Head of Specialist Palliative Care Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

Be accountable and responsible for the delivery of a high-quality specialist palliative care physiotherapy service for patients with complex, progressive life-limiting illness, focusing on enablement, rehabilitation, and interventions that respect individuals rights to choice, independence, and self-determination.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Lead, inspire and support the team as a skilled and experienced role model. Passionate, enthusiastic, and an excellent communicator.

Promote best practice and foster a creative, personalised approach to therapy provision for those accessing the service.

Undertake comprehensive physiotherapy assessments for patients within inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.

Plan, implement, and evaluate tailored therapeutic interventions, ensuring effective delegation, collaboration, and timely transition to community-based services where appropriate.

Drive excellence in interdisciplinary working and collaboration with external partners to optimise patient outcomes and service improvement.

Lead or participate in multi-professional forums and caseload reviews to reflect and share best practice

Seek, refer to and utilise the combined knowledge and skills available within and beyond the hospice including supportive, generalist and specialist palliative care professionals and others to ensure the patient and family needs are addressed

Collaborate with the Hospice Leadership Team to support appropriate referrals, build understanding of specialist physiotherapy provision, and drive innovative service development aligned with organisational strategy.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain own professional registration and adhere to relevant professional and organisational standards.

Act as an autonomous practitioner, managing a designated caseload and prioritising workload effectively.

Use advanced communication skills to explore and sensitively respond to patients and families understanding of illness and prognosis.

Establish therapeutic relationships that enable shared decision-making and support, including advocacy when needed.

Plan and coordinate time efficiently to meet objectives for specialist palliative care provision.

Design, implement, and regularly review personalised treatment plans, applying evidence-based practice, advanced reasoning, and health promotion.

Foster respectful, effective working relationships with internal and external colleagues to optimise patient care.

Support colleagues as role-model and expert resource while acknowledging personal limits.

Maintain accurate and timely records in accordance with professional, legislative, and governance standards.

Maintain appropriate and respectful professional relationships with colleagues and other staff

Demonstrate professional conduct including punctuality, appearance, and reliable attendance.

Comply with safe practice standards, including consent, safeguarding, and legal frameworks.

Ensure that personal actions and conduct apply with hospice policies and procedures

Ensure effective use of hospice resources

Act as an ambassador for the East Lancashire Hospice promoting at all times our vision which is to help everyone who comes into contact with the hospice to make the most of life. We do this by committing to our values: to care, listen, respect and work together to support people to live well until they die and support those affected by death

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Take responsibility for own lifelong learning through reflective practice and ongoing professional development.

Undertake mandatory training appropriate to the role and support the education/development of others

Lead and/or contribute to the education and training of others as appropriate to the role.

Participate in the hospice appraisal system and access training opportunities to improve own knowledge/skills

Identify and communicate learning needs for inclusion in education and development planning.

MANAGING SERVICES

Contribute to the referral screening and management process, establishing priorities and engaging with referrers to improve the quality of information provided.

Deliver service objectives aligned with organisational strategy through governance frameworks, including clinical audit and feedback collection.

Identify and share best practice guidance, innovations, or development needs relevant to the service with colleagues and managers.

Support high-quality student placements

Lead and participate in team meetings to improve communication on operational matters.

Represent the service and/or Hospice at internal and external meetings as appropriate to raise awareness and promote service use.

Contribute to the development and delivery of wellbeing programmes specific to own area of expertise.

Ensure team engagement in cross-departmental events and strategic objectives.

Manage feedback and concerns following established policies and procedures.

Consistently follow lone working protocols and escalate issues appropriately.

Promote and participate in service promotional events and celebrations.

Ensure a safe environment by ensuring the reporting of hazards and incidents, completion of relevant risk assessments, investigation of incidents and implementation of risk reduction measures

Ensure effective use of all resources within allocated budget

Ensure timely and accurate clinical activity data submission.

Support cover arrangements for absent colleagues to help ensure continuity of services in conjunction with line manager.

MANAGING PEOPLE

Structure departmental induction, probation reviews, and clarify roles and responsibilities for staff and volunteers.

Lead/contribute to the recruitment, induction and retention of new staff and volunteers in keeping with hospice policy and procedures ensuring they have appropriate information and training to carry out their role.

Maintain clinical competence through effective supervision and performance development reviews.

Foster morale and support within the team, promoting a culture of appreciation and learning

Deliver the annual PDR process for own team members, providing support and identifying development needs

Support team members and facilitate staff development to secure high standards of practice and enhance service delivery.

Challenge and be open to challenge in order to secure the delivery of best practice

Utilise effective management/leadership skills in the application of HR processes, policies and procedures

STATUTORY DUTIES

Ensure the security of information accessed in the course of your duties ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Act, Caldicott principles and information governance best practice guidance

Report any hazards or incidents in accordance with the Health Safety and Risk Management Policy and procedures

Comply with the East Lancashire Hospice no smoking policy in all hospice premises and grounds

Be responsible for maintaining own vaccinations including Hepatitis B immunity (as applicable)

Ensure that infection control measures are followed in relation to your role

Work at all times to safeguard the rights of individuals promoting their wellbeing and protecting those at risk from harm, acting on any concerns related to safeguarding children and adults at risk in line with policy and local guidance

Work at all times to respect peoples individuality, rights and diversity to ensure equality

WORKING HOURS

The post holder will work their hours flexibly. These will be worked according to a rota of up to any 5 days of the working week.

NOTES

This job description reflects how the post currently meets the needs of the service. Since the hospice is constantly developing and changing its services to ensure it meets the needs of the community it serves, the role and responsibilities of the post holder may change accordingly.

This job description will be reviewed annually at the annual PDR and may change as is deemed necessary.

Equality and Diversity

We support an inclusive and holistic working environment and aim to empower our people to bring their authentic self to work. We are committed to this and so encourage applications from all individuals with the required skills for the role inclusive of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, colour, caste, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, socio-economic background, trade union membership status, marriage, and civil partnerships. ELH is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and volunteers.

Knowledge

Essential

• Sound knowledge and application of therapeutic assessment, tools and interventions.
• Knowledge of local/national health and social care quality/development initiatives.
• Quality measures, Risk management, Safeguarding/Mental Capacity awareness.
• Reactions to loss / life changing events.
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to assess and formulate effective treatment/management plans.
• Critical thinking/appraisal skills.
• Ability to deliver advanced communication and advocacy skills in all aspects of work.
• IT and computer skills using use of a range of applications.
• Able to work independently, recognising own limitations and seeking line management, medical and/or other support where necessary.
• Clear concise, report writing/presentation skills.
• Car driver with full UK license and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Desirable

• Good organisational and interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively manage time, plan, prioritise and coordinate workload.

Experience

Essential

• Wide-ranging post qualification experience relevant to the field including for eg neurology, respiratory, community, frailty, palliative care.
• Caseload management.
• Multi-disciplinary / multi-agency working.
• Planning, implementing/evaluating care.
• Supervision and mentorship.

Desirable

• Palliative care and oncology experience including palliative care emergencies.
• Clinical audit/practice or service evaluation.
• People/operational/team management.
• Formal/Informal education provision.
• Development and/or implementation of new initiatives.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy.
• HCPC registration.
• Evidence of post registration education.

Desirable

• Post registration qualifications relevant to field.
• Teaching/education qualification eg Clinical educator or equivalent experience.
• Management/leadership qualification.
• Membership of special interest group eg ACPOPC.
• Therapeutic interventions relevant to the role such as Yoga, Tai Chi.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).