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Touring New Zealand

Apr 23, 2021

Touring as Physiotherapist for Rugby team

So as some of you may know, I have been away in New Zealand
for three weeks at the start of July, leaving Chris in control of the clinic,
and he’s done a smashing job too.

I have been away with RBAI school rugby team U15 and U16
teams touring both north and south Islands of New Zealand providing,
physiotherapy/medical cover, plus a little bit of craic for our time there. The
boys played 10 matches in total and won nine of these matches against top New
Zealand rugby schools, which is just an amazing feat.

I have been Physiotherapist to RBAI school 1st XV
since 2002. A role I stumbled upon, having some free time on a Saturday
morning. I have never looked back. With trips to Barcelona, Japan, England, and
Scotland, I always enjoy a good tour. The opportunity to meet new people, visit
new places, spend time with great people, be part of good rugby and most
important for me is to have fun whilst doing it. It has been a pleasure to work
with some of the top coaches in Ireland and some great rugby players/pupils.

When the tour to New Zealand was first mentioned to me I
agreed and said no problems, after all it was a few years away. Well it came
around fairly quickly! There was lots of fundraising, such a superb effort put
in by all the parents, boys and staff. Without them all, the tour would never
have happened.

Prior to the tour I have to say that it did feel slightly
daunting, being the medical cover for 45 boys. So off we went, the boys having
completed SCAT tests before leaving. Whilst away, we had to do a few more SCAT
tests after some of the games for those boys who suffered knocks to the head.
Thankfully no one seriously concussed. It’s the safety of players which is
always at the forefront of our minds. Match
days were busy, helping both teams prep for each match.

So what kind of injuries did we pick up whilst away? We had
some usual rugby knocks and bumps – nothing too serious, a few mild concussions
(ruling boys out of playing), cellulitis, quads strain, back strain, shoulder
impingement, ankle sprain, knee pain and finally some mild cold symptoms.
Thankfully nothing too serious and only two visits to medical centres for the
entire three weeks, which I think was pretty good all round. After all, it was
winter in New Zealand and cold!

The entire tour has just been an incredible experience for
all those involved, and one for which I will be eternally grateful.

There have been many highlights on the tour for me:-

·

Skyline tower in Auckland

·

Going to the Super 14 match between the
Highlanders and the Reds in Dunedin

·

Watching the match between the British and Irish
Lions in the Auckland fan zone, beat the All Blacks

·

Seeing the Crusaders and the Chiefs at their
respective training grounds

·

Queenstown – Fergburger (best burger in the
world), Luge racing, white water rafting, helicopter ride through the snowy
valley, jet boat on the Shotover river, The views of the wintery
countryside/mountains.

·

Maori village, Rotorua – experiencing the
culture, the food, the games, the lifestyle.

·

Mini team competition, fines and court session,
were always a laugh. My own mini team of Robin, Tom, Michael, PC, Stuarty Mc,
Alex and Sam, were unfortunate to miss out on the top team prize but definitely
a top group of lads. PC and Sam were our winners for top tourists as voted by
the boys and the management.

·

The most important one for me in the list here
is the way in which our two inexperienced teams played their rugby. They gelled
well and played good rugby and beat some good, hard opposition. You have to
remember that this is our summertime, and our boys haven’t played much rugby
for a few months.

·

Beating all the boys at table tennis at Otago
Boys HS with Jonny Peak, winning 10 pin
bowling

·

Kyle, our bus driver was a fountain of knowledge
(except rivers) and couldn’t do enough to help out.

·

The New Zealand people in general were so
friendly, kind, social and brilliant.

The boys have been incredible ambassadors for our country
with everyone they met and for all the families that they got to spend time
with out there. They, their parents and the school should be very proud how
they have conducted themselves both on and off the pitch. I certainly am! Each
boy on the trip will have their own story to tell and highlight (even shooting
possum). If you ever get the chance to ask them about it, then ask them. It’s
hard to put down on paper just how incredible the whole tour was.

I personally would like to thank Dan Soper and the school
for the opportunity to be part of the experience. I’d also really like to thank
every one of the boys for being such great craic, banter and overall just being
all-round ‘good’. I can’t believe the time passed so quickly. There was never a
dull moment. There have been a lot of memories created for everyone on the tour
and will surely not be forgotten. Thank you too, to all the staff, great
memories!!

I have added a couple of photos just to remind myself of New
Zealand but also, all the people who made the trip so great.

Sweet as bro!

Gavin

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Physiotherapist
  • Are you comfortable working with different people to achieve their health goals?
  • Are you stuck in a boring job with little chance of learning, development or career opportunity?
  • Do you want a fresh flexible opportunity that will allow you to grow professionally and personally?
  • Our dynamic and fun business is looking for the right person to join the team.

Ideal Characteristics Required 

  • People person
  • Highly motivated
  • Outstanding references
  • You actually want to learn and work

Why work at Gav Noble Physiotherapy? 

  • Join an established, respected and busy set of clinics
  • Excellent work environment with learning opportunities in both Clinical & Business

Skills Required 

  • Commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team
  • Practical and able to problem solve
  • Demonstrate ability to market and advertise your skills
  • Able to use a computer
  • Strong musculo-skeletal and manual therapy background
  • Relevant Qualification 

Desirable skills/interest 

  • Manual therapy
  • Pilates training
  • Dry needling
  • Kinesio tape
  • Marketing/Business
  • Previous MSK Private Practice background

Perks

  • Opportunities for developing manual therapy skills.
  • Mixed Caseload
  • Flexibility, accountability, autonomy, transparency
  • Ability to make changes and improvements to clinical practice easily and quickly.
  • Flexibility and freedom to be creative in your approach with patient care
  • Flexible working hours
Client Care Specialist

THIS JOB WILL BE PERFECT FOR YOU IF:

  • Have amazing personal and phone communication skills
  • Have a record of speaking to people at length and the ability to deal with complaints in an empathetic manner
  • An understanding of KPIs in business and the ability to optomise their own performance
  • Help our clients get the best outcomes they can
  • Want to learn on the job and are keen in evolve your current skills
  • Computer and Social Media Literate
  • Able to handle taking payments and managing money

THE OPPORTUNITY:

  • Join a hard working, fun group who enjoy making a difference every day you come into the clinic
  • The opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives and health through communication and education

IF YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF:

  • Helping potential clients determine if our clinic is the right fit for them and their problem?
  • Answering and returning phone calls of potential, current and past clients?

JOB TITLE: Client Care Specialist

  • Are you comfortable with talking to strangers both in person and on the phone?
  • Are you a motivated to learn?
  • Is being “organised” a top priority in your life and are you able to multi-task and prioritize projects, while simultaneously meeting deadlines and prioritizing your day?
  • Can you communicate effectively with people from all different backgrounds – both written and verbal?
  • Are you able to speak up when you see something that is not working and can you anticipate the needs of other people because you show up for work knowing that the smallest details always make the difference?
  • Do you have a positive outlook on life? Are you flexible and open to change, committed to learning?

THE ROLE:

  • You will be responsible for managing a busy front desk and waiting room.
  • experience, meeting and greeting our patients, answering the phone, converting inquires into paying patients and ensuring that all of our patients are looked after and made to feel welcomed whenever they enter your world.
  • Ultimately, your job is to help us grow the revenue of the clinic by booking in new patients via the phone or those who walk into our clinic directly and excelling at retaining those patients as lifelong customers of the business.
  • You’ll do that by creating the type of customer service experience that patients will be happy to pay for – and just as happy to tell others about.

THE TASKS:

  • Communicate the value of our services (in person and on the phone) and be able to explain how what we do, is worth the price we are asking
  • Successfully handle price objections.
  • Hold a lengthy (at least 15-20 minute) conversation with new patients on the phone ensuring that patients are committed and bought into our service.
  • Provide an exceptional waiting room environment for our patients that they’ll look forward to coming back to.
  • Ensure that people who call requesting appointments are placed on schedule and understand the true time and cost commitment involved in physical therapy.
  • Ensure people show up excited for their first appointment after scheduling.
  • Communicate with patients before, during and after appointments to ensure satisfaction is being achieved.
  • Ensure that all invoices are raised on time, every time and are sent to the appropriate person (in house or externally).
  • Organise and plan all schedules – maximising efficiency and revenue for the clinic.
  • Foster deep relationships with patients ensuring NP score hits agreed levels.
  • Develop and regularly update the procedures library so that every aspect of the role is documented and can be achieved by anyone else in the business.

SKILLS/COMPETENCIES NEEDED:

  • Be able to hold meaningful conversations with prospective patients on the phone for longer than 20 minutes (empathy).
  • Be able to answer all questions asked on the phone in a such a way that increases the likelihood that the person asking will want to become a customer (insightful and knowledgeable).
  • Recall names and faces of patients and in doing so making all our patients feel welcomed and remembered.
  • Provide a warm and welcoming greeting to patients when they arrive in the clinic (experience).
  • Organisation and planning: plans and organises, schedules and budgets in an efficient, productive manner.
  • Focuses on key priorities.
  • Follow through on commitments: lives up to verbal and written agreements regardless of personal cost.
  • Demonstrate an ability to quickly and proficiently understand and absorb new information.
  • Attention to detail: does not let important details slip through the cracks.
  • Persistence: demonstrate tenacity and willingness to go the distance to get something done.
  • Proactivity: acts without being told what to do.
  • Bring new ideas to the company.

WHAT WE WILL DO FOR YOU:

  • Provide you with ongoing training and support in the field of customer service and front desk administration.
  • Give you an amazing environment to work in that includes working with a team of wonderful and very supportive staff – as well as very
  • friendly customers.
  • Opportunity to develop and grow in a team that is value driven and strongly encourages personality based service.
  • Competitive salary with chance to earn even more as we grow as a result of your impact.

Salary: On Application.

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours.