Highly Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist

Are you interested in working with children and young people from birth to adulthood with a wide variety of conditions? If so this exciting opportunity could be for you! We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced and innovative physiotherapist to join our multidisciplinary paediatric therapy team. You will be part of a multidisciplinary paediatric team and work closely alongside the Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy teams.

You will be responsible for providing highly specialist services to 0-16 years old within the Musculoskeletal (MSK) and Rheumatology service within Harrow. The post-holder will provide support and line manage junior colleagues working in these areas in collaboration with other senior staff ensuring supervision, appraisal and development.

Main duties of the job

1. To provide highly specialist Physiotherapy assessment treatment and consultation services for children and young people within the Musculoskeletal service and Rheumatology service with Harrow.
2. To manage own workload and work as an autonomous practitioner as part of the MDT providing specialist advice to other healthcare professionals, social care colleagues, more junior physiotherapists, student and educational staff including teaching and training.
3. To provide line management to Physiotherapists and Assistants ensuring supervision, appraisal and development.
4. He/she will work alongside teaching, medical and nursing staff to ensure specialist therapy programmes are in place for children under their care.
5. He/she will be expected to work collaboratively with children/young people (CYP), parents/carers and with colleagues in Health, Education and Social Services in planning and delivery of services.
6. He/she will be responsible for planning and delivering highly specialist training to other PT's, professionals and parents/carers on all aspects of Physiotherapy relating to MSK, Rheumatology and acute ward services.
7. He/she will provide clinical education and training to physiotherapy students.

About us

You will be based at Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre and be part of a dynamic, friendly physiotherapy and multi-disciplinary paediatric team. There is a strong commitment to continuing professional development and evidence based practice through the provision of regular in-service training, journal club and access to external courses. Support is also provided through regular supervision sessions, peer support meetings and the staff appraisal programme.

Harrow has one of the largest Paediatric Therapy Teams in North West London. You will work alongside colleagues in Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy, providing both acute and community services in the London Borough of Harrow. We are a well-established, dynamic team working collaboratively with colleagues in Health, Education and Social Services. You will be joining and welcomed into a diverse therapy team who actively promote and advocate for equality and diversity.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• To communicate highly complex patient-related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with multidisciplinary team members across health, education and social services and the voluntary sector.
• To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to support early intervention.
• To share information with others, observing confidentiality and data protection guidelines and having due regard for local guidance on sharing information with colleagues in education, social services and the voluntary sector.
• To communicate highly complex condition-related information (both verbally and in the written form) from assessment, to CYP, Parents/carers, and members of the multi-disciplinary team/other professions.
• To have due regard for the cultural and linguistic differences of children/families concerned.
• To work closely with CYP, carers and families, involving them in decision making, regarding intervention approaches demonstrating empathy and ensuring that effective communication is achieved.
• To employ excellent communication skills such as persuasion, motivation and explanations to encourage/reassure clients and carers to undertake treatment programmes.
• To demonstrate established negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.
• To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible and report to senior staff.
• To form productive relationships with others, particularly parents/carers who may be under stress and/or have challenging communication difficulties.
• To write clinical reports as per departmental standards reflecting highly specialist knowledge.
• To provide written advice for statutory assessment of special educational needs.
• To communicate information to the paediatric therapy team on health and safety as part of the duty of health and safety representative.
• To signpost families to services that the child and/or family needs in Harrow and support them in accessing information.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential

• Specialist experience in the management of children and young people with MSK conditions.
• Specialist experience in the management of children and young people with Rheumatological conditions.
• Significant post-graduate experience of working with/teaching parents and carers, other professionals.
• Significant post-graduate paediatric experience of managing own caseload of CYP including writing clinical notes and reports clinical audit working with interpreters and community groups.
• Working knowledge of the roles of other professionals in Health Education and Social Care involved with CYP.
• Experience of working in the NHS.
• Well established knowledge and broad range of assessment tools for specialist client group.
• Experience of Serial casting and splinting.
• Clinical supervision of PT's and PTA's.
• Experience of Supervising students.

Desirable

• GMFM criteria/ assessment.
• Gait analysis/ biomechanics.
• Aquatic Therapy.
• Line management.

Training & Qualifications
Essential

• Recognised Physiotherapy Degree and Registered Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).
• UK Health Professions Council (HPC) Registered - Licence to Practice.
• Evidence of CPD in portfolio including attendance of specialist short courses relevant to children with disabilities e.g. Bobath.

Desirable

• Advanced training up to Masters level or equivalent in paediatric Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology.

Skills and attributes
Essential

• Good written and spoken English.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and established negotiation and problem-solving skills - including observation, listening, and empathy skills.
• Demonstrates good analytical and reflection skills and well-developed concentration skills.
• Good organisational skills and ability to work in an unpredictable environment and to prioritise own workload and others.
• Demonstrates ability to be a team player.
• Ability to communicate effectively with children and young people of all ages and abilities.

Employer details
Employer name
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Harrow Paediatric Physiotherapy
Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre- Primary Hub
Harrow
HA2 9DX
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
333-G-HCS-1108