POSITION DESCRIPTION Grade 2 Physiotherapist Physiotherapy Department DATE REVISED: April 2016 POSITION: AWARD/AGREEMENT: Grade 2 Physiotherapist Aged and Transitional Care Stream Health Professionals (Public Sector Victoria) CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Grade 2 DEPARTMENT/DIVISION: Caulfield Physiotherapy Dept/ Allied Health ACCOUNTABLE TO: Physiotherapy Manager, Grade 4 Physiotherapist, and Grade 3 Physiotherapist OPERATIONALLY ACCOUNTABLE: PROFESSIONALLY ACCOUNTABLE: DIRECT REPORTS: Physiotherapy Manager Physiotherapy Manager Grade 1 physiotherapists, allied health assistants and undergraduate Physiotherapy students as delegated by the clinical stream leader. ALFRED HEALTH Alfred Health is the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne and is also a major provider of specialist services to people across Victoria. The health service operates three outstanding facilities, The Alfred, Caulfield, and Sandringham. Further information about Alfred Health is available at www.alfredhealth.org.au OUR PURPOSE To improve the lives of our patients and their families, our communities and humanity. OUR BELIEFS Our staff are expected to demonstrate and uphold the beliefs of Alfred Health: Patients are the reason we are here they are the focus of what we do
How we do things is as important as what we do. Respect, support and compassion go hand in hand with knowledge, skills and wisdom. Safety and care of patients and staff are fundamental Excellence is the standard we work to everyday. Through research and education we raise the bar for tomorrow We work together. We play vital roles in a team that achieves extraordinary results Our leadership shares ideas and demonstrates behaviours that inspire others to follow CAULFIELD PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT Caulfield Physiotherapy Department provides an extensive range of inpatient and ambulatory services in the areas of rehabilitation, aged care and transitional care services. The physiotherapy department has approximately 70 staff with a further 36 physiotherapists working in other ambulatory and community services on site. The department provides subacute clinical services and expertise in the following areas: acquired brain injury (ABI), neurology, non-traumatic spinal cord injury, orthopaedics, amputees, burns, complex regional pain, cardiac rehabilitation, aged care, transitional care and aged psychiatry. In addition to these services the department is also responsible for the day to day management of the hydrotherapy pool which has more than 250 clients per day accessing it services. Physiotherapy department staff operate in 4 clinical streams: ABI, aged and transitional care, neurological and spinal rehabilitation, musculoskeletal rehabilitation. Grade 1 physiotherapists and Allied Health Assistants rotate across all streams with Grade 2, 3 & 4 staff rotating within a designated stream. Caulfield Physiotherapy Department is a major partner in the Alfred Health Physiotherapy Clinical Schools for both La Trobe and Monash universities and in this role provides core clinical placements for more than 80 students annually. There is a strong commitment to professional development and research with staff able to access an extensive continuing education program on site and the support of the Professor of Physiotherapy for research activities. POSITION SUMMARY The Grade 2 Physiotherapist will work primarily on site at Caulfield Hospital and is one of 10 Grade 2 physiotherapist positions within the Physiotherapy Department. The Grade 2 Physiotherapist will work closely with the Aged and Transitional Care Grade 4 and Grade 3 to ensure the provision of a high quality cost effective and equitable service across all areas including Aged Care and Transitional Care Services. The position involves regular rotations which may be across all campuses of Alfred Health. The Grade 2 Physiotherapist will also contribute to operational leadership in the Aged and Transitional Care stream by becoming involved in portfolios in the areas of clinical, managerial, research and teaching, and performance management. The Grade 2 Physiotherapist may also be responsible for the supervision and performance management of Grade 1 physiotherapists and allied health assistants working within the stream and students undertaking clinical placements in Aged Care. There is an expectation that all Grade 2 Physiotherapists will participate in evening, weekend and public holiday shifts as required. These rosters can be as overtime or involve taking time off in lieu during the week. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES The Grade 2 physiotherapist will be responsible for the provision of high quality physiotherapy service across all clinical areas within the Aged and Transitional Care services and may be responsible for the day to day management of their ward or unit. They will work with the Grade 3 and 4 physiotherapists to ensure that physiotherapy in these areas is responsive to the changing needs of the community and works within an interdisciplinary framework to optimise care and minimise risk.
The Grade 2 physiotherapist will be required to rotate across all areas of the Aged and Transitional Care stream at Caulfield Hospital, and other areas of Alfred Health as required. They may also be responsible for the supervision and performance management of grade 1 physiotherapists and allied health assistants staff working within the stream and students undertaking clinical placements in Aged and Transitional Care. Leadership and Management Contribute to the clinical and operational leadership for the Aged and Transitional Care stream Work with Senior Physiotherapists to ensure that resources across the stream and wider department are distributed equitably based on individual client need Provide assistance with program evaluation within the physiotherapy stream and interdisciplinary programs Be involved in the supervision, training, instruction, performance management and mentoring of Grade 1 and AHA staff within the clinical stream in accordance with Alfred Health policies. Provide support for the Manager of Physiotherapy and senior stream therapists in a range of activities including quality and business planning, representation on internal and external committees and university course development Be involved in rostering and workload management duties as delegated by senior staff Undertake other responsibilities as required by the Physiotherapy Manager Service Provision Maintain an individual clinical caseload and act as a consultant/resource in the relevant areas of expertise both within Alfred Health and elsewhere Help to ensure physiotherapy clinical practice within the Aged and Transitional Care stream is evidence based, works from the principles of best practice and is tailored to meet the individual needs of clients Be involved in the development and maintenance of systems to review the effectiveness and efficiency of physiotherapy intervention within the Aged and Transitional Care stream. Help stream leaders to develop, implement and evaluate systems to minimise clinical risk and promote these with junior staff Teaching and Research Be actively involved in the teaching of undergraduate physiotherapists at Alfred Health through direct student supervision, ongoing review and improvement of clinical placement content with stream leaders, co-ordination of the student program and representation at appropriate clinical school meetings Identify research and quality improvement priorities annually Active participation in quality and research projects within the Aged and Transitional Care stream under supervision of senior staff at least 5% time. Present papers/ posters at relevant conferences if appropriate Professional Development Continue to develop own clinical expertise across the areas within the clinical stream, working towards certificate courses in relevant clinical area(s) Develop operational skills in areas of service planning, policy development, human resources and financial management Work with individual staff that you supervise to further develop clinical, interdisciplinary team and professional skills Provide leadership in the departmental and stream in-service program QUALITY, SAFETY, RISK and IMPROVEMENT Maintain an understanding of individual responsibility for patient safety, quality & risk and contribute to organisational quality and safety initiatives Follow organisational safety, quality & risk policies and guidelines
Participate in and maintain competency in all Department and Stream-based competencies, as well as assessment of competencies as required Maintain a safe working environment for yourself, your colleagues and members of the public. Escalate concerns regarding safety, quality & risk to appropriate staff member, if unable to rectify yourself Promote and participate in the evaluation and continuous improvement processes Comply with principles of Patient Centred Care Comply with Alfred Health mandatory continuing professional development requirements Comply with requirement of National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards and other relevant regulatory requirements. OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ALFRED HEALTH STAFF: Ensure compliance with relevant Alfred Health clinical and administrative policies and guidelines Comply with relevant privacy legislation Protect confidential information from unauthorised disclosure and not use, disclose or copy confidential information except for the purpose of and to the extent necessary to perform your employment duties at Alfred Health In this position you must comply with the actions set out in the relevant section(s) of the OHS Roles and Responsibilities Guideline. KEY CAPABILITIES AND VALUES: Capabilities Capabilities of this position: Commitment to providing an innovative high quality service to Physiotherapy clients Good theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise across the clinical areas encompassed in the Aged and Transitional Care stream; aware of current clinical trends Wide ranging and well consolidated clinical experience in a hospital setting Very good clinical reasoning/ decision making skills in the clinical areas of the designated stream operating within an interdisciplinary team Strong assessment skills in the area of clinical risk and an ability to identify and implement strategies to minimise risk Demonstrated initiative and flexibility in approach to service delivery Excellent verbal communication and negotiation skills to support effective liaison with clients, their carers and other health professionals Ability to relate to and treat clients with a wide range of disabilities from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds Excellent written skills meeting medicolegal, clinical and statistical responsibilities Ability to provide guidance and support to other staff working within an interdisciplinary framework Assist in the coordination, support and evaluation of the undergraduate clinical placement program for physiotherapy students in the designated stream Undertake the role of a clinical supervisor for physiotherapy students as required within the designated stream Demonstrated commitment to staff development and continuing education and quality improvement Values Values consistent with those of Alfred Health which are: Caring and responding to our patients Encouraging and achieving excellence, continual learning and improvement
Working in partnership and co-operation Being responsible and accountable for the services we provide Achievement through team work Treating people with integrity, in a friendly, trusting and respectful manner and environment.
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications Essential: 1. A Bachelor degree or Masters degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent 2. Current registration as a physiotherapist with the Physiotherapists Registration Board of Victoria 3. Victorian Drivers licence Highly Desirable: Completion of post graduate courses relevant to Aged Care and /or Transitional Care APA membership Experience and Knowledge: Essential: 1. Physiotherapists with the skills and experience in Aged Care that you would expect to acquire over a 2 year period 2. Relevant Clinical Experience in both acute and rehabilitation settings and/or residential care settings 3. Strong clinical knowledge in the majority of clinical services within the stream 4. An understanding of the healthcare environment and future trends in physiotherapy service provision 5. Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiation skills 6. Proven ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team 7. Proven ability and commitment to work collaboratively with patients and their carers in a person centred framework 8. Experience in the provision of undergraduate clinical education 9. A commitment to ongoing professional development in Aged and Transitional Care physiotherapy Desirable: Diverse and recent experience in the public health care setting Familiarity with capital and other equipment needs within a large physiotherapy department History of involvement in research, conference presentations, and quality improvement processes Experience in the management of graduate physiotherapists and support staff Fluent in a language relevant to the main ethnic communities Caulfield Hospital supports Position Description authorised by: Valentina Maric Physiotherapy Manager April 2016