Prosthetist/Orthotist

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as a member of the clinical team providing a high standard of prosthetic/orthotic assessment, device provision and on-going management.

To be responsible for undertaking detailed assessments to enable personalised goal setting and facilitate the provision of suitable prosthetic/orthotic clinical/technical prescriptions for patients with a range of conditions, all with support from the senior clinical team as necessary.

To be clinically responsible for the management of own clinical caseload whilst working as part of the wider teams

The Prosthetics Rehabilitation Service (PRS) consists of a multidisciplinary team providing high quality care for people living within the commissioned areas of Plymouth,Cornwall and South West Devon who have undergone amputation or congenital limb loss.

As well as a central hub in Plymouth, the service runs satellite clinics within Cornwall from Camborne & Redruth Community Hospital and Bodmin Hospital.

The Orthotics Service consists of a team of orthotic clinicians, technicians and support staff providing high quality care for people living within the commissioned areas of Plymouth and South West Devon with a wide range of conditions amenable to management with an orthotic solution. As well as a base in Plymouth, the service runs satellite clinics at University Hospital Plymouth, South Hams Hospital, The Plymouth Child development centre and local special schools.

Although predominantly clinic based, the role includes visiting both the acute and community hospitals as well as patients homes.

The role will work within the scope of the HCPC professional code of practice and Livewell Southwest policies.

Within the role you will be expected to work with a range of patients providing holistic evidence-based care, assessing, planning, implementing the treatment requirements of the practice population. Promoting and supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their own health and wellbeing, maximise independence. To assist the clinical lead and senior clinical team in planning, coordinating, and delivering Prosthetic and Orthotic services on a day-to-day basis.

To manage a defined caseload using evidence-based/patient-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and contribute to the service provision

Share knowledge and skills and empower others.

Support the audit of patient outcomes.

Prevent hospital admission.

5.1 Responsibility for People Management

Provide support, guidance and training to students and assistants, including assessing and evaluating competence.

To assist with cover for staff absence.

To ensure that your own practice and that of staff under your supervision meets the required professional standards of practice

Provide guidance for and maintain effective working relationships with administrative and technical staff to ensure service efficiency

To actively participate in the staff appraisal scheme.

To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of students and assistants as required.

To be an active member of any in-service training programme by attendance at and participation. This will include teaching and contributing to planning when appropriate

Undertake all Statutory & mandatory training as required by the Organisation as well as any identified training that will help to develop the post-holder

Undertake relevant clinical and non-clinical training as and when required for service maintenance/development

Participate in Clinical Supervision in accordance with the Organisations Policy. In the case of a new graduate clinical supervision will be frequent and will require the successful completion of a closely supervised preceptorship programme.

Proactively participate in peer support and supervision which may include for example, reflective practice, case conferences, journal clubs, clinical discussion and supervision sessions with other members of the multidisciplinary team

To be actively involved in professional clinical groups, such as Journal Clubs, BAPO Clinical Interest Groups, Peer Review Groups and other professional development activities

5.2 Responsibility for financial and/or physical resources

To be aware of budgetary constraints when planning and carrying out care and promote this within the team.

Contribute to discussions around prescription guidelines to maximise budget for all patients based on individual needs.

Ensure safe and efficient use of stock and equipment. Ensure equipment is checked appropriately. Report any equipment defects. Advise stores person if low stock noted.

Exercise a duty of care in relation to the use of the organisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.

Maintain effective working relationships with multidisciplinary team and deliver a cost-effective quality service to patient/carers within a defined geographical area.

To contribute to resource governance through knowledge and appropriate prescribing decisions.

To work across prosthetic and orthotic services as the need arises

5.3 Responsibility for administration

To maintain high professional standards at all times, complying with standards of practice stipulated the HCPCs standards and regulations

Attend and contribute actively to staff and team meetings.

Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation in line with legal and service requirements as an autonomous practitioner and to communicate assessment and other clinic outcomes to appropriate persons in the form of reports and letters.

Maintain patient clinical records in accordance with HCPC policy and local guidelines.

Report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents following Trust procedure.

Support the Service manager in the recording of accurate clinical activity data for NHSE data capture.

Ensure line management and appraisal documentation is completed for self and any mentorship/supervision documents for any students under their care are completed appropriately.

Report any incidents to an appropriate level and provide answers to incident forms in a timely manner.

Contribute to risk assessments relevant to area of work for the organisations risk register.

5.4 Responsibility for people who use our services

Accept referrals from medical and healthcare professionals and undertake clinical assessment and examination of patients to provide suitable specialist prosthetic clinical-technical prescriptions for patients with a wide range of presentations with the support of the senior clinical team.

To follow any clinical procedures, protocols, guidelines and policies that support evidence based or best practice for the prosthetic and orthotic professions and provide feedback regarding such documents which contribute to review and development.

Use measurement and data acquisition techniques in recording all pertinent information to ensure accuracy of patient prescriptions.

Perform positive model and computer aided design, computer aided manufacture (CADCAM) rectifications as appropriate.

Specify the design, componentry, materials, fabrication method and suppliers of prostheses/orthoses and order individual items to meet the patients clinical needs.

Perform mechanical and technical adjustments to prostheses/orthoses.

Evaluate the completed device on the patient to ensure the desired quality of body-device interface, functional alignment, comfort, cosmetic appearance and mechanical integrity and safety.

Re-evaluate the above following Service agreed time intervals to meet patient needs or requirements of a care plan (review appointments).

Provide verbal, visual and written information, explanation and highly specialised clinical advice to the patient and/or carers at every stage of device provision for informed consent.

Report patient adverse incidents related to the provision of prostheses/orthoses to maintain patient safety and engage in national reporting and monitoring procedures for specialised medical devices.

Advise and maintain effective liaison with technical support personnel including assistance with training to ensure best current technical practice in meeting patients needs.

To attend relevant MDT clinics. Give clinical and professional advice to the multi-disciplinary team regarding appropriate prosthetic and orthotic provision for patients within scope of practice.

To seek the assistance of/refer onto the senior clinical team any cases outside scope of own practice.

To follow relevant care pathways within the prosthetic and orthotic professions

To ensure own compliance with relevant clinical competency frameworks and essential training for the prosthetic and orthotic services and others as required when linked to the profession

Use excellent negotiation and counselling skills with patients who may have barriers to understanding.

To be accountable for the direct delivery of service by providing holistic evidence-based practice to patients and their carers, ensuring maximum independence and quality of life in a constantly changing environment. To achieve positive patient outcomes in partnership with multi-professional agencies.

Utilise a range of specialised clinical skills appropriate to the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they are seen. Exercising a high level of judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.

To triage and accept appropriate routine and urgent referrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers, and members of the public and / or refer to other agencies where appropriate. Ensuring all referrals are prioritised accordingly. Whilst working within professional guidelines to make clinical decisions without supervision.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of all situations associated with the care of patients to ensure patients and the carers safety.

Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data Protection Act, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registration
• BSc Hons Prosthetics/Orthotics or equivalent
• An up-to-date CPD Portfolio

Desirable

• Membership of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• A good knowledge of prosthetic/orthotic theory, prescription, manufacture and delivery.
• Problem solving for prosthetic/orthotic cases

Desirable

• Knowledge of current practice of medical and other relevant Healthcare practitioners
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance Systems
• An awareness of national or local issues affecting prosthetics/orthotics services/provision
• Working knowledge of ISO9000 quality management system
• Successful completion of a preceptorship programme if applicable to post holder

Experience

Essential

• Previous work experience working or volunteering with the general public.
• Use of relevant outcome measures
• Experience of effective multidisciplinary working.
• Involvement in change
• Attendance of clinical placements in prosthetics/orthotics

Desirable

• Post-qualification clinical practice as a prosthetist/orthotist and/or orthotist
• Experience of clinical audit or research
• Skills:
• Ability to work without supervision,

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

Livewell Southwest

Address

The Thornberry Centre, 1 Brest Way

Derriford

Plymouth

Devon

PL6 5XW

Employer's website

https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)