Senior Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

To co-ordinate and deliver Pulmonary Rehabilitation classes across the city to respiratory patients

To undertake the comprehensive, advanced assessment of clients, including those with complex and/or chronic presentation using investigative and analytical skills and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning and using a wide range of treatment skills and options to devise a specialised programme of care and exercise prescription where appropriate.

To set physiotherapy rehabilitation goals, carry out treatment interventions and/or home assessment visits (often as the sole health professional).

To develop group exercise opportunities for clients within community settings, targeting priority areas.

To provide specialist advice, assessment, and treatment for patients with a respiratory condition within the community and to support patients in respiratory exacerbation in an aim to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

To work cohesively with other health professionals/agencies through the respiratory and oxygen service referral process to ensure effective treatment management and planning for those with a respiratory condition.

As an autonomous practitioner you will undertake comprehensive respiratory assessment for patients requiring urgent and chronic respiratory disease management.

To educate and advise patients under the Integrated Respiratory and Oxygen Service patient pathway and those involved with working with the patient including other health and social care workers, students, or carers.

To provide specialist advice, assessment and treatments for patients being assessed for, or already on oxygen with respiratory and non-respiratory conditions.

To liaise with respiratory teams in secondary care to ensure the most appropriate patients are identified for the respiratory and oxygen service.

To be responsible for maintaining high standards of clinical practice utilising evidence-based practice.

Dimensions

To provide line management responsibilities and mentorship to clinical staff working within the specialty

To work collaboratively and across organizational boundaries to provide evidence-based practice and holistic care to patients in a variety of settings.

To support complex case management support to peers within the team in partnership with secondary care.

Key Responsibilities

To assess respiratory patients and provide appropriate care including Pulmonary Rehabilitation sessions or home-based treatment depending on patient agreed goals.

To work closely with GPs, Community Matrons, and other members of the Primary Care Team to identify and manage patients with respiratory Illness at risk of frequent admission into hospital.

To be based within the community whilst maintaining close links and regular communication with the hospital team and partnership providers.

To provide specialist care and advice to patients with respiratory Illness including initial assessment and ongoing management of acute episodes at home, providing clinical, emotional, and psychological support to patients and their families.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis of respiratory illness has been made by the hospital or the patients own GP.

Where appropriate to develop and co-ordinate the development of individualized patient management plans, which will usually include a self-management plan, in partnership with the patients and their carers/family. These should be reviewed at regular intervals.

Assessment of patients on or referred to commence on oxygen therapy with non-respiratory and respiratory related conditions.

To work as a member of an Integrated Respiratory and Oxygen Service to deliver a coordinated service to patients, in the community in conjunction with other long-term conditions.

To act within the guidelines provided by the HCPC.

To develop, implement and evaluate respiratory care programs and protocols for patients in the community.

To provide information and support to those who wish to stop smoking.

To provide continuing support and management of patients on Long Term Oxygen Therapy (LTOT) and Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy (ATOT).

Assist in creating an integrated team and provide essential cover in the absence of the other Integrated Respiratory Service Clinicians and in the absence of the team manager.

To participate in any other agreed duties that may be reasonably required in addition to those above.

ii) Liaison

To establish and maintain effective channels of communication throughout the integrated team.

To liaise with acute and primary care staff and integrated teams to ensure the patients holistic needs are met. This could be in a Physiotherapy, advisory or teaching capacity.

Advise lead responsible clinician, of any problems occurring whilst the patient is being visited at home and act upon the decision as appropriate.

To be fully aware of local and national initiatives related to respiratory conditions and delivery of oxygen therapies.

iii) Education

To organize and participate in appropriate seminars and study days, acting as a specialist resource in respiratory and oxygen therapy.

To contribute to the education and support of other clinicians within the primary care setting.

To educate, support and counsel patients with respiratory and oxygen related conditions. Also, to include their carers and family members whenever possible.

To contribute to raising awareness of the role of the Oxygen Service, including the education and training for patients and other health care professionals.

To contribute to the education and support of other clinicians within the primary care setting

To attend regular training and update sessions with, as arranged.

iv) Managerial

To ensure that policies and protocols related to the clinical role are available to all staff and assist in their updating as and when required.

To ensure all documentation is accurately maintained and updated.

To effectively line manage several members of the team ranging from band 3 CSW to band 6 senior clinicians.

To be involved proactively in all aspects of service development.

To support the shift coordinator daily with all aspects of the service and deputize when required.

To pro-actively support team members with training and professional development, motivating staff and encouraging collaborative working to improve the service.

To play an active role in service recruitment.

To support project management and lead on projects when required, incorporating data analysis.

To actively participate in the services training strategy, including in-service training, Trust, and multi-agency training. To participate by attendance and presentation at staff meetings, tutorials, and training sessions

To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

To be responsible for own Continuing Professional Development under the supervision of the team leader keeping abreast of new trends and developments, incorporating them into your work as necessary. Attend relevant conferences and internal/external training courses. Support more junior staff to do likewise.

v) Clinical Governance

Ensure an approach to the care of our patients that minimizes risk and maximizes clinical effectiveness.

Assist with the investigation and reporting of all incidents relating to the service, ensuring appropriate action is taken.

Ensure an approach to care, which recognizes the unique needs and views of respiratory and oxygen patients and their carers and which places the patient at the center of all activities.

vi) Research and Audit

To promote and display evidence of developments in AHP and related science research which enhance the level of professional knowledge and skill.

To participate in and contribute towards any related research programs that have been formally agreed within limits of time and funding.

Ensure that evidence-based findings are translated into practice.

To collect and utilize data to enable monitoring and evaluation of the service, which will provide evidence of the value and effectiveness of the service.

Supporting the use of clinical audit as a means of enhancing clinical practice and being receptive to the audit plans of others

Qualifications

Essential

• Extensive post graduate experience of managing patients with a variety of different respiratory Illnesses including Asthma, COPD, Bronchiectasis and Interstitial lung disease.
• HCPC registered Physiotherapist.
• Willingness to undertake: Respiratory CPD (potentially degree level) Ear Lobe Blood Gas Competencies. ARTP Spirometry.

Desirable

• Evidence of further professional development.
• Ear Lobe Blood Gas Competence.
• Teaching Qualification.
• NMP independent Prescriber
• Leadership qualification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Risk management awareness and able to assess clinical risk
• Able to work effectively in a team, supporting others and challenging colleagues views and attitudes when necessary
• Able assess a situation, set priorities and problem solve quickly and effectively
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good time management skills and coordination of junior staff time management.
• Sound evidence of leadership skills
• Evidence of development of clinical skills.
• Negotiation skills
• Basic IT skills
• Leadership skills
• Able to work unsupervised

Desirable

• Corporate awareness.
• Participation in audit and research

Experience

Essential

• Experience managing patients with cardio-respiratory disease including awareness of Pulmonary Rehabilitation
• Experience of running pulmonary rehabilitation sessions
• Experience of managing patients on oxygen therapy.
• A strong understanding of multi- disciplinary and/or multi agency working within a community setting.
• Competence in individual caseload and time management.
• Evidence of leading/managing a team
• Experience of working between primary and secondary care settings

Desirable

• Evidence of delivering health promotion activities.
• Evidence of experience of project work using a multi-agency approach
• Competence in individual case load and time management.
• Community experience.
• Lone working.
• Service Development

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to be flexible over hours worked within contracted hours to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to work out of hours
• Full driving licence or the ability to travel between locations.
• To participate in and fulfil the requirements of the Directors on-call arrangements.

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).