Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:

The Physical Therapist is responsible for competently providing safe care for children and their families with the support of the Team Leader and Nurse Manager. The Physical Therapist assesses, plans, implements and evaluates care. The Physical Therapist not only supports fellow team members but participates in the guidance, support, and were indicated supervision and teaching of new or junior staff members.

ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Organizational Commitment:

• Instills trust in Al Jalila Children’s patients and families by maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• Partners in the mission and upholds the core principles of the organization.
• Demonstrates commitment to diversity and recognize the value of cultural ethnic differences.
• Role models personal and professional integrity at all times.

Quality Improvement:

• Identifies ways to improve operations through quality improvement and assist in implementation of solutions.
• Contributes to a positive work environment.
• Demonstrates flexibility and willingness to change.
• Identifies opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes.

Teamwork/Communication:

• Demonstrates collaborative and respectful behavior.
• Partners with all members of the healthcare team to achieve goals.
• Receptive to others’ ideas and opinions.

Customer Service:

• Anticipates and responds to customer needs, follow up until needs are met.

Cost Effectiveness/Fiscal Responsibility:

• Demonstrates an awareness of resource utilization and contributes to the achievement of cost effectiveness.
• Continually works to identify and streamline processes of care, implementing solutions to impact on time and cost efficiency.

KEY ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Clinical Practice:

• Performs duties as directed by Team Leader in accordance with facility policy and procedures.
• Provides timely Physical Therapy evaluation of referred patients through established patient evaluation procedures.
• Undertake assessment and treatment of children with a variety of conditions.
• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work within scope of professional practice.
• Holds responsibility for own caseload.
• Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to patients and caregivers.
• Responsible for maintaining accurate, comprehensive and timely patient treatment records in line with professional and Hospital standards of practice.
• Comply with the organizational and departmental policies and procedures.
• Monitor the patient’s progress by re-assessing continuously.
• Provides assessment and reassessment to monitor patient’s progress.
• With the patient and caregiver(s), sets appropriate, measurable and purposeful long and short-term functional activity goals and participation goals.
• Plans and implements age-appropriate treatment interventions, effective in promoting patient motivation and progress in the following: Head and Trunk Control, Weight bearing and weight shifting through extremities, Bed mobility and Transfers, Functional Mobility/locomotion, Reduction of pain, Adjustment to disability, Use of adaptive equipment, Home and/or school visit for environmental assessment, Assesses, plans, provides and evaluates the educational needs of the patient and family.
• Provides appropriate discharge planning and patient/ family teaching, including documentation and provision of necessary home programs as intervention occurs
• Consults with and reports to the Rehabilitation team on a regular/weekly basis, including daily huddles.
• Provides appropriate and timely progress notes, at least daily for inpatients and each visit for outpatients, education updates and contact updates as indicated by patient condition or special program.
• Identifies and manages patient deterioration of patient conditions, initiates appropriate action and escalates accordingly.
• Demonstrates critical thinking skills by problem solving appropriately during patient care.
• Utilizing a professional practice framework and evidence-based care, identifies improvement areas while minimizing risks creating care that is optimal for our children and families.
• Provides comprehensive clinical handover for weekend duty and leave coverage as required.
• Prescribe and request optimal, appropriate, resource efficient equipment/supplies.
• Ensures all equipment used is in proper working order and removes defective equipment for repair and reports this to Rehab Aide and/or Team Leader.
• Demonstrates understanding and support of, as well as a commitment, to the organization through providing patient services in an ethical and legal manner.
• Displays competence and responsibility in prevention of contamination and transfer of infection.
• Demonstrates competency with basic Physical Therapy equipment and attends training of any new items.
• Facilitates the incorporation of patient safety and transformational leadership principles into clinical rehabilitation interventions.

Professional Practice Development:

• Identifies self-learning needs and take initiative to meet those needs.
• Serves as a role model for all staff assisting in promoting and sharing knowledge via mentorship and preceptorship programs in accordance with evidence-based practice.
• Acts as a preceptor/mentor in the supervision and teaching of new staff or students in the development of competencies required.
• Welcomes and actively participates in staff/student orientation, promoting and supporting a positive learning environment and transcultural principles in physical therapy practice.
• Develops and maintains own professional knowledge, clinical competency and skills utilizing reflective practice and maintaining a professional portfolio.
• Participates in service activities that contribute to positive patient outcomes, a positive patient experience and a healthy professional environment.
• Participates in and/or has the ability to lead under the guidance, support and direction of senior staff, the development of programs or quality initiatives that seek to measure and contribute to patient outcomes e.g. clinical auditing, performance improvement activities, and data collection.
• Participates in clinical research and supports Al Jalila research initiatives.

Communication:

• Interacts with children, visitors in a courteous, respectful and helpful manner.
• Interacts with members of the healthcare team in a manner that demonstrates respect, effective communication skills and promotes teamwork.
• Documents all relevant information correctly, appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Promotes safe patient care and a safe environment by embracing a Culture of Safety and identifying proactively areas of risk and the timely reporting of adverse safety events.

Collaboration:

• Demonstrates advocacy for children, young adults and their families.
• Encourages and involve children and their families in care decisions to make informed choices by providing them with information, support and direction to the relevant support services as appropriate.
• Contributes to the achievement of clinical quality indicators, positive patient outcomes and patient and family satisfaction through extraordinary service.
• Coordinates care across the continuum – understands and utilizes case management resources to achieve patient care goals, discharge planning, decreasing the length of stay and waiting times.

Safety:

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance.
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision-making or documentation.
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication.
• Actively promote safety for children, families, visitors and co-workers.
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to assess and resolve the situation.

QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS:

Education

Essential:

• A bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from an accredited institute/college/university.
• Preferred: Evidence of completion of discipline specific specialist courses e.g. Neurodevelopmental Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Taping.

Experience

• Minimum three (3) years clinical practice in a Pediatric hospital dealing with complex care patients, OR Rehabilitation facility, working primarily with Pediatric patients.

Certification and Licensure

• Valid and current professional Physiotherapy license from country of origin.
• Current license from DHRC.
• Updated Basic Life Support.

Job Specific Skills and Abilities

• Positive, enthusiastic and motivated individual.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Team player.
• Experience documenting in an electronic medical record an asset.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to speak and write English is required.
• Arabic language skills (spoken) an asset.
• International English Language Test System (IELTS) – a minimum score of 6.0 or equivalent. The English Proficiency evidence must be valid and not exceed 2 years.
• Ability to organize and priorities/good time management.
• Good time keeping/punctuality.