Job summary
Are you a committed Paediatric Physiotherapist with a passion for delivering outstanding care that brings the 6 Cs (care, compassion, commitment, courage, communication and competence) to life?
A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist within our paediatric therapies team which is part of the Specialist Child Health Services.
We are looking for an individual who is hard working, compassionate and has a real desire to share and develop their skills and knowledge in working with children from ages 0-19 years to help them reach their maximum potential.
We offer regular clinical and managerial supervision, flexible working and regular training opportunities.
This post is subject to an enhanced with children's and adults barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Main duties of the job
To lead and provide a skilled and competent specialist physiotherapy service to children and young people from 0-19 years of age.
To implement therapy programmes for individuals and groups while working as a member of an interdisciplinary/agency team.
To participate in the development of the Therapy Service.
To supervise other qualified and unqualified physiotherapists and therapy assistants in their work.
The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users and their parents/carers.
The post holder will embrace the core values of the organisation and follow current guidance in the management of Paediatric neurological, neurodevelopmental & Musculoskeletal conditions. These principles will recognise the need to:
Promotes safe practice
Value the aims of service users
Work in partnership and offer meaningful choice
Be optimistic about the possibilities of meaningful change
About us
Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.
We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.
At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
To provide individual and group therapy for paediatric physiotherapy needs, by diagnosing, deciding upon management, designing and implementing clinical care packages. Clients will include those with dual diagnosis, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal complaints, autistic spectrum disorder, profound and multiple learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.
To use highly specialist listening, physical, and observational skills to diagnose and manage cases in evidence-based and quality performance, risk framework.
To sensitively provide and receive information about clients from the client, carer and other professionals and to manage difficult or contentious information appropriately.
To work in an empathic manner in partnership with clients, carers and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the client communicates e.g. sign language. To alter approaches to a relevant level for the client to be as actively involved in his or her own care as possible.
To arrange appointments, attend reviews/case conferences and liaise with carers, families and other professionals regarding patient care.
To design and evaluate specific Physiotherapy projects.
To maintain a high standard of documentation across all aspects of the service, including the patients case notes, administrative and statistical procedures and all related written communications.
MANAGERIAL
To supervise the work of less experienced physiotherapists, assistants and students on placement. To facilitate the development of the teams skills and knowledge to meet the service needs.
To provide clinical education for students from a variety of professions, who are observing Physiotherapy practice.
Lead, participate and contribute to issues, within monthly clinical supervision, relating to clients, own skills and development needs.
To manage own caseload, prioritising the waiting list, and delegating cases to the other qualified physiotherapists and assistants.
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To identify the training needs of carers in relation to clients Physiotherapy needs and design training to meet this need.
To plan the content and delivery of training programmes as required. To provide specialist training about learning disabilities and physiotherapy to families, care staff and professionals.
To share experience and expertise about Physiotherapy issues with other colleagues, carers and service users.
To recommend and work towards achieving Personal Development Plan objectives to met the service need and development. You will discuss individual job development with your Manager at the Personal Plan Development meetings each year.
To undertake identified development of work related skills. To attend relevant courses, meetings and Specific Interest Groups related to Paediatric Therapies physiotherapy and to keep own regular record of C.P.D.
To participate in training that is critical to the Trust, as identified by the Learning Foundation and the Physiotherapy professional body.
To work following Trust Policies.
You will work at having good working relationships with the public and team.
To maintain accurate patient records and statistical information.
RESEARCH AND AUDIT
To carry out physiotherapy research and audit as required to evaluate the service provision and develop the service against team, trust and national objectives.
Job description
Job responsibilities
CLINICAL
To provide individual and group therapy for paediatric physiotherapy needs, by diagnosing, deciding upon management, designing and implementing clinical care packages. Clients will include those with dual diagnosis, neurological conditions, musculoskeletal complaints, autistic spectrum disorder, profound and multiple learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.
To use highly specialist listening, physical, and observational skills to diagnose and manage cases in evidence-based and quality performance, risk framework.
To sensitively provide and receive information about clients from the client, carer and other professionals and to manage difficult or contentious information appropriately.
To work in an empathic manner in partnership with clients, carers and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the client communicates e.g. sign language. To alter approaches to a relevant level for the client to be as actively involved in his or her own care as possible.
To arrange appointments, attend reviews/case conferences and liaise with carers, families and other professionals regarding patient care.
To design and evaluate specific Physiotherapy projects.
To maintain a high standard of documentation across all aspects of the service, including the patients case notes, administrative and statistical procedures and all related written communications.
MANAGERIAL
To supervise the work of less experienced physiotherapists, assistants and students on placement. To facilitate the development of the teams skills and knowledge to meet the service needs.
To provide clinical education for students from a variety of professions, who are observing Physiotherapy practice.
Lead, participate and contribute to issues, within monthly clinical supervision, relating to clients, own skills and development needs.
To manage own caseload, prioritising the waiting list, and delegating cases to the other qualified physiotherapists and assistants.
EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT
To identify the training needs of carers in relation to clients Physiotherapy needs and design training to meet this need.
To plan the content and delivery of training programmes as required. To provide specialist training about learning disabilities and physiotherapy to families, care staff and professionals.
To share experience and expertise about Physiotherapy issues with other colleagues, carers and service users.
To recommend and work towards achieving Personal Development Plan objectives to met the service need and development. You will discuss individual job development with your Manager at the Personal Plan Development meetings each year.
To undertake identified development of work related skills. To attend relevant courses, meetings and Specific Interest Groups related to Paediatric Therapies physiotherapy and to keep own regular record of C.P.D.
To participate in training that is critical to the Trust, as identified by the Learning Foundation and the Physiotherapy professional body.
To work following Trust Policies.
You will work at having good working relationships with the public and team.
To maintain accurate patient records and statistical information.
RESEARCH AND AUDIT
To carry out physiotherapy research and audit as required to evaluate the service provision and develop the service against team, trust and national objectives.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC
Desirable
- Formal post graduate qualification relevant to specialist area of practice
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience, involving experience of working in community settings.
- Experience working in a Paediatric background
- Knowledge of Paediatric conditions e.g. Cerebral Palsy.
- Knowledge of Paediatric therapy outcome measures.
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with paediatric conditions.
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the SEND reform act.
- Basic awareness of safer handling policies and practical requirements.
- Basic skills in computer use
- To have maintained a continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio, recording career path, training and experience
- To have the ability to present information to groups of staff and families. This may include client based information, project or training material
- Proven ability to effectively plan, organise and prioritise own workload
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent
- Registered with the HCPC
Desirable
- Formal post graduate qualification relevant to specialist area of practice
Experience
Essential
- Post-qualification experience, involving experience of working in community settings.
- Experience working in a Paediatric background
- Knowledge of Paediatric conditions e.g. Cerebral Palsy.
- Knowledge of Paediatric therapy outcome measures.
Desirable
- Experience of working with people with paediatric conditions.
Values
Essential
- Continuous Improvement
- Accountability
- Respectfulness
- Enthusiasm
- Support
- High professional standards
- Responsive to service users
- Engaging leadership style
- Strong customer service belief
- Transparency and honesty
- Discreet
- Change oriented
Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of the SEND reform act.
- Basic awareness of safer handling policies and practical requirements.
- Basic skills in computer use
- To have maintained a continuing professional development (CPD) portfolio, recording career path, training and experience
- To have the ability to present information to groups of staff and families. This may include client based information, project or training material
- Proven ability to effectively plan, organise and prioritise own workload
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).
