Specialist Physiotherapist for Calderdale Stroke Pathway

Job responsibilities

The postholder will be expected to:

To work within the Stroke pathway to ensure seamless rehabilitation on discharge home from hospital, and on transfer to long-term community services

To manage own specialist caseload in this area.

To work autonomously within Trust policies and professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.

To carry out specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients with the aim of facilitating safe and timely discharges and transfer of care.

Develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.

Take part in the education and training of Physiotherapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare / social services / education staff including medical staff.

To support the Clinical lead in the day to day running of the Rehabilitation Team.

To support and advise within the wider MDT on the delivery of the service

Clinical Duties

1. To work within the Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust (CHFT) Stroke Pathway, developing effective clinical interventions within the speciality of stroke care in order to contribute to clinical practice in the team in line with current evidence base.

2. To manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients at a specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical records.

3. To have specialist assessment and treatment skills in the areas listed but not limited to:

Neurological assessment skills

Stroke pathology presentation

Neurological manual handling skills

Knowledge of various approaches to stroke rehabilitation

Physical rehabilitation through exercise and function

Respiratory physiotherapeutic skills

Appreciation of appropriate intervention

Knowledge of cognitive and perceptual deficits

Discharge and transfer of care planning and co-ordination

Normal movement

Muscle imbalance

Postural management

Electrical stimulation

Management of tone, including spasticity

Complex psychosocial assessment of patients and carers

Taping and orthotics

FES

4. To apply evidence-based knowledge within the specialist clinical area acquired through experience and academic study to a specialist post graduate level.

5. To act, within the stroke teams, as a resource and provide advice for Physiotherapists and other professionals and colleagues within the MDT about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients who have a multi-pathological illness and/or complex psychosocial need.

6. To work collaboratively with health and social care community and acute colleagues.

7. To work with other members of the MDT to ensure effective care pathways and transfer of care / discharges.

8. To proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of stroke patients between care settings.

9. To work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner within the MDT, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries across professions and where competent take on aspects of blurred boundary working, where appropriate.

10. To develop specialist programmes of assessment, treatment, and intervention for stroke patients both in the acute hospital and community settings.

11. To manage and prioritise own clinical workload as appropriate, working efficiently to manage professional time and delegate according to the training and competency levels of other team members to ensure the effective delivery of the service.

12. To participate in the supervision process with staff on a daily basis and for students as required.

13. To ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.

14. To provide specialist assessment and advice for the multidisciplinary team and actively participate in MDT meetings as appropriate.

15. To work across a 5-day therapy service.

16. To participate in the respiratory on call service.

3.2 Professional Duties

Professional Duties

1. To comply with and, along with the clinical lead, contribute to the development and implementation of protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on the management and care of stroke patients.

2. To participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the Physiotherapy teams clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, research and development, clinical audit and service activity data.

3. To ensure specialised treatments offered to patients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research tools and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice.

4. To be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies.

5. Along with the Clinical Lead /Team Leader generate and contribute to the collection, analysis and dissemination of data as required for the service.

6. To lead, develop and actively undertake clinical audit as requested.

7. On a day to day basis, to support members of the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Assistant team and contribute to them successfully meeting their objectives and development needs.

8. To assist the Clinical Lead / Team Leader to manage the performance of the Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Assistant staff by having a delegated role in supervision/PDR.

9. To contribute to the identification, development, and evaluation of a training programme for stroke rehabilitation to address the needs of the Physiotherapy service and the wider multi professional team as appropriate.

10. To organise and participate in in-service training programmes, under direction, ensuring appropriate training is delivered.

11. To undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with Clinical Lead / Team Leader. To disseminate information from training effectively throughout the team, the service and MDT as appropriate.

12. To participate in the CT&R supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice.

13. To participate in the Trust Personal Development Review process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.

14. To give specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care.

15. To be responsible for the supervision and education of student Physiotherapists to graduate level in the role of clinical educator.

16. To contribute to the supervision and education of students from other professional groups e.g. Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists as required.

3.3 Personal and professional Development

1. To contribute to the delivery of the stroke service within the wider MDT.

2. To provide advice / information to the Clinical Lead / Team Leader to help in the planning and development of the service.

3. In conjunction with the Team Leader / Clinical Lead, ensure adequate staff cover within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and report sickness absence to the Team Leader.

4. To assist the Team Leader in achieving the service objectives.

5. To actively participate in the professional development programme of the Physiotherapy service.

6. To assist the Clinical Lead / Team Leader in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist implementation of change as appropriate.

7. To comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating process as appropriate.

8. To participate in the staff recruitment process

9. Maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act.

10. Initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the postholder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of the job description.

3.4 Financial Duties

To support the Locality Manager/ General Manager and Team Leader in helping identify ways in which we can best utilise staffing resources and financial resources within the Stroke Team

3.5 Car Users

This role will require you to use your car on work related business (potentially every day). It is your responsibility to ensure that you are insured to do this in addition to having the general business use insurance cover.

On occasions you may be required to transport equipment/other staff member in your car to carry out your duties. Prior to doing this a full risk assessment should be carried out.

This job description is an outline only and is not definitive or restrictive in any way. It will be regularly reviewed and may be amended in the light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder

Qualifications/Training

Essential

• Relevant Degree/Diploma
• Registered with HCPC
• Evidence of Post Graduate Training
• Neurological Manual Handling skills
• Willing and able to participate in a competency work based training programme

Desirable

• Studied at Masters Level or equivalent
• Member of professional body
• Clinical Educator Training

Knowledge Experience & Expertise

Essential

• Expertise in discharge planning
• Comprehensive knowledge of appropriate and available Physiotherapy assessments and approaches in the specialty of stroke, including outcome measures.
• Recent experience demonstrating ability to assess, treat and evaluate care in stroke rehabilitation or other long term neurological conditions
• Good clinical reasoning skills
• Evidence of CPD, self-directed learning and Reflective Practice
• Awareness of relevant Legislation, NSF'S/ Local and National initiatives
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Critical Appraisal Skills
• Ability to maintain legible and accurate records
• Teaching/presentation skills
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, NSF's and local/National initiatives
• Rotational experience in stroke rehabilitation
• Experience of developing others
• Experience of supervising and training others

Desirable

• Experience in contributing to service improvements e.g. Audit, patient information etc.
• Experience in dealing with complaints (e.g. diffusing complaint or investigating complaints
• Carrying out PDR's

Communication & Relationships (including managment responsibilities)

Essential

• Demonstrates positive attitude and behaviours
• Excellent time management skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with people with complex difficulties and in difficult situations
• Recognises own limitations and have willingness to share and learn from others
• Ability to concentrate and work in conditions requiring emotional demands
• Self motivated with ability to work independently and influence others
• Excellent Team player
• Proven ability to work well in a team
• Ability to make decisions and problem solve when dealing with routine situations
• Ability to organise own work and caseload
• Ability to work in a stressful environment and concentrate in conditions requiring emotional demands
• Ability to recognise own limitations and have a willingness to share and learn skills from others
• Ability to prioritise own and others caseloads.

Desirable

• Experience in contributing to service improvements e.g. Audit, patient information etc.

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).