Did you know there’s only one physiotherapist for every 1,136 people in the UK? It’s true, and it’s estimated the NHS needs 12,000 more physios to meet the demand for services.
And it isn’t just primary care that needs physios. In a care home, they are vital in helping people recover and rehabilitate from injury – and to manage specific needs and conditions.
Are you thinking about becoming a physiotherapist within social care?
Read this article to start preparing for your new career by learning:
- What a physiotherapist does in a care home setting
- The soft skills needed to be a care home physiotherapist
- Physiotherapy qualifications and experience: what will you need?
- How to get free online social care qualifications with FuturU.
What does a Physiotherapist do at a care home?
In a care home, a physiotherapist works with residents who are affected by injury, illness or disability and helps them regain as much independence and mobility as they possibly can.
Day to day, this will mean that you will be busy:
- assessing joint and movement problems, and making tailored treatment plans
- implementing treatment plans with individual and group exercise, or manual therapy
- assessing needs for specialist footwear or other walking aids to support mobility
- keeping accurate records of treatment and progress, and keeping plans up to date
- working closely with occupational therapists and care workers on integrated care.
Learn more about who does what in a care home in our article on care home roles and responsibilities.
What soft skills does a care home Physiotherapist need?
There’s no single character or personality type that’s best suited to care work. Great carers can come from all walks of life, from all backgrounds and experiences.
But there are certain traits and motivations that can give you a better than average chance of building a successful and rewarding career within the care sector.
For physiotherapy work specifically, it will be a huge advantage if you’re a:
- Great communicator: Educating residents, their families and your care team colleagues will be a big part of your job. You’ll also play a key role in coordinating with other professionals to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. All this requires you to communicate in a clear, confident and compassionate way.
- Strong team player: No care home role exists in isolation. As a physiotherapist, you’ll work alongside experienced care workers, occupational therapists, activities coordinators, nurses and more. It’s vitally important that you thrive in a team environment, and take motivation from working together to achieve shared goals.
- Motivated difference maker: Many people get into care because they want to help people live better lives. You’ll get to see the positive impact of your work, every day. And while there are other motivations for care work, ‘making a difference’ is often the one that helps care workers keep going through the tougher parts of the job.
In an earlier article on care skills, we answered the question: what are the essential skills for care work? Head over to that article to learn more about core soft skills.
Do I need qualifications or accreditations to become a Physiotherapist?
Yes. You will need to complete a BSc Physiotherapy degree, which usually takes four years. Degree apprenticeships, where you work while you study, may also be available.
Once you’re qualified, you will need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) in order to practise – and this registration must be renewed every two years.
Alternatively, you may be able to find work at a larger care home as a physiotherapy assistant or support worker – entry-level roles that often have no set entry requirements.
Which FuturU courses should an aspiring Physiotherapist take?
There’s no substitute for the degree required to become a practising physiotherapist. But there are plenty of care-specific skills you can start learning today that will get you moving towards your new career.
Here are three FuturU online care courses to prepare you for your new role.
1) Dementia Skilled
In 2015, 251,000 care home residents in England were living with dementia – a figure projected to reach 667,000 by 2040. For physiotherapists in social care, an in-depth understanding of dementia is vital for managing behaviour and improving outcomes.
Take our free online Dementia skills course to learn how to help those within your care lead fuller, more independent lives. You’ll learn all about:
- types of dementia, their causes, and the impact they have on people’s lives
- how to provide care tailored to individual needs, preferences, and strengths
- preventative strategies that reduce the likelihood of a person becoming distressed
- communication strategies and methods for maintaining meaningful relationships
- how technology can promote independence, connectedness, and quality of life
- benefits of activities, maintaining physical health and following a healthy lifestyle
- challenges faced by caregivers and how to provide support and guidance.
About this course
- Duration: 120 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 24 months
2) Mental Health Awareness
Around 25% of older people in England live with a common mental health condition, and 40% of older people living in care homes have depression. As a social care physiotherapist, mental health challenges are likely to be very common among people within your care.
Our free online mental health awareness course gives you knowledge of the complexities of mental health and wellbeing to better understand and support individuals. You’ll discover:
- mental health laws and policies that impact people and communities
- the impact of stigma and how to promote mental health inclusivity
- various common mental health disorders and their symptoms
- practical tips and techniques to enhance your own mental wellbeing.
About this course
- Duration: 30 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
3) Stroke Awareness
Physiotherapists in care frequently work with stroke survivors to enhance their quality of life. Around 7% of people who move into a care home for the first time have experienced a stroke in the past 12 months, and they’re at greater risk of another stroke in the near future.
Our free online Stroke Awareness course empowers you to recognise the symptoms of stroke, understand the importance of rapid action, and support stroke survivors.
- Understand the types of stroke, what a stroke is and what causes it
- Know the signs and symptoms of a stroke and how a stroke is diagnosed
- Be aware of the first aid to provide to a person who has suffered a stroke
- Understand the challenges and impacts a stroke has on a person’s life
- Know the available treatments and therapies for people who have had a stroke.
About this course
- Duration: 40 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 24 months
Why stop here? FuturU has over 100 free courses for carers
Working in a care home means being part of a highly-skilled and motivated team, providing first-class care to people with very different needs. It can be both rewarding and demanding.
If you’ve never worked in this environment before, we can help you prepare. We have over 100 free online courses, all designed to build your competence and confidence as a carer.
Explore the FuturU course library and start learning today.
