Physiotherapist (Community Paediatrics) Band 6

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

1. To communicate with children of all ages who have a range of physical and psychological barriers to understanding. Verbal and non-verbal communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent are used with a variety of patients, parents and carers.

1. To gain valid informed consent in accordance with trust policy and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment

1. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), social services, education colleagues and voluntary organisations to ensure delivery of a timely and co-ordinated multi-agency service. This will include the identification of issues and attendance of patient reviews in a variety of settings and the planning of ongoing care.

1. To provide and receive complex information in relation to children, young people and their families, their current presentation and needs.

1. To be able to provide information related to the child and their physiotherapy programme to parents, carers and education staff.

1. To be able to provide information related to a childs equipment and provide handover, training and support on the use of the equipment to parents, carers and education staff.

1. To be able to adapt communication style and approach to ensure that information is shared appropriately.

1. To identify and arrange additional support for parents and carers where there are potential barriers to communication e.g use of an interpreter.

1. To communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition and implication of management where there may be barriers to understanding.

Analytical Skills

1. To carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with complex presentations, using clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence based practice and expertise to determine appropriate care plans utilising specialist paediatric techniques and a wide range of treatment options.

1. To use theoretical knowledge and practical experience to interpret and analyse clinical diagnoses and presentations in a wide variety of complex conditions, where there may be conflicting evidence or where some information is unavailable.

1. To contribute to accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans, guided by clearly defined principles or physiotherapy guidelines.

Planning and Organisational Skills

1. To be responsible for own workload, designated by a more senior team member, and to plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and time management.

1. To be responsible for ensuring the effective selection and use of all treatment resources available in the community environment.

1. To cover the responsibilities of the senior physiotherapists as required in their absence.

Physical skills

1. To demonstrate the ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and specialised interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling and demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills for assessment and manual treatment of patients.

The post holder will be expected to carry out the following for several long periods on a daily basis at an intense level.

• Moving and Handling patients.
• Assisting patients to move functionally.
• Transferring patients.
• Supporting patients whilst walking.
• Therapeutic handling.
• Resisted exercise.
• Using and adjustment of specialist equipment e.g, standing frames.
• Pushing wheelchairs and specialist equipment.
• Transporting heavy and bulky equipment on home visits.
• Working at a variety of different heights often on the floor.
• Working in awkward positions.
• Physical ability to demonstrate activities and exercise programme.
• Fine manual dexterity during therapy programmes.

Responsibility for patient/client care

1. To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including the management of caseload. To ensure a high standard of clinical care (for the patients under your management).

1. To refer to other healthcare professionals and agencies in line with departmental policy, as part of the overall management of the child to ensure holistic care.

1. To continually reassess patients and adjust treatment plans accordingly in order to progress treatments effectively.

1. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and time management.

1. To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other health care professionals and agencies, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

1. To provide advice, teaching and training to other members of the multiagency team regarding the physiotherapy management of patients.

1. To provide specialist paediatric advice to physiotherapy colleagues working in other trusts.

1. To manage clinical risk within own caseload and support others to do the same

1. To be responsible for maintenance of accurate written records and supervision of team record keeping, in accordance with CSP standards of practice.

1. To compile progress and discharge reports, and to assist senior members of staff with legal and disability reports to multi-agencies and carers as appropriate.

1. Analyse and understand the impact on the child and family of various treatment plans/diagnosis from other disciplines.

1. To undertake any duties that might be considered appropriate by the Senior Physiotherapist.

Responsibility for policy/ service development

1. To act in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct and Standards of practice set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) and Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC).

1. To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work. Being responsible for maintaining written evidence within CPD portfolio.

1. To be an active member of the in-service training programme available via staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, external courses and reflective practice by regular attendance and participation in the former including the delivery of presentations.

1. To demonstrate a sound understanding of Trust values, Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to the work situation.

1. To attend Mandatory Training and incorporate these within working practices.

1. To attend Child Protection training and work in accordance within the national guidelines.

1. To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of your work area, including your prompt recording and reporting of accidents and incidents (in line with policy), and ensuring that equipment use is safe.

1. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate parents/carers, internal and external agencies in the form of reports and letters in accordance with Trust Data Protection Policy.

1. To have knowledge of and comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.

1. All individuals will have some risk management responsibilities with which you are required to comply, for details of your responsibilities please refer to the current Risk management strategy which is available on the intranet and in the local strategies folder.

1. To be aware of Trust Policies and Procedures and Departmental Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for all aspects of work. To adhere to these Policies and Procedures to ensure safe working practises and escalation of any issues to senior staff and managers.

1. Where appropriate; to contribute to the review and development of Policies and Procedures and make comments and suggestions on any proposals.

Responsibility for financial and physical resources

1. To assess children for specialist equipment and recommend its purchase and to be responsible for the safe use and maintenance in homes and schools, in accordance with departmental protocol.

1. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure its safe use by others through, teaching, training and supervision of practice.

Responsibility for human resources

1. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme and personal development review process (PDR).

1. To supervise, educate and appraise staff (Band 2-5) in conjunction with Head of Service/ Deputy to Head of Service, providing support to peers

Responsibility for Data Entry

1. To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department and other specialist groups within the trust, and for national reporting.

Responsibility for research and development

1. To contribute to development of audit ideas and tools, as required.

1. To be aware of and participate in research practices within the department and to contribute as appropriate.

1. Participate in evidence based projects/audits contributes to the implementation of these changes within designated team/area.

Person Specification

Education and Training

Essential

• HCPC Registered
• Degre/ Diploma in Physiotherapy recognised by the HCPC

Desirable

• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
• Post Graduate courses relevant to Clinical Specialty/ Physiotherapy Experience

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years post registration experience, to include wide knowledge of all basic grade rotations

Desirable

• Paediatric experience as a junior physiotherapist

Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of knowledge of a range of approaches used within paediatrics
• Evidence of interest in the field of paediatrics
• Evidence of knowledge of current trends within paediatric physiotherapy
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance
• Demonstrate knowledge of current pertinent issues affecting therapy provision both locally and nationally

Desirable

• Proven knowledge of Children's Safeguarding procedures

Skills

Essential

• Proven physical ability to carry out any therapeutic handling required
• Evidence of knowledge of relevant physiotherapy assessment techniques
• Proven ability to prioritise and organise caseload, underpinned by sound time management skills
• Evidence of experience of positive working as part of a multiagency team

Desirable

• Evidence of experience of supervising and teaching junior and undergraduate Physiotherapists
• Proven experience of the delegation of tasks to other staff, with a firm understanding of the process of delegation
• Appropriate computer skills

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development, with current portfolio
• Evidence of good communication skills, written and verbal, enabling applicant to converse across a range of understanding
• Proven ability to compliment the dynamics of the existing team
• Ability to travel between community sites with access to own transport for work purposes

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Kilby House (1st Floor) Liverpool Innovation Park

Edge Lane

Liverpool

L7 9NJ

Employer's website

https://alderhey.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)