POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE REPORTS TO Exercise Physiologist Senior Clinician (Spinal Rehabilitation) AWARD/AGREEMENT/CONTRACT POSITION TYPE e.g. Registered Nurse Div 1, Occupational Therapist Gr1, etc. HOURS PER WEEK Health and Allied Services Award Rec therapist Grade 1 VZ 3-6 Full Time (40 hours + ADO) 1. ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT Austin Health is one of Victoria s largest health care providers. Comprised of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerous university and research institute affiliations. Catering to diverse multicultural and veteran communities, Austin Health delivers vital state-wide services to Victorians and a vast array of specialty services to the people of Melbourne s north-eastern corridor in a safety-focussed, team-orientated and stimulating work environment. The new 400 bed Austin Hospital Tower opened mid 2005 and further redevelopment is underway. Austin Health Values The Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation. They influence our performance planning, recruitment, training and development, and relationships with colleagues, work mates, our patients and their relatives and friends. The Austin Health values set standard that we expect all staff to live up to in the way they undertake their duties and responsibilities across the Hospital. Our Values: Integrity We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships across the whole organisation. Accountability We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating effectively.
Respect We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness. Excellence We continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, research and effective stakeholder management. 2. LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre (RTRC) is a specialist rehabilitation centre of international standard. It provides a comprehensive and coordinated range of medical, nursing, therapy and support services, to the people of Victoria, with some 800 inpatients and more than 12,000 outpatient visits each year. Specialist services include: Acquired Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program Advanced Orthotic and Prosthetic Services Amputation Rehabilitation Program Brain Disorders Program specialising in rehabilitation and psychiatric management of behaviour disorders Community Brain Disorders Assessment and Treatment Service Neurological Rehabilitation Program Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Program Victorian Spinal Cord Service Community Rehabilitation Program Rehabilitation in the Home Program The Victorian Spinal Cord Service (VSCS) is a specialist state-wide service that provides lifelong care to people who sustain a traumatic spinal cord injury in Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales. Acute inpatient services are provided at the Austin campus of Austin Health. Inpatient rehabilitation services are provided at the Royal Talbot campus. The VSCS also provides community and outpatient programs. The Royal Talbot Physiotherapy Department provides physiotherapy services to patients of the specialist units on campus. The physiotherapy department provides clinical services, and also participates in quality improvement and research activities and a formal professional development (in-service) program. The spinal physiotherapy team is co-located with the spinal occupational therapy team and provides clinical services in the dedicated spinal therapy gym. Spinal therapy staff, (PT and OT), work with the broader VSCS clinical team to provide community integration activities including structured outings, wheelchair sports activities and Lifeskills days. 3. POSITION OBJECTIVE To assist the physiotherapy staff to provide an inpatient rehabilitation program to patients of the VSCS by: Conducting therapy sessions with assistance
Conducting gym and wheelchair skills classes with supervision Assisting with the provision of Aquatic Physiotherapy services Completing non-clinical tasks that support the clinical program
4. POSITION REQUIREMENTS Position Specific Patient Care Ensure that information is received form the requesting physiotherapist, regarding new patient s relevant abilities and precautions before proceeding with patient interventions. Supervise individual and group exercise and treatment programs (in the water and on land) under the guidance of the requesting physiotherapist. Observe the condition of patients supervised and report any changes to the relevant physiotherapist. Assist patients with dressing/undressing, showering/drying (hydrotherapy) and toileting as necessary. Prepare and apply therapeutic modalities as required, (hot packs, electrical stimulation etc). Assist physiotherapists with lifting/moving and/or walking patients. Administration/Management Monitor and maintain stores of equipment, linen and stationary Perform the following duties as requested photocopying, library search, filing, telephone answering, transferring material (typing, medical records etc), collect mail twice daily and any other administrative tasks as requested by the physiotherapist. Participate in relevant meetings staff and sub department, patient programming as required. Comply with hospital and department guidelines regarding incident reporting and risk management. Prepare treatment area, including changing linen and tidying up equipment. Completion of documentation in the medical record and statistical data recording clinical activity as required by the organisation. Conduct other appropriate activities as directed or required. Training and Development On commencing, participate in the hospital, department and unit orientation programmes. Participate in department and sub department in-services. Participate in other continuing education activities as appropriate. Appropriately utilise other staff and available resources to facilitate own training and development. Other Duties Maintain a safe working environment. Initiate and participate in relevant quality improvement and research activities. Maintain appropriate professional conduct. Generic Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time.
Participate in Austin Health performance appraisal program as required. Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients and employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make public statements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer. Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency Response Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management. 5. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Essential for Performance of the Position Educational Qualifications and Training Bachelor of App Sci Human Movement or equivalent Grad Dip in Exercise Rehab or equivalent. Eligible for EP accreditation with AAESS. Work Experience Experience working with patients in a hospital or rehabilitation centre Experience working with people with a physical disability Experience in Hydrotherapy and Exercise Gym environments Specific Skills Proven communication and interpersonal skills. Ability monitor patients and identify adverse or unwanted outcomes Ability to manage change Organisational skills Commitment to role responsibility and expectations of this position Specific Knowledge Basic anatomy and physiology Personal Attributes Motivated and enthusiastic about your work Able to work effectively in a team and individually Committed to effective teamwork Innovative and having a positive approach to challenging situations Desirable but not essential for performance of the position Work Experience Experience in teaching wheelchair skills Experience in prescribing, monitoring and progressing exercise programs Experience of wheelchair sports Experience providing attendant care or other physical assistance to people with spinal cord injury or other physical disability 6. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION
Pre-Existing Injury Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position. 7. DOCUMENT REVIEW DETAILS Date Position First Documented (if known): / / Date of this Position Description Review: / / Signature of Manager: Date: / /