Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Sefton; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000

Job description

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Acute Therapy Team at Southport Hospital as a key member of the senior leadership team as a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist. The post holder will provide specialist assessment and treatment for the in-patient adult acute wards. You will work closely with the wider acute therapy team and the Critical Care Specialist therapists. You will have a key role in co-ordinating physiotherapy resources and assisting management in relation to operational service delivery.

The post holder will lead on supervision and education of junior physiotherapists as well as responsibility for ensuring the safe delivery of the teams 7 day service. The acute therapy team is a dynamic team made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and assistants. We are based in Southport District General Hospital which is easily accessible by car or train from Liverpool City Centre (19 miles), Ormskirk (6.5 miles), Wigan (19 miles) and Manchester (44 miles).

The medical and surgical team is a dynamic multidisciplinary service, delivering an acute in-patient therapy service across a number of medical specialities including respiratory, cardiology, gastroenterology, care of the elderly, in addition to surgery, post-operative critical care and the therapy/nursing led 11A unit. The successful candidate will support 7 day working and be supported by the clinical therapy management team.

Main duties of the job

• To provide support to the team lead in smooth delivery of a physiotherapy service including day to day operations, and acting as a representative for the service.
• To act as an advanced clinician and a source of expertise and clinical support and supervision to physiotherapy, occupational therapy and therapy assistant staff within the service.
• To provide formal and informal training, supervision, appraisal and support to members of staff within the team.

About Us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Our Services:

• Acute Care: Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care: Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services: Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire.
• Specialist Regional Services: We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Job Description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To take a lead role in the advanced assessment and treatment planning of acutely ill patients requiring co-ordinated assessment and management, evaluating, and amending treatment plans as indicated.
• To ensure patients receive enhanced assessment, treatment, and where appropriate rehabilitation whilst on the Medical and Surgical wards linking with community services thus ensuring continuity of care and seamless transitions between hospital and community services.
• To ensure delivery of improved assessment strategies incorporating multi professional groups, through the standardisation of assessment and referral processes.
• Liaison with multi professional groups, patients, relatives, and carers to ensure maximum effectiveness of the service.
• To be professional, legally responsible, and accountable for all aspects of the work undertaken.
• To liaise with the Team Lead for delivering and evaluating services on a day-to-day basis.
• Shared responsibility for the continuing professional development and overall performance of physiotherapists.
• To have responsibility for own defined complex physiotherapy caseload.
• Supervise, educate, and assess the performance of students.
• Undertake evidence-based audit and if required research projects.
• The post holder must comply with all relevant policies, procedures, and training on infection prevention and control.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding of the short and long term physical and psycho-social issues associated with recovery from acute illness.
• Demonstrate a high level of knowledge and experience in assessment, treatment, and delivery of rehabilitation to acutely ill patients.
• To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnoses and prognoses.
• To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients.
• Assess patients understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid consent, and work within a legal framework.
• Use a range of verbal and no-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients.
• To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment and patient appliances.
• To provide specialist advice to multi professional groups involved in the care of acutely ill patients.
• To link with the band 7 Respiratory Physiotherapy Lead and Medical/Surgical Team Leader to coordinate training.
• To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals.
• Represent the service in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• Work within Trust clinical guidelines.
• To maintain accurate patient records in line with Trust Policies and Procedures.
• To lead audit and ensure that the service delivered is evidenced based.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be responsible for a designated area of work.
• To decide priorities for own work area.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date documentation.
• To be actively involved in collecting appropriate data and statistics.
• To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of work.
• To comply with the organisational policies and procedures.
• To undertake any other duties that may be considered appropriate.
• Develop and improve information sheets and booklets for patients.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of junior physiotherapy staff, students and assistants.
• Ensure that practice meets the required professional standards.
• To undertake the measurement and evaluation of work.
• Lead training for junior physiotherapists.
• Participate in equipment training for the physiotherapy service.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management.

LINE MANAGEMENT / SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Carry out regular PDR reviews with the band 6 physiotherapists.
• To be responsible for organising and planning your own caseload.
• To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD).
• Contribute specialist knowledge to medical and surgical team.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• Current HCPC registration
• Attendance and completion of master's level clinical courses or equivalent.
• Fieldwork / Practice Educator qualification
• Membership/participant of Special Interest Group/networks.

Knowledge & Experience

• Extensive clinical post-graduation experience of rehabilitation of acutely ill patients.
• Extensive knowledge of the physical and psycho-social impact of acute illness.
• Experience of working with multi professional groups.
• Operational management, development, and supervision of staff.
• Experience of teaching multi professional staff.
• Experience of service evaluations and audit processes.
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio.
• Have a detailed awareness of current NHS issues.

Skills

• Initiate evidence-based practice within the clinical setting.
• Committed to personal and departmental development.
• Able to work well with others and pass on skills.
• Able to maintain judgement under pressure.
• Initiate evidence-based practice within the clinical setting.

Other

• To be able to assess complex patients.
• Be able to deal with distressing situations.
• To manage working in a highly pressured work environment.
• Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of the post.