PHYSIOTHERAPIST

Job Purpose

The main purpose of the job is to assess the needs of children (patients) admitted to SJIPC with physical difficulties and to provide interventions with the aim of enhancing their quality of life by improving and optimising their functional abilities considering the limitations presented by their condition and impairments.

The Physiotherapist will provide holistic care to the children (patients) at SJIPC working closely within a multidisciplinary team whilst we aim to provide holistic treatment for the children.

Summary and Responsibilities:

The main purpose of the job is assessment and treatment of children (patients) with physical difficulties within the St Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric care facility.

Main duties

• To provide physiotherapy to patients referred to St. Joseph’s on an inpatient and outpatient basis to improve their functional abilities and to facilitate the reintegration of the child into different life areas.
• Assessment of children’s (patients’) needs to ensure that all new admissions have a treatment plan.
• Conduct individual and group therapy
• Screening and assessment of all new admissions to determine the patient’s need for physiotherapy intervention within 48hours of admission
• Development of a treatment plan according to the guidelines set out in the rehabilitation packages of care to patients requiring physiotherapy once the need is identified; ideally within 72 hours of admission.
• Treatment and ongoing assessment of patients requiring physiotherapy e.g., chest physiotherapy, neuro developmental therapy, strength training and developmental stimulation and facilitation of toddlers and babies commencing within week of admission.
• Follow through on treatment plans
• Treatment, evaluation and monitoring to occur at a minimum of once a week.
• To amend treatment plans as required
• Timeous and daily contact with wards and patients within half an hour of coming on duty
• To conduct regular ward rounds
• Contribute to weekly case discussions
• To liaise and work closely with nursing personnel, occupational therapists, social workers, speech therapists and other medical personnel in the home
• Participate in MDT initial and exit caregiver interviews
• To involve family and caregiver of patients in the holistic rehabilitation of the patients
• Ongoing assessment and management of assistive devices for referral / repair / renewal e.g., wheelchair, buggies, rollators, orthoses, prostheses, crutches and orthopaedic boots.
• Monitor seating and positioning of patients on an ongoing basis
• Refer patients for specific services where necessary.
• Liaise with school staff
• Discharge planning in conjunction with MDT to ensure continuum of care and community re integration
• Hand over an outpatient/home programme and discharge letter to ensure continuity of care within the community
• To ensure, implement and maintain accurate, updated and effective administration
• Ensure maintenance of up-to-date assessment notes including ICF, SOAP notes, patient records and files.
• SOAP notes to be updated at a minimum once a week
• To complete ICF at a minimum of 72hours post admission
• Ongoing record keeping of statistics and bimonthly submission of updated statistics to supervisor.
• Meeting minute keeping when required
• Submission of patient reports to external stakeholders when required.
• To ensure, implement and maintain accurate, updated and effective administration
• Ensure maintenance of up-to-date assessment notes including ICF, SOAP notes, patient records and files.
• SOAP notes to be updated at a minimum once a week
• To complete ICF at a minimum of 72hours post admission
• Ongoing record keeping of statistics and bimonthly submission of updated statistics to supervisor.
• Meeting minute keeping when required
• Submission of patient reports to external stakeholders when required.
• Manage and supervise students
• To plan, and supervise holiday programmes, after school programmes and extra-curricular activities and events together with other therapists.
• To plan, implement and supervise ward therapeutic programmes together with other therapists
• Develop, organise, supervise and implement ward therapeutic events with therapeutic team to encourage continued stimulation of patients requiring Physio input
• Ongoing monitoring, evaluation and adjustment of ward programmes to augment therapy
• Enhance the therapeutic environment and physio function within the organization to provide optimal service delivery.
• Enhance the therapeutic environment and physio function within St Joseph’s to provide optimal service delivery ensuring that is in line with best practice and through continuing professional development
• Maintain continuous contact with medical personnel and therapists at referring hospitals and institutions.
• Maintain contacts with outside sources to keep up with developments in physiotherapy e.g., attend courses and workshop. Ongoing improvement and development of self and professionally
• Communicate regularly with all stakeholders with regards to the objectives and aims of physiotherapy intervention.
• Educate staff on physiotherapy and the value of it.
• Ensure that the service meets best practice requirements by keeping abreast with developments in professional field.
• In service training of multi– disciplinary team in the home when required
• Implementation of learnings gained from professional development activities

Key performance areas

• To provide an effective and efficient Physiotherapy service to patients referred to St. Joseph’s Intermediate Paediatric care on an inpatient and outpatient basis to improve their functional abilities and to facilitate the reintegration of the child into different life areas
• To ensure, implement and maintain accurate, updated and effective administration
• To plan, implement and supervise ward therapeutic programmes together with other therapists
• Enhance the therapeutic environment and physio function within St Joseph’s to provide optimal service delivery ensuring that is in line with best practice and through continuing professional development

Qualifications

• BSC physiotherapy degree
• Must be registered with HPCSA Job skill specifications:

Required Experience

• Must have at least two years of experience in relevant job and preferably with children.

 Personality, Attributes, Skills and Abilities

• Must have experience of working with children
• Computer literacy Personal Attributes:
• Team Player;
• High energy
• High sense of responsibility and accountability;
• Organiser and mobiliser;
• Ability to relate to and work well with children
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Must demonstrate initiative

PLEASE NOTE:

• Closing date for all applications is Friday, 28 June 2024.
• Interviewing of shortlisted candidates will take place soon after closing date.
• Relocation costs will NOT be covered by the employer.
• Reference checks will be conducted.
• The employer reserves the right to not appoint.
• Candidates must be able to commence employment as soon as is reasonably possible.

Please email your CV, with certificates, and a 1page motivational cover letter by Friday, 28 June 2024 to recruitment@stjosephsipc.org.za