Job summary
Following a restructure an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced physiotherapist to join our forward thinking Neuro outpatients team as a Band 7 Specialist Physiotherapist. The post is full time but we would welcome applicants who would prefer part-time, job share or flexible working opportunities. The role is predominantly clinical and will support the Team Lead to develop the service in new and innovative ways.
Main duties of the job
- To provide clinical speciality for the neurological Physiotherapy team, provide evidence-based and effective neuro Physiotherapy Services to the population of north and mid Bedfordshire within Bedfordshire hospitals property and in patients homes. Link closely with colleagues in the Falls team.
- To undertake advanced assessment and treatment of clients within the speciality who may have highly complex and/or chronic presentations where there may be limited diagnosis/prognosis. Use advanced clinical reasoning skills to determine a clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment indicated, maintaining records as an autonomous practitioner. Communication concerning conditions, prognosis and management will frequently need to be taken where there are barriers to communication.
- To develop policy and implement policy changes within the speciality, which affect the whole Physiotherapy Service and the Trust more widely than Physiotherapy and lead with formal research as well as auditing to facilitate the development of the respiratory service.
- To take a lead in extensive training programmes to ensure that qualified and non-professionally qualified physiotherapy staff, other members of the multi-disciplinary Team (MDT) as well as carers are optimally prepared to deliver neurological care within North and Mid Bedfordshire.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.
You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.
We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.
Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To ensure a high standard of clinical care for all patients with neurological conditions seen by physiotherapists in out patients and in the community.
- To constantly improve the standard of care and rehabilitation within North and Mid Bedfordshire by facilitating the implementation of rehabilitation programmes where appropriate and according to the needs of both patients and staff.
- To be responsible for a designated section of clinical work, as agreed with the professional lead physiotherapist which may be within or outside Bedford Hospital. Plan and organise efficiently with regard to client management and use of time. Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of these patients management.
- To work within Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Guidelines and to be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of patient/client management as an autonomous practitioner including the maintenance of clinical records.
- To undertake a major role in the advanced assessment of patients, including those with the most complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care.
- To demonstrate highly skilled dexterity, coordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, colleagues, patients and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide highly specialised advice to physiotherapy colleagues working with patients with neurological conditions in North and Mid Bedfordshire.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure an understanding of their condition/problems. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used with a wide variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident anxiety, pain, fear, visual/hearing impairment, language and cultural implications and patients unable to accept diagnosis. Some patients will lack the capacity to consent to treatment. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To be confident to deal with issues of a highly sensitive nature which may involve clients, carers and relatives, and which may include receiving and giving information regarding expectations, due to the degenerative nature of a disease, i.e. patient not able to accept diagnosis. This will also involve teaching others these skills.
Professional - To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work and ensure that practice is based on best available evidence and disseminate information.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with physiotherapy and MDT colleagues across health, social care sectors and voluntary organisations to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary respiratory service. This will include consultant clinics, case review with colleagues, referral of patients for further specialist investigations/opinion as well as the development of new programmes for the management of neurological conditions.
- To act as a source of clinical expertise to senior and junior physiotherapists especially concerning the more specialised and highly complicated cases. Providing appropriate guidance in assessment, treatment, evaluation and outcomes using evidence based practice.
- To coordinate and ensure that in service physiotherapy training programmes meet the required standards and needs of the service by organising, attending or facilitating staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, reflective practice/peer review sessions, journal club and recommending / attending external courses/conferences.
- To provide highly specialist advice and training to members of the MDT, regarding the management of patients with neurological problems. This includes both formal and informal training for medical, nursing and, Allied Health Professionals and colleagues including students.
- To be an active member of specialist regional and national networks and contribute to professional activities at a national level.
- To represent North and Mid Bedfordshire externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding Neurological Physiotherapy Services.
- Be responsible for ensuring the staff within the team participate with the appraisal scheme and be responsible for ensuring staff identify and comply with identified objectives for personal development plan (PDP) to meet knowledge and competencies together.
- To be responsible for the management of clinical risk, clinical audit and work-based projects, ensuring use of evidence-based practice. Undertake the outcome measures and evaluation of your work and lead others to ensure high clinical standards are undertaken.
- To lead research and development within the speciality and to disseminate results through publication and presentation at conferences.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation, and ensure others do likewise.
Organisational - To be responsible for the development of respiratory rehabilitation programmes across primary and secondary care.
- To identify the areas for development, facilitate the processes for change and to take the lead in their implementation and evaluation.
- To provide quarterly reports on areas for change and progress on implementation.
- Decide priorities for work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that those remain in accordance with those of the Physiotherapy Service.
- To advise on the effective selection and use of treatment resources both in primary and secondary care.
- 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 the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To take the initiative in proposing changes and procedures and take the lead in proposing policies where not clear policies exist.
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with the CSP Standards of Practice and with local departmental requirements. Communicate assessment of treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- Ensure that communication channels across all sections of the ICOPD services are well formed and maintained to ensure that a seamless service is offered within North and Mid Bedfordshire.
- To collect and evaluate appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department. to determine statistics to be used for research/audit projects and be responsible for their collections and interpretation.
- To provide professional support to other members of the Physiotherapy Management Team regarding operational issues.
- To comply with all relevant policies and procedures and guidelines of the Trusts working within North and Mid Bedfordshire, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety and Confidentiality of Information and attend all mandatory training e.g. Manual Handling, Infection Control, Lone Worker etc.
- To be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To ensure a high standard of clinical care for all patients with neurological conditions seen by physiotherapists in out patients and in the community.
- To constantly improve the standard of care and rehabilitation within North and Mid Bedfordshire by facilitating the implementation of rehabilitation programmes where appropriate and according to the needs of both patients and staff.
- To be responsible for a designated section of clinical work, as agreed with the professional lead physiotherapist which may be within or outside Bedford Hospital. Plan and organise efficiently with regard to client management and use of time. Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of these patients management.
- To work within Trust and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) Guidelines and to be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of patient/client management as an autonomous practitioner including the maintenance of clinical records.
- To undertake a major role in the advanced assessment of patients, including those with the most complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management and treatment plans, using clinical reasoning skills and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to formulate a specialised programme of care.
- To demonstrate highly skilled dexterity, coordination and palpatory senses for assessment and manual treatment of patients.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, colleagues, patients and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide highly specialised advice to physiotherapy colleagues working with patients with neurological conditions in North and Mid Bedfordshire.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure an understanding of their condition/problems. Communication skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and gaining informed consent will be used with a wide variety of patients. Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident anxiety, pain, fear, visual/hearing impairment, language and cultural implications and patients unable to accept diagnosis. Some patients will lack the capacity to consent to treatment. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To be confident to deal with issues of a highly sensitive nature which may involve clients, carers and relatives, and which may include receiving and giving information regarding expectations, due to the degenerative nature of a disease, i.e. patient not able to accept diagnosis. This will also involve teaching others these skills.
Professional - To maintain own continuing professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work and ensure that practice is based on best available evidence and disseminate information.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with physiotherapy and MDT colleagues across health, social care sectors and voluntary organisations to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary respiratory service. This will include consultant clinics, case review with colleagues, referral of patients for further specialist investigations/opinion as well as the development of new programmes for the management of neurological conditions.
- To act as a source of clinical expertise to senior and junior physiotherapists especially concerning the more specialised and highly complicated cases. Providing appropriate guidance in assessment, treatment, evaluation and outcomes using evidence based practice.
- To coordinate and ensure that in service physiotherapy training programmes meet the required standards and needs of the service by organising, attending or facilitating staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, reflective practice/peer review sessions, journal club and recommending / attending external courses/conferences.
- To provide highly specialist advice and training to members of the MDT, regarding the management of patients with neurological problems. This includes both formal and informal training for medical, nursing and, Allied Health Professionals and colleagues including students.
- To be an active member of specialist regional and national networks and contribute to professional activities at a national level.
- To represent North and Mid Bedfordshire externally (locally, regionally and nationally) regarding Neurological Physiotherapy Services.
- Be responsible for ensuring the staff within the team participate with the appraisal scheme and be responsible for ensuring staff identify and comply with identified objectives for personal development plan (PDP) to meet knowledge and competencies together.
- To be responsible for the management of clinical risk, clinical audit and work-based projects, ensuring use of evidence-based practice. Undertake the outcome measures and evaluation of your work and lead others to ensure high clinical standards are undertaken.
- To lead research and development within the speciality and to disseminate results through publication and presentation at conferences.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situation, and ensure others do likewise.
Organisational - To be responsible for the development of respiratory rehabilitation programmes across primary and secondary care.
- To identify the areas for development, facilitate the processes for change and to take the lead in their implementation and evaluation.
- To provide quarterly reports on areas for change and progress on implementation.
- Decide priorities for work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands and ensure that those remain in accordance with those of the Physiotherapy Service.
- To advise on the effective selection and use of treatment resources both in primary and secondary care.
- 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 the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To take the initiative in proposing changes and procedures and take the lead in proposing policies where not clear policies exist.
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with the CSP Standards of Practice and with local departmental requirements. Communicate assessment of treatment results to appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- Ensure that communication channels across all sections of the ICOPD services are well formed and maintained to ensure that a seamless service is offered within North and Mid Bedfordshire.
- To collect and evaluate appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department. to determine statistics to be used for research/audit projects and be responsible for their collections and interpretation.
- To provide professional support to other members of the Physiotherapy Management Team regarding operational issues.
- To comply with all relevant policies and procedures and guidelines of the Trusts working within North and Mid Bedfordshire, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety and Confidentiality of Information and attend all mandatory training e.g. Manual Handling, Infection Control, Lone Worker etc.
- To be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents to senior staff, and ensuring that equipment used is safe.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/CPD
Desirable
- Relevant validated clinical courses e.g.Advanced Bobath
Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience in a variety of specialities.
- Supervisory skills of both qualified and non professionally qualified staff.
- Ability to demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning in a wide range of conditions
- Take lead role in Clinical Education of less experienced staff.
- Experience of Multi-disciplinary working and taking leading case management.
- Clinical Educator of Student Physiotherapists.
Desirable
- Successfully managed a team or service
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of physiotherapy in relevant area.
- Understanding of legal responsibility of the profession.
- Able to present information, written and orally in a clear logical manner.
- Ability to keep records in an accurate, legible and concise manner, meeting all legal requirements.
- Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications.
- Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout day and carry out concurrent activities.
- Ability to cope with stressful situations/environments and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
- Enhanced range of physiotherapeutic handling skills and highly developed knowledge of specialist area.
Desirable
- Evidence of participation in research/audit.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
- HCPC Registration
- Evidence of relevant post graduate courses/CPD
Desirable
- Relevant validated clinical courses e.g.Advanced Bobath
Experience
Essential
- Post graduate experience in a variety of specialities.
- Supervisory skills of both qualified and non professionally qualified staff.
- Ability to demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning in a wide range of conditions
- Take lead role in Clinical Education of less experienced staff.
- Experience of Multi-disciplinary working and taking leading case management.
- Clinical Educator of Student Physiotherapists.
Desirable
- Successfully managed a team or service
Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced knowledge of physiotherapy in relevant area.
- Understanding of legal responsibility of the profession.
- Able to present information, written and orally in a clear logical manner.
- Ability to keep records in an accurate, legible and concise manner, meeting all legal requirements.
- Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications.
- Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout day and carry out concurrent activities.
- Ability to cope with stressful situations/environments and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers.
- Enhanced range of physiotherapeutic handling skills and highly developed knowledge of specialist area.
Desirable
- Evidence of participation in research/audit.
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).
