Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

To lead, develop, manage, and provide a physiotherapy service for Inpatients and Day Hospice patients who are under the care of Overgate Hospice with an emphasis on symptom control, enablement, rehabilitation and improving/maintaining independence and quality of life

The post holder will be responsible for leading on a respiratory outpatient group; Breath of Fresh Air BOFA and may be required to input into other outpatient groups as required

Duties & Responsibilities

To lead on development of physiotherapy policies, procedures, pathways, protocols, and professional standards ensuring HCPC compliance. To monitor implementation and compliance of policies and guidance appropriate to the clinical area

To supervise, manage and provide an element of training to other colleagues and professionals as required and appropriate

A significant element of training will be to continue to support Overgate in the delivery and implementation of the Calderdale framework to promote and develop safe and clinically reasoned blurred boundary working

Clinical

Following assessment, formulate individualised treatment and management plans as appropriate; deliver effective specialised physiotherapy evaluating routinely. You will have a designated caseload of patients with palliative care needs; it is essential that you are patient focused and promote patient centred goals that are SMART

To work towards implementing elements of the Hospice UK rehabilitation model in the context of ward based and community based clinical intervention: www.hospiceuk.org/what-we-offer/clinical-and-care-support/rehabilitative-palliative-care to ensure a multidisciplinary holistic approach to care

Provide evidence of compliance with clinical governance standards in order to contribute to the Hospices assurance for CQC quality and safety outcomes.

To keep accurate, current, comprehensive, and concise treatment records for all patients in accordance with legal, professional and Hospice requirements / guidelines

To meet the needs of patients by delivering high clinical standards of palliative care physiotherapy by applying evidence-based practice.

To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, carers, medical, nursing, social work, and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include MDT meetings and discharge planning as appropriate, including providing timely recommendations and implementation of the same as required.

To utilise the highest level of interpersonal and advanced communication skills to provide and receive complex and sensitive information in highly emotive situations.

To participate in home visits with patients and environmental access visits according to patient need and service capacity. The post holder will be expected to adhere to the lone working policy.

This post requires the ability to travel within community. It is essential that the post holder is a car driver with a vehicle suitable for business use and insured for the same.

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance, Information Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation

Keep abreast of developments in clinical practice and palliative care through appraisal of current literature. To attend training programmes / educational courses, appropriate to your role and in line with your appraisal, as agreed between the post holder and employer. It is expected within the hospice that you will provide feedback to the service on your learning

To assess for and provide aids and equipment appropriate to patient needs, providing instruction as to its safe and correct use. For the majority of equipment, you will need to be competent and able to authorise equipment through TCES. (Training will be provided on TCES if this is unfamiliar to you)

To be involved with developing and implementing patient services within the speciality in line with the Hospice goals e.g., Falls pathway

To develop upon existing tangible patient outcome measures within the physiotherapy service in order to be able to demonstrate effectiveness of service and measurable benefits to patients

Administration

To work alongside clinical and managerial staff in developing the existing service and any future therapy requirements for the New Hospice

To assist in introducing and developing new initiatives for the department in accordance with the standards of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Health and Care Professions Council, Care Quality Commission and NICE guidelines

To maintain, develop and strengthen links within the field of specialist palliative care physiotherapy, including non-cancer related patients

To be involved in creating and reviewing the Hospice Physiotherapy Operational Policy

To ensure physiotherapy information is entered into the Hospice patient database system (SystmOne) on a daily basis

To carry out risk assessments when required within own clinical practice / service delivery

To meet with Line Manager for a one-to-one clinical supervision on a regular basis to discuss personal/professional and service development issues and in line with HCPC guidance on frequency

Education

To clearly convey complex information through opportunistic and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure an appropriate and consistent rehabilitation approach to patient care

To be an active and compliant member of the mandatory training programme through attendance and delivery of presentations and training sessions relevant to this role at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions in-house and by attending relevant courses, engaging in, and completing reflective practice and maintaining own Continuous Professional Development. (CPD)

To supervise therapy assistant, physiotherapy students, and volunteers (as required)

Supporting with education for other visiting students to Overgate as appropriate to facilitate their educational experience

To develop and provide training in rehabilitation and enablement activities to members of the multi-disciplinary team for the benefit of patients

To delegate rehabilitation and enablement activities to suitably trained therapy and nursing assistants

To provide clinical advice/support to members of the multidisciplinary team

To participate in the recruitment, induction, and orientation of new staff

To actively participate in Clinical Supervision and complete documentation of the same

Overgate General Duties & Responsibilities

Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation

The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies & abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974)

The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions

The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times & participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies

The employee must be actively involved in Hospice Governance and support the audit cycle

The employee must maintain strict confidentiality at all times, applying to all aspects of Hospice business and work within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act

Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally

Employees must adhere to the Hospices Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work

Work closely with the Head of Volunteering Services as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise

Use all Hospice resources economically and cost effectively

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic review. The employer and the employee share responsibility to review and amend it as appropriate

Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk

All Hospice staff are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well-being of children and adults at risk. Familiarisation with and adherence to the Hospice safeguarding policies is an essential requirement of all employees as is participation in related mandatory/statutory training

Valuing Diversity and Equality

All employees should perform their duties in accordance with the values and principles of valuing equality, diversity, and inclusion of provision. It is the responsibility of all employees to support the Hospice vision of promoting a positive attitude to equality, diversity, and inclusion of opportunity, to promote inclusion, eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Hospices Equal Opportunities Policy.

Infection Control Statement

Healthcare Associated Infection

Healthcare workers have an overriding duty of care to patients and are expected to comply fully with best practice standards. You have a responsibility to comply with Overgate policies for personal and patient safety, and for prevention of health care associated infection (HCAI); this includes a requirement for rigorous and consistent compliance with Overgate policies for hand hygiene including the naked below the elbow approach, use of personal protective equipment and safe disposal of sharps

Knowledge, skills, and behaviour in the workplace should reflect this; at annual appraisal you will be asked about the application of practical measures known to be effective in reducing HCAI

This job description is an outline of responsibilities and will be subject to review, in consultation with the post holder, in light of the changing needs of the post and the Hospice.

IT

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Other Requirements

Essential

• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising.
• Represent the Hospice externally and present at local and national events.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of two/three years post graduate experience as a Physiotherapist
• Effective time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and adapt to the unpredictable nature of the work
• Ability to think laterally to develop creative solutions to problems
• Ability to work under pressure
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Evidence of good leadership skills

Desirable

• Audit and evaluation, report writing and presentation skills
• Practice in acupuncture, TENS and E-Stim
• People management skills
• Palliative care experience

Communication

Essential

• Proven strong interpersonal skills.
• Able to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to communicate at all levels within a range of settings.

Education and Development

Essential

• Commitment to continuing professional development.
• Proven ability to plan, deliver and evaluate education and training

Personal

Essential

• Enthusiasm for development and innovation.
• Work confidentially and with discretion.
• Courteous and respectful of others.
• Ability to work in an emotionally challenging environment.
• Flexible to the changing needs of the post
• Ability to engage in and manage difficult conversation/situations.
• Committed to providing a quality and measurable service.
• Vehicle owner with full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to engage in the promotion of Overgate services supported by the social media and fundraising team as required.

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc/BSc Hons/Diploma in Physiotherapy
• Registered with Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Demonstration of recent appropriate CPD

Desirable

• Member of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Oncology and Palliative Care (ACPOPC)
• Current registration as a Manual Handling Trainer

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).