The post holder will work as part of the childrens physiotherapy team providing highly specialised care to support the management of babies and children with neurological developmental delay from preterm to 2 years. The post holder will work closely with the Neonatal Multidisciplinary teams to provide assessment and treatment of patients on the Neonatal unit, clinics Nursery and Home and outpatients. They will provide leadership within the childrens Physiotherapy teams demonstrating a high standard of leadership skills and behaviours. Based at the Leeds Childrens Hospital, the post holder will support the inpatient therapists and outpatient service for management of these patients and liaise closely with other hospitals and community services for on going management of these patients. The post holder will act as the link person for the families in this service. Key relationships will be with other physiotherapists at both Leeds and the regional hospitals including the paediatric physiotherapy team, Occupational therapy team, specialist nurses, medical staff, dietician, psychologist, speech and language therapist, play therapist, community services, social services and education services. The post holder will contribute to the paediatric out of hours service at the Leeds Childrens Hospital. JOB PURPOSE To perform the advanced physiotherapeutic assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients within this specialist field who may have complex physical conditions. He/She will play a key role in the development, implementation and evaluation of specialist physiotherapy programmes and packages of care. As an experienced physiotherapist the post holder will assist in co-ordinating the activities of the team ensuring efficient and effective service provision. He/she will be required to ensure effective communication is maintained at all times, whilst providing training, supervision and clinical expertise to qualified and unqualified staff and students. As a lead clinician in this speciality, the jobholder will act as a role model to the physiotherapy team, promoting quality evidence based practice, developing the physiotherapy team and contributing to the effective management of the team in the absence of the clinical service manager.. JOB DIMENSIONS The post holder will be responsible for managing their own individual caseload which will be varied and on occasions require prioritisation to best meet the service demands. To undertake all aspects of work as an autonomous practitioner within this specialist field. He/She will be required to support the Clinical Service Manager in the day to day management of this team of physiotherapists, support staff and students. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Qualifications Degree or equivalent Attendance on relevant post graduate courses Experience Extensive post graduate experience at a senior level in paediatrics Clinical audit and standard setting Working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing, therapy and management colleagues Skills Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing within a uni and multi professional team Ability to prioritise, organise and allocate workload. Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified, unqualified staff and students Time management skills Clinical leadership Knowledge Sound knowledge of clinical speciality acquired through in depth experience and/or academic study to post graduate level or equivalent. Working knowledge of current professional issues and those influencing the NHS. Standards of professional practice. Personal Attributes Professional and patient focused Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking Excellent interpersonal skills Ability to work independently or as part of a team CORE VALUES Committed to delivering high quality evidence based physiotherapy treatment Committed to the clinical area, valuing the contribution of all team members and encouraging a positive and creative working environment. Committed to own development and the development of the physiotherapy service and profession. Committed to maintaining high standards of physiotherapy clinical practice and interpreting their application as appropriate. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS established clinical expertise teaching skills with the ability to use various media communication skills time management skills team player professional understanding of the process of change research conscious CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of this organisation with regard to the provision of high quality physiotherapy services to this specialist area. To have a working knowledge of and be guided by broad professional / clinical policies and standards e.g. those set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the Health Professions Council and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY Clinical To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects your own work relating to the assessment and treatment of patients in your care undertaking clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner. To undertake the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients including those with diverse/complex /multi pathological presentation. This will necessitate the use of advanced investigative and analytical skills to formulate an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan from a range of options. Using advanced investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualised management and treatment plans including the development of complex discharge plans. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients within this specialist field and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. To demonstrate dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills in the assessment and manual treatment of patients. To develop and deliver the physiotherapy element of the rehabilitation Programme and work with occupational therapy colleagues. To be an active member of the out of hours service. The working pattern will require flexibility including seven day working to ensure safe and effective service provision. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress treatment and rehabilitation programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding, communicating or have challenging behaviour. Ability to work in a stressful environment imparting complex information regarding poor rehabilitation prognosis on a daily basis. Ability to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients and/or carers on a daily basis. This will necessitate the use of developed communication skills e.g. the ability to negotiate, motivate and reassure. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the knowledge to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and support more junior staff to do likewise. Formulate and deliver specialised physiotherapy treatment programmes based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment options e.g. manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise classes, electrotherapy techniques and other alternative options. To represent the physiotherapy service and /or individual patients at multi disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service and integration of physiotherapy treatment. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning. In the absence of the clinical service manager, to represent the trust externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding physiotherapy services provided to this group of patients. Education and Training To provide spontaneous and planned specialist advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. To effectively communicate complex clinical information with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of their condition. To be an active member of the in-service training programme. You will be responsible for the provision of specialist teaching to peers and juniors on a range of subjects through the delivery of in-service training sessions, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review. To co-ordinate and deliver core training within the speciality to qualified and unqualified physiotherapy staff and students. To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff, assistants and students on a daily basis. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation. To provide daily support, guidance and training to more junior staff, support workers and students, assessing, evaluating and ensuring competence. To provide highly specialist advice, teaching and training to physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the MDT regarding the medical and physiotherapy management of this group of patients. Professional and Managerial Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence based practice in this specialist clinical field.