Job summary
*Please note this vacancy is not open to overseas applicants*
Virtual Wards is a new and evolving service to support patients who are unwell but in a stable condition, allowing them to return to, or remain in, their own homes rather than being treated on a hospital ward. Beginning with step-down care for Respiratory patients, we have been able to safely treat patients who would otherwise have experienced longer hospital stays, and feedback from patients has been very encouraging.
We are now looking to expand our portfolio of Virtual Wards to include other clinical conditions, which provides an excellent opportunity for a physiotherapist looking to develop a range of clinical skills, rather than specialising in a narrow clinical area as they progress in their career.
We are looking for someone with a range of postgraduate clinical experience, and the skills and confidence to work across organisational boundaries. You would be supported by our Band 7 Senior Physiotherapist, both for clinical development, and also to enhance your supervision and service development skills.
As this is a new and developing clinical area, we would encourage you to speak to a member of the team before applying for this role, and would be happy to provide a short insight visit for candidates who are seriously considering an application and who would like to learn more.
Main duties of the job
You will be part of the wider multi-disciplinary team, working alongside consultants, senior nurses, assistant practitioners, OTs, pharmacists, secondary care and social services.
You will be responsible for the physiotherapy assessment and treatment of patients under the care of the Virtual Wards, who will present with a range of clinical conditions. This will include advising colleagues within and outside of the Virtual Wards team on the physiotherapy needs of patients, in order to ensure comprehensive and holistic care is provided to them. You will offer supervision to our Assistant Practitioners who are delivering elements of physiotherapy care to patients.
You will also have the opportunity to be involved in the development of new clinical pathways, as part of an overall commitment to delivering safe, effective, and evidence-based care in this emerging clinical field, and you will be instrumental in the evaluation of new pathways and ways of working, making an active contribution to MDT and learning lessons meetings.
You must be a car driver with access to your own vehicle for work purposes. The post is part-time, 3 days per week, and hours will be during the Monday-Friday week.
About us
We are a provider of NHS Community Health Services, CityCare exists to support the health and wellbeing of all local people, working alongside other health and care partners to achieve this. We are a value driven, people business with a passion for excellence. Our vision and social purpose is to make a difference everyday to the health & wellbeing of our communities and our values of kindness, respect, trust and honesty lie at the heart of everything we do, guiding how we work together with partners and each other to consistently deliver high quality compassionate care. As a social enterprise we aim to add social value by investing in the future of our local communities and helping to make a difference in peoples lives.
CityCare value the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from candidates who identify as disabled, LGBT+ or from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background, as they are currently under-represented within our organisation.
CityCare is an equal opportunities employer. We are positive about employing people with disabilities. If you require your application in a different format please contact Human Resources on 0115 8839418. CityCare is committed to the protection of vulnerable adults and children.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
- To provide specialist physiotherapy advice, assessment and treatment for patients within the Virtual Ward with an aim of avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, and facilitating discharge from hospital. Patients are cared for within their own home or place of residence, and may have a variety of clinical presentations including frailty, respiratory exacerbations, cardiac conditions, and falls.
- To work with Nurses, Matrons, Occupational Therapists, Assistant Practitioners and Care Navigators within the Virtual Ward to ensure effective treatment and planning of holistic patient care.
- To educate and advise those working with Virtual Ward patients, including other health and social care workers, students or carers.
Dimensions
- To work collaboratively and across organisational boundaries to provide evidence-based practice and holistic care to patients in a variety of settings
- To be responsible for the safe use of equipment and physical resources in the course of clinical duties.
- To provide support and mentorship to clinical staff working within the Virtual Ward
Key Responsibilities
Clinical
- To develop and co-ordinate individualised patient management plans, in partnership with patients and their carers/family, thus promoting self-care and independence.
- Ensure an approach to care that recognises the unique needs and views of Virtual Ward patients and their carers, and which places the patient at the centre of all care delivery.
- To conduct mobility assessments and devise rehabilitation programmes for a varied caseload of patients, taking into account the patients medical status and any co-morbidities
- To contribute to the assessment and implementation of patient moving and handling plans
- With the support of the Band 7 Physiotherapist, to provide specialist advice and treatment to patients with respiratory conditions, undertaking respiratory assessment, chest auscultation and interpretation of findings (including of blood gases) and devising self-management plans.
- To provide clinical, emotional and psychological support to patients and their families.
Communication and partnership working
- To be based within the Virtual Ward whilst maintaining close links and regular communication with hospital staff.
- To establish and maintain effective channels of communication throughout the integrated team and partnership agencies.
- To work closely with community and secondary care providers to identify and manage patients at risk of frequent admission into hospital.
Supervision and teaching
To undertake supervision of peers and junior team members according to CityCare Supervision policy.
- To liaise with Acute and Primary Care staff and integrated teams in order to ensure the patients holistic needs are met. This could be in an advisory or teaching capacity.
- To take responsibility for the appropriate delegation of work according to the skills and abilities of other team members.
- To contribute to the education and support of other clinicians within the primary care setting.
Service Development
- To contribute to the development and implementation of service protocols, standard operating procedures and service development projects.
- To participate in identified data collection and audit collaboratively with the team clinicians and the team manager in order to make recommendations for service change.
- Supporting the use of clinical audit as a means of enhancing clinical practice and being receptive to the audit plans of others.
- To collect and utilise data to enable monitoring and evaluation of the service, which will provide evidence of the value and effectiveness of the service.
- To participate in and contribute towards any related research projects that have been formally agreed within limits of time and funding.
- To contribute to raising awareness of the role of the Virtual Ward service within the hospital and community settings
Risk management
- Ensure an approach to patient care that minimises risk and maximises clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake comprehensive evidence-based risk assessments, developing risk management plans.
- Advise Lead responsible Clinician of any problems occurring whilst the patient is being visited at home, and act upon the decision as appropriate.
- Assist with the investigation and reporting of all incidents relating to the service, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
Professional
- To act within the guidelines provided by the HCPC Code of Conduct.
- To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development with an aim to keep abreast of new developments through continued training/conference attendance, whilst maintaining HCPC registration.
- To be responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical practice utilising evidence-based practice.
- To participate in any other agreed duties that may be reasonably required in addition to those above.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
- To provide specialist physiotherapy advice, assessment and treatment for patients within the Virtual Ward with an aim of avoiding unnecessary hospital admissions, and facilitating discharge from hospital. Patients are cared for within their own home or place of residence, and may have a variety of clinical presentations including frailty, respiratory exacerbations, cardiac conditions, and falls.
- To work with Nurses, Matrons, Occupational Therapists, Assistant Practitioners and Care Navigators within the Virtual Ward to ensure effective treatment and planning of holistic patient care.
- To educate and advise those working with Virtual Ward patients, including other health and social care workers, students or carers.
Dimensions
- To work collaboratively and across organisational boundaries to provide evidence-based practice and holistic care to patients in a variety of settings
- To be responsible for the safe use of equipment and physical resources in the course of clinical duties.
- To provide support and mentorship to clinical staff working within the Virtual Ward
Key Responsibilities
Clinical
- To develop and co-ordinate individualised patient management plans, in partnership with patients and their carers/family, thus promoting self-care and independence.
- Ensure an approach to care that recognises the unique needs and views of Virtual Ward patients and their carers, and which places the patient at the centre of all care delivery.
- To conduct mobility assessments and devise rehabilitation programmes for a varied caseload of patients, taking into account the patients medical status and any co-morbidities
- To contribute to the assessment and implementation of patient moving and handling plans
- With the support of the Band 7 Physiotherapist, to provide specialist advice and treatment to patients with respiratory conditions, undertaking respiratory assessment, chest auscultation and interpretation of findings (including of blood gases) and devising self-management plans.
- To provide clinical, emotional and psychological support to patients and their families.
Communication and partnership working
- To be based within the Virtual Ward whilst maintaining close links and regular communication with hospital staff.
- To establish and maintain effective channels of communication throughout the integrated team and partnership agencies.
- To work closely with community and secondary care providers to identify and manage patients at risk of frequent admission into hospital.
Supervision and teaching
To undertake supervision of peers and junior team members according to CityCare Supervision policy.
- To liaise with Acute and Primary Care staff and integrated teams in order to ensure the patients holistic needs are met. This could be in an advisory or teaching capacity.
- To take responsibility for the appropriate delegation of work according to the skills and abilities of other team members.
- To contribute to the education and support of other clinicians within the primary care setting.
Service Development
- To contribute to the development and implementation of service protocols, standard operating procedures and service development projects.
- To participate in identified data collection and audit collaboratively with the team clinicians and the team manager in order to make recommendations for service change.
- Supporting the use of clinical audit as a means of enhancing clinical practice and being receptive to the audit plans of others.
- To collect and utilise data to enable monitoring and evaluation of the service, which will provide evidence of the value and effectiveness of the service.
- To participate in and contribute towards any related research projects that have been formally agreed within limits of time and funding.
- To contribute to raising awareness of the role of the Virtual Ward service within the hospital and community settings
Risk management
- Ensure an approach to patient care that minimises risk and maximises clinical effectiveness.
- To undertake comprehensive evidence-based risk assessments, developing risk management plans.
- Advise Lead responsible Clinician of any problems occurring whilst the patient is being visited at home, and act upon the decision as appropriate.
- Assist with the investigation and reporting of all incidents relating to the service, ensuring appropriate action is taken.
Professional
- To act within the guidelines provided by the HCPC Code of Conduct.
- To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development with an aim to keep abreast of new developments through continued training/conference attendance, whilst maintaining HCPC registration.
- To be responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical practice utilising evidence-based practice.
- To participate in any other agreed duties that may be reasonably required in addition to those above.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience of caring for patients with a variety of different conditions including respiratory, frailty/elderly care, and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal.
- Willingness to learn or post registration experience of carrying out a full respiratory patient assessment.
- Understanding of multi- disciplinary and/or multi agency working within a community setting.
- Experience of working between primary and secondary care setting
Desirable
- Experience of clinical supervision
- Evidence of experience of project work using a multi-agency approach
- Community experience including lone working.
- Experience of service development
- Evidence of working with diverse or disadvantaged groups
- Evidence of working with Safeguarding and vulnerable adults
- Evidence of working with diverse or disadvantaged groups
- Evidence or working with Safeguarding and vulnerable adults
- Experience of clinical supervision
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service (Physio cover is Monday Friday 8am-5pm)
- Full driving licence and the ability to travel between locations.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Hons Physiotherapy or equivalent
- HCPC registered Physiotherapist
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Post graduate qualifications relevant to role
- Ear Lobe Blood Gas Competency Package
- Leadership qualification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Evidence of development of clinical skills, leading to the ability to integrate theory and practice.
- Able to assess clinical risk
- Competence in individual caseload and time management
- Able to work effectively in a team, supporting others and constructively challenging colleagues views if needed.
- Able to supervise and delegate to junior staff.
- Able assess a situation, set priorities and problem solve quickly and effectively
- Awareness of HCPC professional codes of conduct
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Very good IT skills
Desirable
- A broad range of specialist knowledge
- Able to proactively work unsupervised
- Experience of SystmOne electronic records
- Experience of point-of-care testing devices
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience of caring for patients with a variety of different conditions including respiratory, frailty/elderly care, and orthopaedic/musculoskeletal.
- Willingness to learn or post registration experience of carrying out a full respiratory patient assessment.
- Understanding of multi- disciplinary and/or multi agency working within a community setting.
- Experience of working between primary and secondary care setting
Desirable
- Experience of clinical supervision
- Evidence of experience of project work using a multi-agency approach
- Community experience including lone working.
- Experience of service development
- Evidence of working with diverse or disadvantaged groups
- Evidence of working with Safeguarding and vulnerable adults
- Evidence of working with diverse or disadvantaged groups
- Evidence or working with Safeguarding and vulnerable adults
- Experience of clinical supervision
Special Requirements
Essential
- Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service (Physio cover is Monday Friday 8am-5pm)
- Full driving licence and the ability to travel between locations.
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Hons Physiotherapy or equivalent
- HCPC registered Physiotherapist
- Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
- Post graduate qualifications relevant to role
- Ear Lobe Blood Gas Competency Package
- Leadership qualification
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Evidence of development of clinical skills, leading to the ability to integrate theory and practice.
- Able to assess clinical risk
- Competence in individual caseload and time management
- Able to work effectively in a team, supporting others and constructively challenging colleagues views if needed.
- Able to supervise and delegate to junior staff.
- Able assess a situation, set priorities and problem solve quickly and effectively
- Awareness of HCPC professional codes of conduct
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Very good IT skills
Desirable
- A broad range of specialist knowledge
- Able to proactively work unsupervised
- Experience of SystmOne electronic records
- Experience of point-of-care testing devices
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).
Additional information
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).
