Highly Specialist - Specialist Physio School, Band 7 or 6

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy provision for children and young people attending The Childrens Trust School, in partnership with other members of the multidisciplinary team and education services.
• Undertake specialist physiotherapy assessments of children with highly complex needs e.g. multiple co-morbidities, neurodisabilities and chronic conditions, through standardised and non-standardised assessments and clinical observations.
• Devise suitable, individualised, 24hr physiotherapy programmes/strategies that fit within the childs daily routine, whether to be carried out by parents or members of the Multidisciplinary Team; these should be monitored, evaluated and adjusted appropriately according to the needs of the child.
• Develop therapy goals, in collaboration and with the child and family/carers, as well as the MDT and education teams, other health professionals and external agencies, to facilitate the participation of the child in their life skills.
• Set outcomes as part of the child or young persons annual review and Education, Health and Care Plans.
• Support the MDT and education teams with measuring short term targets, through using the IMpacts curriculum, therapy outcome measurement tools e.g. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS).
• Teach, integrate and monitor physiotherapy interventions in the childs environment, whether it is carried out by parents, school staff, therapy staff, nursing or care staff.
• Carry out highly specialist physiotherapy interventions, including casting of upper and lower limbs.
• Assess for and organise provision of necessary therapy equipment and/or orthotics. This may be loaned equipment for use at The Childrens Trust or recommendations of equipment for long-term use on return to home.
• Keep appropriate and accurate intervention records, fulfilling legal, professional and all other requirements of The Childrens Trust.
• Contribute to child related reports, including looked after children and annual review reports as required, and assist with the collation of these as and when required, in a timely manner and in line with organisational targets.
• Implement and monitor chest management and physiotherapy programmes.
• Liaise with external services and follow respiratory guidelines set by tertiary centers. Support the implementation of child specific respiratory physiotherapy management plans and monitor how well they are working. Escalate issues around respiratory concerns to specialist providers outside of the organisation that support respiratory management.
• Support the implementation of specific respiratory physiotherapy management plans, including basic manual techniques, appropriate use of oxygen in ventilator support, demonstrating an awareness of inadequate ventilation and when to escalate care, accordingly, ensuring awareness of how other components of the childs care, impacts on their respiratory function.
• Use awareness of how a 24hr postural management programme impacts the respiratory system, sleep pattern and the compliance to rehabilitation, in order to inform physiotherapy interventions, multidisciplinary care and therapy plans.
• Carry out procedures that carry a potential high risk to the childs health/status e.g. suctioning and respond appropriately and immediately to any adverse situation that may arise; support others in doing likewise.
• Liaise with all appropriate medical staff, whether employed by The Childrens Trust, visiting consultants or at off-site clinics, and attend clinics (e.g. specialist seating, orthotics, orthopaedic) with the child as required.
• Lead on and deliver a tiered model approach to physiotherapy at The Childrens Trust School, providing regular integrated time to classes and Houses.
• Provide leadership within the context of MDTs in Special Schools, internally and externally.
• Be a positive and inspirational role model for all team members.
• Work closely with all members of the Multidisciplinary Team, as well as the child and family, to provide a fully integrated approach to the overall management of the child. This will include any home/school visits, professional child related meetings and/ or appointments, as required.
• Provide clinical cover across the service during episodes of staff shortage/heavy workload, in order to ensure effective service delivery.
• Work flexibly in terms of hours, in order to meet the needs of the service, including an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month.
• Assess, evaluate and recommend transition plans for children/young people within the interdisciplinary team framework.
• Represent the Therapy Team and The Childrens Trust when appropriate, deputising for the School Therapy Team Lead as required.
• Actively participate in and support the running of relevant meetings.
• To undertake other or additional duties that are within your skills and abilities, as the organisation may reasonably require from time to time.

Communication

• Facilitate effective communication with families and members of the Multidisciplinary Team.
• Recognise barriers to communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.
• Be able to discuss challenging and emotive subjects with families and children/young people, regarding long-term needs and possible outcomes.
• Communicate regularly and effectively with the Heads of Therapy.
• Maintain clear and concise documents and records, in accordance with The Childrens Trust polices.
• Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.
• Involve children and families in areas of service development.
• Use a range of advanced communication skills, to share specialised information and discussions with a range of audiences, with different levels of knowledge and expertise.
• Attend, contribute and chair Multidisciplinary Team meetings, to discuss individual children/ young people.
• Develop and promote relationships with external networks, including professionals, stakeholders and specialist centres, in order to ensure excellence of care, whilst representing the organisation and reflecting The Childrens Trust core values.
• Manage informal complaints, in line with The Childrens Trust polices and contribute to the resolution of written complaints and as they occur, taking immediate action where necessary.

Management of Self and Others

• Working alongside the School Leadership Team and Heads of Therapy, lead on identified and agreed areas of service development and quality improvement within a defined clinical area, including designing, implementing, and reviewing these.
• Participate in the overall day-to-day management and development of the Physiotherapy service, to ensure an efficient and safe service for all.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, support and supervision for junior staff, technicians, volunteers and students, within area of responsibility, providing direction, motivation and support to achieve key objectives.
• Provide leadership of the Multidisciplinary Team within the allocated House, facilitating cohesive multidisciplinary team working around individual childrens needs.
• Represent the Therapy Team on behalf of the School Therapy Team Lead, when requested.
• Take on the role of Lead Professional or Coordinating Therapist, following team discussion or as requested by the School Therapy Team Lead, in accordance with the current profile description.
• Participate in the annual Performance Development Review and monthly supervision sessions, as required by The Childrens Trust, both as Appraiser and Appraisee.
• Advise the School Therapy Team Lead regarding resources and equipment needs, including shortfalls.
• Manage time effectively, prioritising and delegating work, as required.
• Assess needs, decide priorities and organise, monitor and evaluate the provision of an efficient and effective physiotherapy service, in liaison with the School Therapy Team Lead.

Governance

• Ensure high standards of practice, through adherence to recognised professional standards, evidence-based practice, and effective clinical audit programmes.
• Read and implement all policies, procedures and risk assessments, pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with changes as and when they occur.
• Critically evaluate new intervention methods and implement where appropriate.
• Critically evaluate practice through clinical audits and by appraisal of the information gained, in combination with current knowledge of evidence-based practice; identify opportunities for service improvement and development.
• Continue the audit cycle, by evaluating any changes implemented as a result. This should include the adoption of evidence informed practice, the trial of emerging interventions and the cessation of interventions, where evidence is insufficient and other approaches are indicated.
• Recognise and critically appraise situations where the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of the service are compromised and take appropriate action to resolve the situation.
• Attend external Working Parties, as requested by the Head of Therapy, in order to contribute to strategic service development.
• Critically reflect on own performance and that of other staff; use this evaluation to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency and quality of future practice.
• Undergo The Childrens Trust Risk Assessor training, to ensure that all activities are risk assessed and documented in the most appropriate format. Ensure that detailed risk assessments are completed, as required.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Physiotherapy.
• HCPC Registration.
• Member of specialist interest group or forum.
• Continuous Professional Development, above the regulatory body standards.
• Recent relevant training with respect to Respiratory Physiotherapy.

Desirable

• Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
• Postgraduate Diploma or Masters (or currently enrolled/ near to completion).
• Recent relevant training with respect to casting and/or specialist seating/ postural management.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of five years clinical experience post qualification.
• Minimum of three years clinical experience working in Paediatrics or Neurodisability.
• Working within a multidisciplinary team and a specialist school setting.
• Working with children and families.
• Experience of service development and quality improvement.
• Experience undertaking a research study or audit.
• Experience of SEND legislation and SEND tribunals.

Desirable

• Experience working with MDT around tone management, including botulinum toxin injections.
• Experience of leading a team and change management.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Knowledge of a wide range of physiotherapy management for neurodisability, supported by advanced clinical reasoning - Essential
• Knowledge of a wide range of approaches and application of techniques for the management of complex children with disabilities - Essential
• Highly specialised observation and treatment skills, relevant to assessment and management - Essential
• Ability to meet the physical demands of a school therapy physiotherapy role - Essential
• Attention to detail - Essential
• Ability to supervise/manage others and enable development of their skills.
• Professional integrity, particularly in relation to clinical governance.
• Ability to work flexibly, in order to meet the needs of the service, including an early evening (weekly) and one weekend day, per calendar month (N.B. there is no On Call service required).
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.
• Workload management, including delegation of tasks and day-to-day team leadership.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and young people with complex disabilities.
• Competent skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of current research in paediatrics and/or Neurodisability.
• Knowledge of relevant outcome measures and statutory outcome requirements.

Desirable

• Podium and/or poster presentations at conferences.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Physically fit and able to comply with organisational manual handling guidelines. Able to carry out moderate - intense physical effort throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities.
• Ability to cope with working in a demanding environment.
• Flexible and can do attitude towards competing workload commitments.
• Highly motivated and reliable.

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).