Specialist Hand Therapist

Do you have a passion for outpatients care? Are you interested in working in a specialist upper limb service?

The RUH Hand Therapy team are offering the opportunity for an enthusiastic and suitably qualified Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist to join the team. This unique position includes working in Hand Clinics (Elective and Trauma), Hands Outpatients, and working with Orthopaedic patients (including Hand inpatients) on the ward. The position involves flexible working, on a fixed term basis. There is hope that this post will be made permanent in the future.

The successful applicant needs excellent communication skills and flexibility to meet the complex demands of the service. The applicant should have significant experience in MSK outpatients, ideally in Hand Therapy, experience of working in busy clinic situations and preferably be competent in splinting. Experience in Orthopaedics (both Elective and Trauma) is desirable to support the ward team.

We have a positive approach to professional development and there is an active in-service training programme. Additionally, the role involves the supervision and teaching of Band 5 therapy staff and therapy students.

You may wish to second into this post. However, this is limited to one per post holder. If you wish to discuss this further, please get in touch via the contact details below.

Main duties of the job

1. To provide a high standard therapy service to patients in specialist area with hand, wrist or elbow conditions.
2. To work across the trust in a specialist out-patient department and clinic, alongside Orthopaedic Consultants and Nurses, as well as supporting the Orthopaedic inpatient team.
3. To undertake the advanced physiotherapeutic assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients who may have diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions.
4. To hold responsibility for own caseload and to be responsible for a particular specialist service working without supervision.
5. To provide supervision in the form of regular formal training, clinical reasoning sessions, peer review and appraisals.
6. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
7. To participate in a weekend rota.
8. To deputise for the Hand Therapy Team Leader.

About us

At the RUH we're proud to put people at the heart of what we do, working together as one team to make a difference for our patients, each other, and our community. No matter what your role is, we value everyone's contribution in supporting the exceptional, person-centred care we pride ourselves on.

We are committed to creating a compassionate and inclusive environment. This can be seen in our growing community of staff networks - celebrating successes and creating opportunities to listen and learn. We value our differences, champion kindness and civility, and truly believe that diversity makes us stronger.

A culture of learning, developing and innovating is the thread that runs throughout our whole organisation. We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential.

We value staff wellbeing, with a well-established programme of support. We believe in a holistic approach spanning all aspects of living a healthy life, including physical, emotional, spiritual and financial wellbeing. We've even got a pool!

We are committed to supporting you and hope you want to join our team. In the meantime, find out more about living and working in the beautiful historic city of Bath, learn about our extensive package of staff benefits, and read about how we're providing healthcare fit for the future with the landmark Dyson Cancer Centre and our passion for research.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached to the vacancy a detailed person specification and job description for further information about this role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

1. Degree in physiotherapy or occupational therapy
2. State registration with HCPC
3. Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio

Desirable

1. Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy / RCOT
2. Involvement in Special Clinical Interest Groups

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

1. Advanced knowledge of broad range of conditions in specialist area
2. Experience of working as part of a therapy team and/or multi-disciplinary team
3. Experience of supervising more junior staff/students
4. Experience in fabricating thermoplastic splints for the hand, wrist and elbow
5. Knowledge of validated assessment tools and outcome measures for hand and upper limb conditions

Desirable

1. Experience with patients with dementia, confusion and patients with physical disability
2. Involvement in audit, research and understanding quality issues

Values

Essential

1. Values and respects others, treats everyone as an individual, is non-judgemental
2. Motivated to be genuinely kind and caring
3. Active team member, helping and cooperating with colleagues
4. Willing to learn and open to change
5. Takes pride in themselves, their appearance, role and where they work
6. Proactive and takes responsibility

Specific Skills

Essential

1. To remain updated with professional and evidence-based practice and new research
2. To have competent IT skills
3. Static splinting skills and application
4. Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner and to keep accurate and legible patient notes
5. To be competent in performing assessments and treatments with patients with a variety of hand and upper limb conditions

Desirable

1. Completion of BAHT accredited course or similar
2. Presentation skills
3. Experience in running courses

Employer details

Employer name

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal United Hospitals Bath

Combe Park

Bath

BA1 3NG

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
427-6525344