Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to join our Frailty Assessment Team as a band 7 Frailty Specialist Physiotherapist for a fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. The successful candidate would be a current Band 7 physiotherapist or an experienced Band 6 physiotherapist who is ready to take up a leadership role. The role involves leading the provision of therapy and working with the Frailty Multidisciplinary team providing a rapid assessment of older adults, initiating services where required to safely avoid unnecessary hospitalisation and deconditioning. The role involves contributing to a comprehensive geriatric assessment to those individuals attending the Emergency Department(s), Frailty Assessment Unit and Frailty Direct Attend to achieve a positive outcome for the patients. The successful candidate would need to work within this fast paced environment, making autonomous decisions in order to make swift decisions regarding admission avoidance, taking a positive risk taking approach.
Shift pattern 4 days in 7 - 8am-6pm (including weekends and public holidays)
Main duties of the job
To provide a high level of autonomy, but within agreed guidelines, you will use recognised models of practice to complete evidence-based assessments, interventions and outcome measures to underpin all practice.
Provide leadership, supervision, education and support to Frailty therapy team as well as being a specialist resource of knowledge for health care professionals. The candidate would have excellent communication skills and liaise with the multidisciplinary team including the consultants, patient relatives and primary care partners. The post holder would need to demonstrate a flexible approach as the demands of the role may change depending on the demands of the service.
About us
We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region.By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
The Frailty Team are always motivated, resilient, strong and strive to deliver best care for everyone every time. We are encouraging of staff development and foster a positive culture.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To case manage the attendance and admission avoidance for frail individuals
- To manage a diverse caseload of patients with varying levels of frailty and a wide range of co-morbidities/presentations including orthopedic, cardiac, neurological and palliative with a view to avoid hospital admission where possible.
- To demonstrate highly specialised clinical skills of assessing, treating and discharging of frail older adults. This can include managing acutely unwell patients e.g patients who require respiratory physiotherapy intervention.
- To seamlessly transfer patient care to community partners in a timely manner, contributing to appropriate patient flow pathways. Including the timely assessment and provision of equipment to facilitate discharge.
- Respond to agreed escalation procedures during times of extreme capacity demands in the health and care services in Gloucestershire.
- To work within an integrated physiotherapy and occupational therapy service, while being aware of own professional boundaries.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner.
- To take a lead role in supervision and development of qualified therapists, support workers and students within the Frailty team.
- To contribute to the Trust Governance agenda, including the delivery of safe, high-quality care.
- To be competent in risk assessments and managing risk autonomously, supporting other team members with their decision making in the Emergency Departments and the Same day Emergency Care setting/Frailty Unit.
- To have an excellent knowledge of resources available outside of the Acute Trust
- Be a visible and accessible presence throughout the service acting as a role model to other care professionals to support them in managing complex interventions using a variety of approaches to decision making, providing support and supervision.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers, potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information in order to provide patient centred care. Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties/disabilities.
- To maintain clear, accurate, concise and contemporaneous patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To case manage the attendance and admission avoidance for frail individuals
- To manage a diverse caseload of patients with varying levels of frailty and a wide range of co-morbidities/presentations including orthopedic, cardiac, neurological and palliative with a view to avoid hospital admission where possible.
- To demonstrate highly specialised clinical skills of assessing, treating and discharging of frail older adults. This can include managing acutely unwell patients e.g patients who require respiratory physiotherapy intervention.
- To seamlessly transfer patient care to community partners in a timely manner, contributing to appropriate patient flow pathways. Including the timely assessment and provision of equipment to facilitate discharge.
- Respond to agreed escalation procedures during times of extreme capacity demands in the health and care services in Gloucestershire.
- To work within an integrated physiotherapy and occupational therapy service, while being aware of own professional boundaries.
- To work as an autonomous practitioner.
- To take a lead role in supervision and development of qualified therapists, support workers and students within the Frailty team.
- To contribute to the Trust Governance agenda, including the delivery of safe, high-quality care.
- To be competent in risk assessments and managing risk autonomously, supporting other team members with their decision making in the Emergency Departments and the Same day Emergency Care setting/Frailty Unit.
- To have an excellent knowledge of resources available outside of the Acute Trust
- Be a visible and accessible presence throughout the service acting as a role model to other care professionals to support them in managing complex interventions using a variety of approaches to decision making, providing support and supervision.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers, potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information in order to provide patient centred care. Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties/disabilities.
- To maintain clear, accurate, concise and contemporaneous patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy undergraduate degree
- Registered professional - CSP, BAOT HCPC etc
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Completed or working towards completion of relevant post-graduate study and experience of working at a senior level in this specialist area.
Desirable
- Evidence of Quality Improvement methodology knowledge and experience (e.g., QSIA within Gloucestershire ICS, or similar)
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration experience
- Extensive experience of assessing, treating and discharging older adults with complex needs including specialist clinical skills in functional assessments, cognitive assessments and treatment, activity analysis, equipment assessment and provision, complex discharging.
- Ability to work in a number of areas cross both CGH and GRH and the community demonstrating flexibility and own resilience.
- Experience of working with older adults including knowledge of Rockwood clinical frailty score
- Ability to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential
- Evidence of initiative and be able to make appropriate decisions with clear guidelines
- Ability to work collaboratively within teams and across organisational boundaries
- Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload
Desirable
- Knowledge of Quality Improvement approaches, tools and templates
- Excellent organisational skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy undergraduate degree
- Registered professional - CSP, BAOT HCPC etc
- Evidence of continued professional development
- Completed or working towards completion of relevant post-graduate study and experience of working at a senior level in this specialist area.
Desirable
- Evidence of Quality Improvement methodology knowledge and experience (e.g., QSIA within Gloucestershire ICS, or similar)
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration experience
- Extensive experience of assessing, treating and discharging older adults with complex needs including specialist clinical skills in functional assessments, cognitive assessments and treatment, activity analysis, equipment assessment and provision, complex discharging.
- Ability to work in a number of areas cross both CGH and GRH and the community demonstrating flexibility and own resilience.
- Experience of working with older adults including knowledge of Rockwood clinical frailty score
- Ability to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility
Knowledge/ Skills
Essential
- Evidence of initiative and be able to make appropriate decisions with clear guidelines
- Ability to work collaboratively within teams and across organisational boundaries
- Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload
Desirable
- Knowledge of Quality Improvement approaches, tools and templates
- Excellent organisational skills
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).
