospital in 2008.
I worked for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for over 10 years, progressing from Band 2 Healthcare Assistant, Band 2, 3 and 4 Therapy Support Worker, to Band 5 and 6 Physiotherapist. I have completed a variety of rotations and worked in different teams within the trust. I am very grateful for all learning opportunities given while working in secondary care.
I joined MPFT in 2018 with the Burntwood, Lichfield and Tamworth Community Intervention Service’s Therapy team and this has been life changing experience. Working in the community has been difficult, but so rewarding. I have continued to work clinically throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been very challenging, but the gratitude and smile on patients faces seeing a therapist – potentially the only one professional visiting them at home – was priceless.
During the pandemic I started my MSC Advanced Clinical Practice apprenticeship programme at the University of Birmingham and have recently moved to the CRIS Team as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner to further develop my clinical and prescribing skills.
Through all my professional career I have work hard to develop my skills and become a better, more experienced holistic practitioner. I absolutely love working for community services as it gives me developmental opportunities every day.
If you want to progress and develop yourself, MPFT is certainly going to support you and remember: with hard work and a positive attitude you can achieve anything!
Ellie Delicata
Operational Lead Physiotherapy, Moorlands Area
Kay Stevenson
Clinical Lead, Consultant Physiotherapist, Senior Knowledge Mobilisation Fellow, Versus Arthritis Clinical Champion
Wendy Hollands
Advanced Allied Health Professions Lead Practitioner