Specialist Stroke Physiotherapist- Walsall ESD/Community Stroke Team

Job summary

Walsall Combined ESD/Community Stroke Team and Community bed based service

As part of Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, we are pleased to be offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced Physiotherapist to be part of the Team. We are based in Walsall. This role would be providing physiotherapy for all Community stroke patients from hospital discharge and across the rehab pathway. We welcome and encourage visits to our team/ department.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated and innovative Physiotherapist with some experience in stroke/ neurological assessment and rehabilitation, who wishes to further develop their skills and knowledge in stroke care speciality. Exciting training opportunities will be available i.e. Bobath, taping, FES, Student educator training.

If you like to discuss the role further or arrange a visit please contact the team: 01922 604455 option 3

Main duties of the job

Walsall Combined ESD/Community Stroke Team and Community bed based service. Band 6 Specialist Physiotherapy. You will need to be motivated to provide therapeutic support into the stroke service that promotes independence for the service users. Therapy is delivered in patients' own homes, outpatient clinic or in the bed based service depending on which part of the pathway the patient is on.

Experience of working independently in a community rehabilitation setting is desirable. You will need excellent communication and organisational skills; enthusiasm and the potential to develop within the post will also be valued.

You will be required to work closely with all members of our MDT including nurses, SLT, OT and assistants. You will be vital in contributing to driving forward the development of high quality specialist Stroke Services for residents of Walsall. Applicants must have a current Health Profession Council registration. You will be fully supported by the stroke team and will be required to supervise Assistant Practitioners and students. If you are a flexible, forward-thinking Physiotherapist who wishes to develop your career in an award-winning stroke team, this could be the job for you. You must be willing to travel throughout the working day around the borough of Walsall.

About us

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.

Date posted: 14 April 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 6

Salary: £37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 407-COMMUNITY-7084069

Job locations: Hollybank House, Coltham Road, Willenhall, WV12 5QD

Job description Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Clinical

1. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner, including professional and legal accountability and managing clinical risk for all aspects of own work. Some aspects of work will involve delivery of the care as an individual practitioner or as part of a multi-disciplinary team. In most cases to be the sole health professional with responsibility for that patient's episode of care.
2. To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise.
3. To undertake advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse or complex physical, psychological, cognitive and behavioural conditions in order to provide an accurate diagnosis and prognosis. To formulate and deliver an individualised physiotherapy treatment programme including therapeutic handling, patient education, provision of exercise (individual/group), and other options. This includes the appropriate selection of referrals for inclusion in a range of treatment programmes, one-to-one sessions using advanced treatment options, advanced communication, questioning and reasoning skills.
4. Supervision takes the form of regular formal training, clinical reasoning sessions and peer review. Access to advice and support from senior physiotherapists is available if required. Clinical work is not routinely evaluated or supervised.
5. To undertake as directed a collection of data for use in service audit and research projects within the Intermediate Care Team. To manage and undertake research in specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and Rehabilitation Services research initiatives. Make recommendations to clinical lead/manager of rehabilitation services changes to practice by the team. May implement specific changes to practice.
6. To be responsible for safe and competent assessment, provision and use of physiotherapy equipment, patient appliances and aids by patients ensuring that junior staff/assistants/technical instructor attain competency prior to use.

Communication

1. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals; gain valid formal consent and jointly agreed goals. To have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
2. Communication will include imparting sensitive and comprehensive information relating to diagnosis, prognosis, physical and functional recovery and potential lifestyle adjustments to patients and their relatives. This may involve informing patients that they may be unable to return to their previous level of activity/work/leisure or remain at home safely.
3. Regular use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to discuss complex information about underlying influences, prognosis, and progression of rehabilitation and treatment programmes with patient or carer. This will include patients who may have difficulties with regard to complex emotional, psychological as well as physical conditions relating to the presenting complaint. This client group includes those who have difficulties in understanding or communicating; the patient may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, and blind or who may be unable to accept their diagnosis. Communication will involve use of skills in motivating, negotiating, counselling, training, empathising and reassuring.

Communication with Colleagues

1. To maintain accurate comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with requirements of Single Assessment and CSP standards of practice and to monitor that of less experienced staff.
2. To be responsible for accurate and timely data input into the Lorenzo data collection system.
3. To represent physiotherapy service, and/or individual patient to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service presenting a positive impression of rehabilitation services and the Physiotherapy Service. This will involve advising the multi-disciplinary team (G.Ps, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and Social Workers) on management of physical recovery and discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement of discharge planning. Information will be provided in several formats including verbal feedback during multi-disciplinary case conferences, comprehensive written assessment and discharge summaries and via email.
4. Advice will be shared with Line Manager and rehabilitation services relating to service planning, changes of clinical practice, complaints and plaudits.
5. To take a shared approach to teamwork, understanding own role in rehabilitation services, MDT, Physiotherapy team and the wider Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

Communication External

1. External communication may include discussion with employers and related agencies regarding return to work issues. Discussion with multi-disciplinary team members regarding patient management including GPs, District Nurses, carer services and Social Services.

Documentation

1. To maintain clinical case notes in line with professional and departmental standards.
2. To provide specialist Physiotherapy reports that are timely, accurate and user friendly as required. These must reflect the clinical interpretation of the data collected from assessment.
3. To submit statistical information required by the Trust, the Therapy Lead and Divisional Director.
4. To participate in and lead where directed in the collection of data using outcome measures for departmental audit.

Training

1. To operate as a practice placement educator for Physiotherapy Students.
2. To contribute to the induction and training of Physiotherapy Students, Technical Instructors and junior staff.
3. To provide support and clinical supervision to junior Physiotherapy staff.
4. To support work experience placements within service area.

Service Development and Delivery

1. To use local and national initiatives to influence service development and delivery.
2. To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within the team.
3. To lead on delegated projects and specific clinical area.
4. To participate in the delivery of the Physiotherapy service development plan.

Professional Development

1. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practise, through CPD activities and to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the areas of rehabilitation, developing specialist knowledge of particular conditions and patient types.
2. To use reflective practice as a tool for CPD.
3. To attend and contribute to Physiotherapy Service and Speciality meetings.
4. To provide in service training and demonstrations to service area staff, students and other disciplines.
5. To have good working knowledge of and ensure compliance with National and Local guidelines, policies and procedures. To keep up-to-date with clinical developments by the use of clinical databases and electronic technology.
6. To take delegated responsibility for the teaching, supervision and co-ordination of junior staff, students (to graduate level), physiotherapy assistants and care workers on a daily basis.
7. To work as an effective and responsible team member, arriving and leaving promptly, working effectively during agreed hours.

Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal

1. In line with local guidelines review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of KSF, supervision and PDR.
2. To provide support, supervision and assessment for all learners, students and staff receiving education or training in clinical practice and to technical instructors and junior staff and to participate in peer support with all grades of staff.
3. To provide supervision and/or appraisal to students, technical instructors and junior staff and to participate in peer support with all grades of staff.
4. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• HPC registration
• Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/CPD/ that covers core skills in stroke rehabilitation

EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrates current, practical experience in management of neuro rehabilitation conditions acquired from post graduate training and working as a post graduate physiotherapist in a rehabilitation setting
• Knowledge of the workings of Community Physiotherapy
• Experience at working in MDT team

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates a detailed understanding of clinical governance & its implications for service provision
• Effective written and verbal communication skills when conveying and receiving highly complex and emotive information
• Detailed knowledge of quality, audit and evidence based practice

Desirable

• Community Experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name: Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Address: Hollybank House, Coltham Road, Willenhall, WV12 5QD

Employer's website: https://walsallhealthcare.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)