Job summary
As a member of the Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) team you will virtually assess, treat, and clinically manage patients with acute musculoskeletal injuries, mainly non-surgical fractures post emergency department review. The daily caseload is variable, and the work environment often fast paced with changing priorities depending on service need.
Your role will be within the VFC; you will work with the team to manage and prioritise the clinical caseload, triage and assess patients over the telephone and provide treatment and advice in line with VFC guidelines. Occasionally you may be required to see patients face to face.
The role includes supervising students and supporting less experienced staff, as well as initiating and participating in evidence-based projects, and contributing to the in-service training programme.
Worthing hospital is currently the base for this job but at times you will be asked to work from other hospital sites or from home (currently fortnightly this could be subject to change).
This job opportunity is open to all post graduate practitioners with applicable or transferable experience and not limited to physiotherapists. This fixed term maternity cover role is ideally full time though we may be able to consider part time options.
Main duties of the job
As an autonomous practitioner, to assess and treat a specialist caseload of Orthopaedic patients, who may have complex presentations or complications, without direct supervision from senior staff.
To work alongside Orthopaedic Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, other members of the VFC team and the wider MDT.
To seek assistance when/where necessary and understand own professional limitations.
To prioritise referrals according to clinical need and be flexible and responsive with daily working practices to accommodate this.
Hold working knowledge of all systems used relating to management of patients. This includes VFC digital solution (currently Etrauma), Careflow, Bluespier, Evolve, Affinity, Sectra and responsibility for learning new systems, as these are developed.
To provide a strong link between emergency, outpatient, and inpatient services.
To assess, fit and evaluate orthotic devices including boots, braces, splints, slings etc as required with appropriate training.
Select appropriate and individual treatment pathways e.g. onward referral to Physiotherapy, consultant led clinics etc following VFC management guidelines.
To be responsible for teaching, supervision, and appraisal of recently qualified members of the team and undergraduate students and be involved in the teaching of MDT staff.
About us
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication
To liaise with other Physiotherapists regarding patient care and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged.
To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure effective communication with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g. medical notes and reports.
To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines.
To attend and be an active participant in speciality, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups, appropriate to the clinical field.
To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills.
- Be aware of the standard information available for patients and use it appropriately.
- Use the electronic patient administration and record keeping system.
- Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mail received.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients who may have a variety of different communication requirements.
- To have effective telephone communication skills, thus enabling the assessing and giving of advice to patients over the telephone in the Virtual Fracture Clinic.
- To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc.
- To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
- To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure equitable accessibility of patient information and services.
Service delivery and improvement
To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards, and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc.
To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Manager of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
- To work with the Physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.
- Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc.
To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies.
To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.
- To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services.
- To engage with local service improvement strategies such as patient first
- Actively look for opportunities to improve the service for patients and staff
- To participate in audit and research to help improve and support services.
People management and development
Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trusts e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning.
- To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.
To supervise junior Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy students on clinical placements.
To be responsible to and deputise for the team lead in Orthopaedics.
To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.
To assist in the supervision and development of the junior Physiotherapists.
To be responsible for the training of students on placement and juniors within the clinical area.
To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the Trusts objectives, plans and business developments.
To develop objectives for staff and to appraise staff at least once annually. To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives.
To discuss expected outcomes of training and development activity with staff prior to attending training events.
- To discuss outcomes with staff after attending training and development activity and to assist staff to transfer, develop and use new skills acquired
- To actively work to avoid unconscious bias and support equitable staff learning and development opportunities.
Patient care delivery
To undertake the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients including those with complex presentations.
To demonstrate the Trust values and attitudes regarding the management of patients and everyday working with colleagues.
To seek guidance from senior staff as required and to give guidance to more junior staff.
To devise an individualised Physiotherapy management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a range of treatment options.
To be able to devise and lead specialist Physiotherapy treatments
- To work with members of the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure a seamless delivery of care, provide advice and education within this forum, acting as an expert in your own professional field.
- To understand and be aware of health inequalities and suggest and support strategies to eliminate or mitigate these.
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.
Prior to submission of your application for any internal secondment or fixed term post, please ensure that you have discussed this with your line manager to obtain their approval.
If you do not have written approval from your current line manager to take this position if successful as an internal secondment opportunity, it would be offered as a fixed term position.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Communication
To liaise with other Physiotherapists regarding patient care and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged.
To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure effective communication with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g. medical notes and reports.
To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines.
To attend and be an active participant in speciality, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups, appropriate to the clinical field.
To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills.
- Be aware of the standard information available for patients and use it appropriately.
- Use the electronic patient administration and record keeping system.
- Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mail received.
- Use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients who may have a variety of different communication requirements.
- To have effective telephone communication skills, thus enabling the assessing and giving of advice to patients over the telephone in the Virtual Fracture Clinic.
- To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc.
- To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
- To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure equitable accessibility of patient information and services.
Service delivery and improvement
To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards, and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc.
To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Manager of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
- To work with the Physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.
- Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc.
To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies.
To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.
- To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services.
- To engage with local service improvement strategies such as patient first
- Actively look for opportunities to improve the service for patients and staff
- To participate in audit and research to help improve and support services.
People management and development
Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trusts e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning.
- To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.
To supervise junior Physiotherapists and Physiotherapy students on clinical placements.
To be responsible to and deputise for the team lead in Orthopaedics.
To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.
To assist in the supervision and development of the junior Physiotherapists.
To be responsible for the training of students on placement and juniors within the clinical area.
To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the Trusts objectives, plans and business developments.
To develop objectives for staff and to appraise staff at least once annually. To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives.
To discuss expected outcomes of training and development activity with staff prior to attending training events.
- To discuss outcomes with staff after attending training and development activity and to assist staff to transfer, develop and use new skills acquired
- To actively work to avoid unconscious bias and support equitable staff learning and development opportunities.
Patient care delivery
To undertake the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients including those with complex presentations.
To demonstrate the Trust values and attitudes regarding the management of patients and everyday working with colleagues.
To seek guidance from senior staff as required and to give guidance to more junior staff.
To devise an individualised Physiotherapy management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a range of treatment options.
To be able to devise and lead specialist Physiotherapy treatments
- To work with members of the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure a seamless delivery of care, provide advice and education within this forum, acting as an expert in your own professional field.
- To understand and be aware of health inequalities and suggest and support strategies to eliminate or mitigate these.
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria.
Prior to submission of your application for any internal secondment or fixed term post, please ensure that you have discussed this with your line manager to obtain their approval.
If you do not have written approval from your current line manager to take this position if successful as an internal secondment opportunity, it would be offered as a fixed term position.
Person Specification
Professional Registration
Essential
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential
- Physiotherapy Degree (BSc or MSc equivalent). UK registration
Desirable
- Evidence of Post-graduate education such as post grad Diploma/ MSc modules.
- Leadership qualifications/ modules
Skills non-clinical
Essential
- Excellent IT, presentation, and teaching skills.
Desirable
- Able to use spreadsheets, and other related IT programs.
- Able to use spreadsheets, and other related IT programs.
- Knowledge of broader departmental working National agendas NSF guidelines NICE guidelines
- Experience of service development
- Evidence of research, audit and service development.
- Evidence of engagement in projects and/or learning relating to health inequalities.
Skills Clinical
Essential
- Have completed at least one rotation in Trauma & Orthopaedics or MSK or UTC/Emergency Department rotation at band 5 or above.
- Evaluation of assessment and treatment interventions.
- Clinical reasoning, decision making and problem solving.
- Recognition of importance of team working.
- Seeks help appropriately.
Desirable
- Orthopaedic X-ray interpretation through experiential learning or via short course/module
- Previous band 6 experience in orthopaedics or MSK or Emergency Medicine
- Experience of a Virtual Fracture Clinic
People Management and Development
Essential
- Experience of supporting, appraising, developing and training staff and students
- Experience of developing and leading training sessions
- Ability to manage a busy and complex caseload, and complete clinical and non-clinical duties with a degree of autonomy
Desirable
- Experience of supporting / supervising staff with performance development needs
- Leadership and experience of first line management and assessment of junior and support staff.
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Team worker
- Commitment to equality diversity and inclusion
- Empathetic approach
- Enthusiasm for learning
- Flexibility and ability to task switch according to changing daily priorities
- Effective stress management
- Showing initiative
- Assertiveness
- Able to work autonomously
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Emotional resilience in stressful situations
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Person Specification
Professional Registration
Essential
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential
- Physiotherapy Degree (BSc or MSc equivalent). UK registration
Desirable
- Evidence of Post-graduate education such as post grad Diploma/ MSc modules.
- Leadership qualifications/ modules
Skills non-clinical
Essential
- Excellent IT, presentation, and teaching skills.
Desirable
- Able to use spreadsheets, and other related IT programs.
- Able to use spreadsheets, and other related IT programs.
- Knowledge of broader departmental working National agendas NSF guidelines NICE guidelines
- Experience of service development
- Evidence of research, audit and service development.
- Evidence of engagement in projects and/or learning relating to health inequalities.
Skills Clinical
Essential
- Have completed at least one rotation in Trauma & Orthopaedics or MSK or UTC/Emergency Department rotation at band 5 or above.
- Evaluation of assessment and treatment interventions.
- Clinical reasoning, decision making and problem solving.
- Recognition of importance of team working.
- Seeks help appropriately.
Desirable
- Orthopaedic X-ray interpretation through experiential learning or via short course/module
- Previous band 6 experience in orthopaedics or MSK or Emergency Medicine
- Experience of a Virtual Fracture Clinic
People Management and Development
Essential
- Experience of supporting, appraising, developing and training staff and students
- Experience of developing and leading training sessions
- Ability to manage a busy and complex caseload, and complete clinical and non-clinical duties with a degree of autonomy
Desirable
- Experience of supporting / supervising staff with performance development needs
- Leadership and experience of first line management and assessment of junior and support staff.
Specific Requirements
Essential
- Team worker
- Commitment to equality diversity and inclusion
- Empathetic approach
- Enthusiasm for learning
- Flexibility and ability to task switch according to changing daily priorities
- Effective stress management
- Showing initiative
- Assertiveness
- Able to work autonomously
- Excellent communication skills
Desirable
- Emotional resilience in stressful situations
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential
- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
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.
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).
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.
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).
