Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Specialist Learning Disability Physiotherapist

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Job summary

Are you looking for a new challenge?Have you ever considered a job working with adults with a learning disability?

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated physiotherapist to join our multidisciplinary community learning disability team working within the London borough of Lambeth.We are an established three borough team who are committed to providing a top-quality service to the people with a learning disability.

You would have a varied case load of people who have mild, moderate, severe and profound learning disabilities. The role would draw on skills from a range of areas of physiotherapy. Patient contact is flexible, based on their needs and in the venue that best suits that intervention, which might be in their home, day centre or other community venue.

In exchange for your professional skills, passion, commitment to the highest standards of client-centred care, we can offer you:

A supportive working environment where service users come first.
A strong team ethos of personal and professional development
Opportunities to access internal and external training
Direct supervision, peer supervision, and regular appraisal.

Experience of working with this client group is desirable, however not essential. If you are not sure whether this is the job for you please contact us for either a chat or arrange a visit to come and see what we do.

Main duties of the job

'Learning disability physiotherapists provide specialist assessment, treatment and management to adults with a learning disability whose needs cannot be successfully metby mainstream services, even when reasonable adjustments are made.

Physiotherapists will work in collaboration with the person, their network of care, mainstream health services, and the multidisciplinary team to enhance, optimise and maintain the person's physical presentation, function and quality of life."

Job Summary

To manage a specialist caseload of adult service users with learning disabilities who are eligible for services provided by GSTT community health services.

To assess, implement and evaluate physiotherapeutic interventions of both individual and group treatments of service users

To work with service users, carers, families and other agencies to identify and implement therapeutic intervention which will enhance the health of the individual

To contribute to the development of multi-disciplinary working between specialist learning disability, adult care, and mainstream health services.

To provide expertise on learning disabilities issues, to provide consultation and training to other disciplines and agencies in regard to specialist physiotherapy intervention

About us

Our vision is to reduce health inequalities and promote independence for adults with learning disabilities through partnership working and providing personalised, flexible and accessible community health services.

We are a highly motivated team that are looking to help support and direct the provision of specialist physiotherapy services locally and nationally. We have a strong structure of support with service leadership from an 8b and clinical supervision from an 8a. Day to day support is provided by the band 7's. This would include regular one to one, group supervision and support for CPD.

The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team comprising occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and community learning disability nurses and will work closely with carers, family, day services, psychology and social care agencies.

Date posted

13 July 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£42,471 to £50,364 a year p.a. inc HCA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours

Reference number

196-LIS7697

Job locations

121 Townley Road

East Dulwich

London

SE22 8SW

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

To be responsible for a clinical caseload providing physiotherapy assessment; diagnosis; intervention; monitoring; education and advice to service users, carers and members of the multi-disciplinary team ensuring that intervention is effective and sustainable.

To lead on the provision of specialist assessment, treatment and management to adults with a learning disability whose needs cannot be successfully met by mainstream services, even when reasonable adjustments are made. Including 24hr postural management; mobility management; falls prevention and intervention; community level respiratory management and rehabilitation from acute injuries and conditions.

Contribute to and work in collaboration with members of the multidisciplinary team and/or mainstream services to deliver complex manual or therapeutic handling, management of hypertonia and spasticity; management of dysphagia; specialist level respiratory management, health promotion, and the assessment and provision of specialist equipment.

Support a co-ordinated approach to care; and multi-disciplinary/multi-agency working.

Promote the role of the physiotherapist working with adults with a learning disability.

Support the transition of young people with a learning disability from paediatric to adult services.

To deliver specialised interventions including rebound therapy and hydrotherapy to meet the specific needs of adults with learning disabilities where clinically indicated.

To develop physiotherapy programmes for adults with learning disabilities and delegate them to their network of care as clinically indicated. This involves providing training to ensure a level of competence is reached, an assessment of competence and then providing ongoing monitoring.

Contribute to the training and education on physiotherapy related topics of support workers, families, health and social care professionals and non-qualified professionals to support develop of a competent learning disability workforce.

Make appropriate onwards referrals to appropriate mainstream and specialist services as clinically indicated. For example, wheelchair services, orthotics, GP and consultants.

To formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy programme based on evidence based practice and treatment options utilising generic health services whenever appropriate.

To have a sound understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and implement the legislation into own practice though the assessment of capacity to give valid consent, and to work in best interest where required.

To support adults with learning disabilities to successfully access generic health services to ensure equality is maintained and Mental Capacity Act is adhered to. This may include neurology/orthopaedic clinics, wheelchair/orthotic appointments, and during hospital admissions.

To ensure that service users are involved in the planning of their care and management wherever possible to facilitate their meaningful involvement in their management programs.

To work as a lone practitioner when working in the community and domiciliary settings, without the direct support of Physiotherapy colleagues.

Communication

To be skilled in communicating with adults with learning disabilities who may have complex communication needs.

To represent the physiotherapy service and/ or service user at multi-disciplinary meetings, taking a lead role where appropriate

To liaise with GPs, consultants and other professionals to provide advocacy and understanding of service user needs and appropriate treatment provision.

Create, maintain and enhance productive working relationships with multi-disciplinary teams; families and carers; adult social care; primary and secondary health services; and other agencies to meet service users needs.

To communicate complex information effectively to service users and carers, using alternative methods where appropriate, to maximise treatment potential, whilst ensuring an understanding of risk and benefits of assessment and treatment/ interventions.

To provide individualised clearly written information, instructions and programs in an accessible format for service users and their network of care to follow as part of the delegation of tasks.

To provide advice, teaching and instruction to families, carers and health and adult social care professionals regarding specific interventions and/ or physiotherapeutic interventions generally

Staff Management, Education and Training

To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload, effectively managing and prioritising, demonstrating flexibility with varying staff levels, varying complexity of service users and fluctuating numbers of service users on the caseload.

To deputise for Band 7 physiotherapists as necessary

To represent the Physiotherapy team at MDT Meetings, case conferences and meetings with other agencies.

To provide clinical education and supervision to physiotherapy students

To contribute to the induction and education of MDT professionals and students

To support a working culture that is flexible and promotes a positive approach to change.

To contribute to the planning and development of standards, monitoring activity and evaluating service provision.

Professional Skills

To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your work

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to post registration/post graduate diploma level through theoretical study and reflective practice. This will be achieved through CPD activities and maintaining a professional portfolio which reflects personal development

Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development plans

To be an active member of the in-service training program, attend tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses and peer review, in order to further develop knowledge

To keep up to date with GSTT mandatory training

To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive documentation in line with GSTT, HCPC and CSP standards of practice

To be able to identify complex and sensitive situations and act appropriately

To be sensitive to service users and carers cultures, beliefs and emotions.

To keep abreast with and have a good understanding of publications relating to adults with learning disabilities, implementing guidelines and recommendations into own practice.