Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated and passionate physiotherapist to join our highly regarded critical care physiotherapy teams. This post would suit Band 5's looking to specialise or current Band 6's who would like to broaden their experience. This post is also suitable for a Band 5 transitioning to Band 6 on completion of training and competency to deliver rehabilitation services within UHP NHS Trust
This 12-month rotational post would rotate through general, neurosurgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit, high dependency unit, cardiac and respiratory wards delivering critical care rehabilitation. Applicants will need previous experience working as a physiotherapist, across a broad range of specialities, including critical care / respiratory / neurology / outpatients / orthopaedics. If you are looking to develop your career in this field this is an excellent prospect.
The successful candidate will be joining already established teams in delivering seven day physiotherapy service to patients as part of the wider physiotherapy department; this includes a commitment to respiratory on-call. There is a comprehensive on-call competency pack and pathway to support staff going on-call.
If you have a passion for delivering high quality patient care, appropriate postgraduate experience and are looking to join a rotation where no two days are the same, then this is your opportunity.
Main duties of the job
1. To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to general, neurosurgical and cardiothoracic intensive care unit, high dependency unit, cardiac and respiratory wards. This involves working across the trust and peripheral sites in a range of settings providing a seven day service.
2. To assist the Team Leader in creating Rehabilitation pathways, Outcome measure use and robust knowledge of the relevant NICE and NHS England policies.
3. To assist the Team Leaders in planning, developing, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to patients within the team, on a day-to-day basis.
4. To assess and treat own caseload of patients within intensive care, high dependency and wards, who may have complex presentations, and maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.
5. At times community / home visits may be required to be undertaken.
6. To deputise for the Team Leaders when necessary.
7. To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to provide a diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme.
8. To provide expertise, with respect to rehabilitation through ICUs in liaison with the Team Lead, Head of Physiotherapy, Consultant Therapist Neurosurgery and Lead for Complex Rehabilitation and other clinical specialists.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
9. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
10. To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards and local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines (this might include meetings, report and letter writing)
11. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical diagnosis of their condition.
12. Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills specialist neurological or respiratory techniques, manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, and other alternative options.
13. To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 Physiotherapist for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
14. Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans.
15. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
16. Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate, gain co-operation, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or realistic expectations of Physiotherapy intervention.
17. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
18. To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and to report incidents and near misses
19. Work within trust clinical guidelines and CSP guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
20. Rarely, when working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior physiotherapist if required.
21. To be an active member of the respiratory evening and weekend on-call rota and medical / surgical / cardiothoracic and critical care seven day services. Individual to ensure competencies are maintained.
22. When working on the emergency duty rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory/orthopaedic/ neuro problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner.
23. When working on the emergency duty on-call rota, provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients respiratory/ major trauma orthopaedic/ neurology and chest functions/condition and its management.
24. To train, clinically supervise and performance management more junior staff, technical instructors, assistants and students, with assistance from more senior members of the physiotherapy team. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
25. Represent physiotherapy service and /or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.
26. To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all electrotherapy equipment, gym equipment and patient appliances and aids by patients and ensure that junior staff/assistants attain competency prior to use.
Professional
27. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities, and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.
28. Be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participation in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review.
29. Ensure that your own practice and that of any staff under your supervision meet the required professional standards of physiotherapy practice.
Organisational
30. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet set knowledge and competencies.
31. To undertake as directed the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects.
32. Be responsible for the safe and competent use of gym, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy equipment by patients, through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
33. To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise.
34. Any other duties that might be considered appropriate by the physiotherapy line manager
Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
35. Post graduate demonstrable experience in core rotations: Neurology / Acute Respiratory / Trauma and Orthopaedics / MSK
36. Demonstrable experience of teaching
37. An awareness of current NHS and Health issues
38. Demonstrable experience of working in intensive care and acute hospital
Desirable
39. Demonstrable experience working in Cardiothoracics/ neurosurgery and critical care.
40. Demonstrable experience of working in a major trauma unit.
41. Clinical educator.
Qualifications
Essential
42. Degree (BSc Hons Physiotherapy) or equivalent.
43. HCPC registration
Desirable
44. Attendance of additional relevant professional courses.
45. MSc in relevant area
APTITUDE & ABILITIES
Essential
46. Professional manner
47. Legible and concise handwriting.
Desirable
48. Evidence of personal leadership