Specialist Physiotherapist Community Learning Disability Team
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Are you enthusiastic about supporting people with learning disabilities and committed to improving their quality of life?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Physiotherapist to join the Barnsley Adult Learning Disability Team. The successful applicant will have the ability to work independently as a specialist practitioner and make autonomous decisions as required, having good clinical, management and leadership skills.
Our well-established team provides a service for adults with learning disabilities (LD) and their carers across Barnsley. The team currently consists of a full-time Band 6 Specialist Physiotherapist, a Band 5 rotational physiotherapist, and two shared Therapy Assistants, and is part of a wider Learning Disabilities Multi-Disciplinary Team (LD MDT).
The Trust is committed to staff development and in-house training to meet the requirements of the role. There is a Trust-wide Physio Forum which offers support and CPD opportunities.
Contact Clare Steel (Advanced Practitioner / AHP Lead)
Email Address: clare.steel@swyt.nhs.uk
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
Main Duties of the Job
Demonstrates a positive attitude and respect when working with people with learning disabilities.
The physiotherapist will provide specialist assessment, treatment, and management to adults with learning disabilities. Specific duties will involve assessing and treating service users with respiratory conditions, mobility issues, moving and handling guidance, and support with full postural management. Also, falls assessments, prevention work, and health promotion.
We provide specialist interventions such as rebound and hydrotherapy which the physiotherapist will deliver. (Experience is desirable; training will be provided).
The post holder will work collaboratively within the MDT to offer therapy that is holistic and person-centred, ensuring continuity of care for service users. The post holder will undertake work from within the community service but be expected to be flexible in terms of delivering care within a variety of settings and on an Agile basis.
There is the requirement for educating physiotherapy students and supervising Band 5 physiotherapists and therapy assistants.
About Us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health, and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees, and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families, and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we’re accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we’re run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical, and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job Responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder carries the responsibility for a defined caseload working with adults in the Community team for people with Learning Disabilities. The caseload will include clients of all levels of ability as defined by the team criteria. The post holder will serve as an effective member of the multi-disciplinary team and promote a consistent multi-agency approach.
The post holder will contribute to the leadership and development of the Specialist Learning Disability Health team in accordance with local and national guidance.
The post holder will have the ability to work independently as a specialist individual practitioner and make autonomous decisions as required. Have good clinical, management, and leadership skills.
The post holder will work with service users on an individual and group basis as required to provide assessment, treatment, and therapeutic interventions in conjunction with the community pathways including in-reach to inpatient areas where required.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
To work as an integral member of the Specialist Learning Disability Health team.
To carry out a specialised clinical caseload undertaking specialist assessment, treatment, and advice to patients often with complex neurological presentations and formulate a clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment plan as an autonomous practitioner.
To be responsible for specialist advice to staff, patients, and carers.
Supervision of students, assistants, and Band 5 physiotherapists.
No direct budget responsibility.
Clinical
To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of own work including the management of patients in your care.
To perform specialist physiotherapeutic assessment and treatment of patients with diverse presentations, multiple pathologies, and complex conditions, formulating a diagnosis and treatment plan using specialised clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques.
To display specialist problem-solving skills to recognise and identify patients requiring further investigations, referring appropriately to other services within and outside the physiotherapy remit. To be aware of and screen for serious pathologies with appropriate management.
To hold responsibility for own caseload, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support is available from more senior colleagues as required. Clinical work is not routinely evaluated.
To formulate and deliver individual physiotherapy treatment programmes based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical information to form a diagnosis, prognosis, and to recommend the best course of intervention, developing comprehensive discharge plans.
To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, and understand the pathways and legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent.
To communicate effectively with patients and carers, overcoming barriers to communication and understanding in order to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.
To provide planned and spontaneous advice, teaching, and instruction of patients, relatives, carers, and other healthcare professionals to promote the understanding of rehabilitation goals and ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
Where necessary, to be involved in MDT meetings to ensure the delivery of a coordinated service to patients.
To be responsible for risk assessment of own caseload and working environment and ensure the correct and safe use of all equipment and appliances by patients, and by staff and students through training and supervision of practice.
Professional
To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through a variety of CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.
To maintain and develop up-to-date specialist knowledge of Evidence Based Practice within the area of work.
To undertake measurement and evaluation of specialist treatment and current practice through the use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures. Recommend change of practice to Lead AHP and be involved in the implementation of changes to practice and service protocols.
Maintain HCPC registration, Trust, CSP, and departmental standards, guidelines, and policies ensuring quality of service and monitor own Band 5 and assistants' quality of practice.
To induct and provide clinical education, support, and training to Band 5 physiotherapists and assistants assessing and evaluating competence as required.
To participate when required in the clinical education of medical professionals in the specialist field of learning disability physiotherapy.
To partake in the clinical supervision and education of undergraduate physiotherapy students, whilst maintaining communication links with the universities.
To participate in the Trust's appraisal system.
Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and delivery of training sessions, peer review, and external courses where appropriate.
To ensure accurate, legible, and comprehensive treatment records are kept in line with CSP and Trust standards of practice.
Establish and maintain communication links with other medical specialties in representation of physiotherapy services, to ensure the delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary approach.
To accept responsibility from and delegate to other members of the physiotherapy staff.
To be aware of health and safety aspects of your work and implement any policies deemed necessary to improve safety.
For full details of the role, please see the supporting documents attached.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent.
* Registration with Health Professions Council (HCPC).
* A recognised qualification or appropriate evidence of suitable experience in teaching and assessing in clinical practice (e.g. Supporting Learning in Practice (SLiP) or equivalent, or Accredited Clinical Educator (ACE) status).
Training
* Evidence of post-graduate learning & development.
* To be willing to undertake post-graduate training to further skills, knowledge, and expertise.
* Post-graduate training relevant to Learning Disability.
Personal Attributes
* Ability to implement all of the 6C values & behaviours expected of healthcare professionals.
* Values contribution of others.
* Ability to motivate self and others.
* Organisational skills.
* Effective communication skills, verbal and written.
* Willingness to work flexibly.
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
* A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
* Post-registration experience including in learning disability.
* Documented evidence of continuing professional development.
* Experience of risk assessment/moving and handling issues including the safe and correct use of all specialist equipment.
* Experience of a range of learning disability settings.
* Supervision of staff and/or students.
* Involvement in audit/research/quality issues or training.
Special Knowledge/Skills
* Specialist knowledge and application of physiotherapy assessments and interventions relevant to learning disability, including clinical reasoning, moving and handling, treatment skills, and techniques in learning disability support and rehabilitation.
* Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
* Extensive clinical practice skills including individual and group work.
* Understanding of and ability to use appropriate outcome measures.
* Ability to work autonomously and set own priorities.
* Ability to analyse professional and ethical issues.
* Supervisory/appraisal skills.
* Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance.
* Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information.
* Ability to build effective working relationships.
* Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application.
* Understanding of person-centred care and positive behavioural approaches.
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.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
#J-18808-Ljbffr