Consultant Physiotherapist (Musculoskeletal Community Assessment Treatment Service)
Full time and Flexible working considered
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Physiotherapist specializing in musculoskeletal (MSK) care at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust. This new position is part of the launch of a single point of access for MSK services in Lewisham Borough.
The post holder will provide consultancy and engage in the four pillars of advanced practice: clinical practice, leadership and management, education, and research, thereby enhancing system-wide expertise. Candidates must meet the requirements outlined in the Centre for Advancing Practice framework for consultant-level practice.
This role is ideal for individuals with extensive clinical and leadership experience at an 8a level seeking further development, or for those already working at a consultant physiotherapy level.
The MCATS team includes a consultant physiotherapist and advanced practice physiotherapists, with clinical supervision and support from consultant rheumatology and orthopaedic teams. The main site for this position is University Hospital Lewisham, but flexibility to work at other Trust sites, including Queen Elizabeth Hospital and community locations, is required.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties
To be an expert practitioner in Musculoskeletal (MSK) services, working with an advanced level of professional autonomy & accountability in the provision of clinical care to patients, carers, and professional colleagues across pathways and systems.
To lead the delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of a high quality, safe, effective, and efficient MSK service, ensuring maintenance of clinical excellence.
To lead, develop, and support staff within the Musculoskeletal Community Assessment and Treatment Service (MCATS) locally and to advise on MSK and MSK Physiotherapy regionally and nationally.
To be an expert consultant on the assessment and rehabilitation of MSK patients across the service challenging traditional models of care & leading innovation in practice.
To work in partnership with the other areas in the Trust and locally in order to contribute to a strategic approach for the provision of MSK services, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services.
To work in collaboration with academic institutions and lead on education, training, research, innovation, and practice development in MSK.
To evolve the role of the Consultant Therapist, proposing and negotiating advanced practice as efficiency and effectiveness requires.
7-day working for Therapies is under development within the Trust and the post holder may be required to undertake a different working pattern, including weekends, in the future.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development.
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability.
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development.
5. Making equalities mainstream.
We place a strong emphasis on development and learning opportunities. This year, we successfully held our inaugural AHP Inspires event to showcase the potential within the AHP framework.
You will join a friendly, supportive, and inclusive culture focused on delivering quality patient care while prioritising staff welfare and engagement. Reporting to the Head of Therapies for Allied Clinical Services, you will play a vital role in promoting these positive values.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Summary:
The Deputy Head of Service will be responsible to the Head of Podiatry & Orthotics Services to assist in provision of day-to-day operational and managerial support to the Podiatry & Orthotics Services.
This will include line management of designated band 7 Podiatrists and surgical appliances officers, prioritisation and scheduling of staffing based on service demands and risk, complaint and incident investigation, as well as taking overall responsibility for the operational management of the orthotics services at QEH and UHL.
As Deputy Head of Podiatry & Orthotics you will deputise for the Head of Podiatry at divisional and trust meetings and those relevant to podiatry outside the Trust.
In a position of leadership you will be expected to role model the Trust values and behaviours, whilst being responsible for the provision of care to a high risk caseload including patients with wounds, demonstrating a high level of knowledge and skills to ensure the provision of high quality care, whilst observing and implementing policies, guidelines and procedures of Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust.
3. Key Responsibilities
Managerial
1. As Deputy Head of Service using highly developed specialist knowledge and experience you will provide a range of management and operational support to the Head of Service and the Podiatry Team, whilst taking lead responsibility for the operational management of the Orthotics Services at QEH & UHL.
2. Reporting to Head of Service you will take direct responsibility for the timetabling and scheduling of Podiatry staff based on service waiting times, clinical risk, and staffing capacity. This will also include prioritisation of resources and workload presented by unplanned absences at short notice.
3. Reporting to the Head of Podiatry and working closely with the clinical governance lead, you will be responsible for the upkeep of the service business continuity plans.
4. Having responsibility for the Orthotics budget (£450k), and working closely with the surgical appliances officers you will ensure value for money is being achieved from the orthotics contract by the regular review and reporting of relevant KPIs.
5. To assist in the resolution of any conflicts within the clinical area, resolving informal complaints locally and leading in the investigation of and response to formal complaints as required/designated.
6. To investigate accidents and incidents, identifying and implementing corrective action where necessary, in conjunction with the Head of Podiatry. Promoting, monitoring, and maintaining best practice in health, safety & security.
7. For the Orthotics Service you will have lead responsibility for the development, ratification and implementation of relevant service policies, procedures, and guidelines.
8. For the Orthotics Service you will have lead responsibility for maintaining effective recording systems, utilising available IT systems to ensure service is as paper light as possible and work with Data Analysts and Surgical Appliances officers to manage complex facts requiring analysis and interpretation to support achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
9. To support the Head of Podiatry in the recruitment, induction, and preceptorship processes, managing leavers ensuring associated processes are completed on time.
10. To provide appropriate guidance and support to staff in line with the Trusts disciplinary and sickness procedures. To support the implementation of HR policies and participate in formal procedures as requested by the Head of Podiatry.
11. Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information drawing on motivational skills to encourage collaborative working to improve services/performance where there may be resistance to change.
12. Undertake the line management of 2 surgical appliances officers and up to 3 band 7/6 Podiatrists.
13. To lead on the production of designated performance reports required for monthly reporting.
14. To represent the Podiatry Service in the absence of the Head of Podiatry at appropriate Trust wide groups/meetings and to actively participate in relevant Trust wide networks of practice.
15. To be proactive in identifying areas for improvement and implement remedial action as necessary.
16. Facilitate the cascade of information ensuring awareness of Division, Trust and NHS Initiatives supporting staff discussion and responding to feedback.
Clinical
1. To be responsible and accountable for an agreed caseload and undertake the complex assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of new and existing patients with a wide variety of Podiatric complaints.
2. To use clinical reasoning, critical thinking, reflection, and analysis to support the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning process.
3. To utilise evidence based material to assess, treat, implement, evaluate, and document podiatric provision.
4. To use highly developed physical skills where a high degree of precision or speed and high levels of hand, eye and sensory co-ordination are essential when undertaking scalpel work in wound and skin care, and when using sharp specialist nail nippers on pathological nails, frequently on clients at high risk of amputation.
5. To provide Podiatric care plans tailored to the patients medical needs with regular review and the ability to identify and co-ordinate further interventions.
6. To treat a wide variety of patient groups including those with special needs, housebound, children, elderly, adults, vulnerable groups and those from different cultural backgrounds with the possibility of communication barriers.
7. To demonstrate sound clinical expertise and knowledge in the management of serious and high risk pathologies for example: infected foot ulcers.
8. To undertake specialist diabetes and high-risk sessions for the assessment and treatment of patients.
9. To undertake the assessment and treatment of patients with lower limb musculo-skeletal pathologies.
10. To make frequent use of technology, where available, for measurement, monitoring and treatment using specialist complex equipment.
2. Communication and Working Relationships
1. Working closely with the Head of Podiatry & Orthotic Services.
2. Communicate effectively and on a regular basis with the Podiatry and Orthotic teams including clinical, administrative staff and all other service users.
3. To liaise and communicate effectively with other colleagues within the Trust.
4. To attend and contribute to the Podiatry team meetings on a regular basis.
5. To lead and co-ordinate Orthotics service team and contractor meetings.
6. Reporting to the Head of Podiatry, when undertaking complaint/incident investigations you will liaise with clinicians, patients and carers.
7. There will also be a variety of complex and sensitive situations and complex information that you will be expected to manage.
8. To inform, educate and advise other health care professionals involved in the care of the patient.
Financial
1. To be responsible for the QEH & UHL Orthotics budget (approx. £450k).
2. To achieve financial balance of the Orthotics budgets, reporting any cost pressures to the Head of Podiatry in a timely manner.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Training
Essential
* State registration to HPC
* Podiatry Diploma/ Degree
* Post graduate diploma/certificate in management
* Local Analgesia Administration Certificate.
* Commitment and demonstration to continuous development of clinical skills and professional knowledge.
* Full Driver's License.
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