About our Trust
At UHSussex we're proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK's largest acute Trusts, we're a leading example of the excellence, ambition, and values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.
Our hard-working, talented, and dedicated people work together towards a common goal - to always put our Patient First. In fact, our mission is summed up by our 'where better never stops' motto, and you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff, which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job overview
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity to recruit a Band 7 Clinical Team Lead Physiotherapist to assume joint clinical and operational leadership of the Respiratory Physiotherapy Team at Worthing Hospital to cover 12 months Maternity Leave.
This role would suit a practitioner with highly developed leadership and people skills who are able to balance the day-to-day operational running and governance of a fast-paced, multi-faceted team with a clear vision for the future development of the service and staff. Candidates should be skilled in the assessment and treatment of complex, acutely unwell patients as well as the long-term management of those with ongoing respiratory conditions.
We are a research active therapies department with strong links to the Trust Research and Innovation Committee and local HEIs. We are continuing to develop local clinical research activity and will support staff to develop clinical academic careers.
Main duties of the job
1. To be responsible for the operational management of the Respiratory inpatient team including: Medical and surgical wards, Emergency Floor, ITU, and the ITU MDT follow-up clinic.
2. To be responsible for the training and development of the staff working in the respiratory physiotherapy team and on-call service.
3. To lead in the advanced assessment, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of patients who may have complex respiratory needs.
4. To provide an effective high-quality service to all patients and assist with the supervision and teaching of physiotherapists/students/technicians/assistants in that specialty.
5. To provide skilled team leadership and service development.
6. To implement policy and policy changes in own clinical area and to assist with the setting and monitoring of standards of practice.
7. To undertake evidence-based projects in conjunction with the Lead Physiotherapist, including recommendations for change in practice and to lead in appropriate departmental research in this clinical area.
8. To problem-solve clinical and non-clinical complex situations.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff, which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work-life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching, and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career, we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex, you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
1. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing, and other professional colleagues to ensure the delivery of a coordinated, patient-centered multidisciplinary service.
2. To communicate effectively with external organisations such as community services, GPs, etc. to help ensure effective transfer of patient care.
3. To communicate effectively and consistently with patients and carers, individually and in groups, to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of often highly complex aspects of their condition and recovery (goal setting, family meetings, carer training tasks, individual activity programmes).
4. To be highly skilled in verbal and non-verbal communication skills, allowing patients to express their thoughts, feelings, concerns, and expectations. This includes patients who are distressed, depressed, or angry and who may have difficulty in understanding or communicating (e.g. blind, deaf, frail, illiterate or those with other co-existing pathology such as mental health problems).
5. Educate patients, carers, and relevant MDT staff on a range of topics including advanced respiratory physiotherapy techniques, self-management plans for chronic respiratory conditions, exercises, and advice and education regarding patient condition.
6. Use empathetic, tactful, and interpersonal skills to encourage and empower patients and carers to maximise patients' rehabilitation potential, giving opportunity for unloading/sharing of concerns and issues.
7. To communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers, and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
8. To be able to motivate others such as staff and patients through effective communication skills.
9. To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues, etc. To be able to manage situations sensitively, in accordance with trust policies and assist other members of the team in such scenarios.
10. To identify and minimize interpersonal conflict, counsel staff, offer appropriate support (e.g. staff counselling service, Occ Health) and be responsible for the first stages of disciplinary and grievance procedures. To liaise with line managers and HR for advice.
11. To maintain contacts with appropriate local and national clinical interest groups and to share and disseminate knowledge with colleagues working within the Trust.
12. To attend and be an active participant in specialty, peer group, and departmental staff meetings.
13. To ensure timely and effective communication with the Lead Physio and other senior staff on all professional matters.
14. To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills.
15. Respond promptly to telephone enquiries/messages/emails received.
16. To represent the Trust (locally, regionally, and nationally, through conferences, local link meetings, and shared training sessions) regarding physiotherapy services provided to respiratory patients.
17. Keep accurate and comprehensive documentation of all patient contact in line with legal, CSP standards, and local guidelines including uni and multi-professional documentation.
Service Delivery and Improvement
1. To undertake an active role in developing policy changes within respiratory physiotherapy, which will impact on all service users. This includes being involved in working parties, taking responsibility for evaluation, action plan development, and completion of delegated tasks.
2. To ensure individual and team compliance with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures, being involved in the monitoring, evaluating, and updating as appropriate.
3. To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and also wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP/NICE etc.
4. To support staff to use equipment safely. This involves ensuring all team members are aware of the trust and departmental medical devices policies, including competence to use equipment through teaching, training, and supervision.
5. To develop and create implementation strategies as appropriate for the respiratory physiotherapy service in conjunction with local and national initiatives.
6. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of current practices using research, audit, and outcome measures. To make recommendations for or devise strategies either individually or with manager through process mapping and audit practices and to implement change within current resources as appropriate.
7. To initiate and drive relevant service development projects with the ability to engage others as required.
8. To demonstrate the ability to critically appraise information, and make informed decisions regarding the effect, relevance, and impact on the respiratory physiotherapy service (through patient satisfaction survey, outcome measures, and journal critique).
People Management and Development
1. To undertake teaching in formal settings within and beyond the physiotherapy department (e.g. support groups, nurse training days).
2. To identify and justify team training needs for internal and external courses.
3. To reinforce and facilitate a positive learning culture towards CPD and evidence-based practice within the team, department, and profession. This will require ensuring the in-service training programme undertaken by the team is delivered and attended by all staff, that IST is of a good standard and that reflective practice is encouraged.
4. To monitor and evaluate teaching within the team and provide feedback to facilitators of learning.
5. To keep up to date with disability and child and adult protection legislation.
6. To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through continued professional development activities e.g. attending relevant study days or visiting specialised units and recording this in a portfolio.
7. Undertake evaluation of your work and current practices using evidence-based practice, audit, and outcome measures either individually or with the lead physiotherapist.
8. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and PDP as both appraiser and appraisee, taking appropriate action to manage performance in an objective and timely manner.
9. To ensure regular attendance at statutory and mandatory training as specified by Trust regulations.
10. To maintain access to and a detailed working knowledge of the role of other members of the multi-disciplinary team (e.g. dieticians, cardiac physiologists, OTs, other AHPs, and infection control personnel) to facilitate excellent working relationships affording opportunity for informal problem solving and effective patient management.
11. To develop links with respiratory physiotherapy teams in other Trusts to exchange information, ideas, and good practice.
Patient Care Delivery
1. To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients including those with a highly complex presentation and with co-existing multi-pathology, utilising robust clinical reasoning.
2. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnoses and develop appropriate treatment plans for those with complex acute/chronic respiratory conditions.
3. To formulate individualised specific management and treatment plans employing advanced investigative and analytical skills.
4. To achieve and maintain a high standard of care by keeping up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research, and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice.
5. To adopt a problem-solving approach, engaging patients and carers in their treatment plan, negotiating on agreed outcomes, gaining consent, and educating users on self-management.
6. To be responsive and adaptable to the perpetual changes in patients' clinical states, in a frequently unpredictable clinical environment.
7. To assess the ability of the patient to give valid informed consent, while working within the legal framework with patients who occasionally may lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
8. To take responsibility for electing when to withdraw or withhold physiotherapy intervention from individuals when appropriate based on robust clinical decision making.
Person specification
Professional Registration
Essential criteria
* HCPC Registered
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Experience of operational team management.
* Experience of facilitating education of students and coordinating placements.
Skills - Clinical
Essential criteria
* Previous Band 6 experience in core inpatient areas.
* On-call competent.
* Experienced working in ITU with a strong knowledge around weaning patients from ventilator/with a tracheostomy.
Desirable criteria
* Experience managing paediatrics with respiratory conditions.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Essential criteria
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Important information for applicants:
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications.
Further Information
For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nursingteam@nhs.net.
For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email uhsussex.nonnursingteam@nhs.net.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
* Job Description and Person Specification (PDF, 512.3KB)
* Our Trust at a glance (PDF, 153.0KB)
* All Staff Networks About Us Flyer (PDF, 304.4KB)
* Guide to completing an application form (PDF, 385.9KB)
#J-18808-Ljbffr