Job description

Job responsibilities

• As an autonomous practitioner, to assess and treat a specialist caseload of Orthopaedic patients, who may have complex presentations or complications, without direct supervision from senior staff.
• To work alongside Orthopaedic Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, other members of the VFC team and the wider MDT.
• To seek assistance when/where necessary and understand own professional limitations.
• To prioritise referrals according to clinical need.
• Maintain contemporaneous written and digital records to trust standards of all clinical observations and interventions.
• Hold working knowledge of all systems used relating to management of patients. This includes; VFC digital solution (currently Etruama), Careflow, Bluespier, Evolve, Affinity, Sectra and responsibility for learning new systems, as these are developed.
• To use advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the A&E team and other professionals / medical staff.
• To provide a strong link between emergency, outpatient and inpatient services.
• To assess, fit and evaluate orthotic devices including boots, braces, slings etc as required with appropriate training
• Select appropriate and individual treatment pathways e.g. onward referral to Physiotherapy, consultant led clinics etc following VFC management guidelines
• To work alongside and support Band 7s and team leads in the planning and organisation of the teams activities and programmes.
• To be responsible for teaching, supervision and appraisal of recently qualified members of the team and undergraduate students, and be involved in the teaching of MDT staff.
• To adhere to Departmental protocols, Trust policies your professional Code of Conduct, and National Standards where they exist.
• To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
• Committed to delivering patient focused approach and seamless care across professional boundaries, ensuring the safety, effectiveness and efficiency of the service at all times.
• To promote and maintain collaborative working with other healthcare professionals and administration staff.
• Share responsibility with colleagues for patient and staff safety including maintaining a clean and tidy environment and equipment and liaising with estates and housekeeping where necessary. Communication
• To liaise with other Physiotherapists in regard to patient care, and ensure appropriate follow up is arranged.
• To be an active member within the multi-disciplinary team and ensure effective communication with other professions both verbally and in writing e.g. medical notes and reports.
• To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news.
• To be able to deliver important clinical information and advice to patients and carers in a class or group setting,
• To ensure timely and effective communication with the Physiotherapy Manager and Senior Staff on all professional matters.
• To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines.
• To attend and be an active participant in speciality, peer group and departmental staff meetings.
• To initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups, appropriate to the clinical field.
• To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills.
• Be aware of the standard information available for patients and use it appropriately.
• Use the electronic patient administration and record keeping system.
• Respond promptly to telephone enquiries / messages/ e mail received
• Use a range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients who may have a variety of different communication requirements.
• To have effective telephone communication skills, thus enabling the assessing and giving of advice to patients over the telephone in the Virtual Fracture Clinic.
• To use effective communication skills to reduce actual or potential conflict situations that may occur with patients, relatives, colleagues etc.
• To actively work to avoid unconscious bias when working with patients and staff.
• To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services.

  Service Delivery and Improvement

• To be responsible for implementing within your clinical practice, the relevant standards and policies, including those applicable to the Trust, and also wider policies and guidelines, for example set by the CSP / NICE etc.
• To ensure that as an individual practitioner the post holder advises the Team Lead and Physiotherapy Manager of any changes to the service to ensure quality and effectiveness of care for their patients.
• To work with the Physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service.
• Be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of departmental policies, pathways, guidelines etc.
• To comply with fire, health & safety, universal precautions, infection control measures and all other departmental policies.
• To report all complaints/incidents to the immediate senior member of staff and document accordingly.
• To be aware of, and support service development, to ensure accessibility to patient information and services.
• To engage with local service improvement strategies such as patient first
• Actively look for opportunities to improve the service for patients and staff.
• To participate in audit and research to help improve and support services.

  People Management and Development

• To ensure that junior members of the team are informed of developments and changes and that they work to these standards.
• To supervise junior Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy technicians, and Physiotherapy students on clinical placements.
• To be responsible to and deputise for the team lead in Orthopaedics.
• To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme both as an appraiser and an appraisee.
• To assist in the supervision and development of the junior Physiotherapists on rotation in the clinical area.
• To be responsible for the training of students on placement, juniors, technicians and assistants within the clinical area.
• To communicate on a regular basis with staff regarding the Trusts objectives, plans and business developments.
• To develop objectives for staff and to appraise staff at least once annually. To give staff ongoing support to aid them in achieving their objectives.
• To discuss expected outcomes of training and development activity with staff prior to attending training events.
• To discuss outcomes with staff after attending training and development activity and to assist staff to transfer, develop and use new skills acquired.
• To actively work to avoid unconscious bias and support equitable staff learning and development opportunities.

  Patient Care Delivery

• To undertake the comprehensive assessment and treatment of patients including those with complex presentations.
• To demonstrate the Trust values and attitudes in regard to the management of patients and everyday working with colleagues.
• To seek guidance from senior staff as required and to give guidance to more junior staff.
• To devise an individualised Physiotherapy management and/or treatment plan, using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a range of treatment options.
• To be able to devise and lead specialist Physiotherapy treatments which may include group work, e.g. exercise classes
• To work with members of the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure a seamless delivery of care, provide advice and education within this forum, acting as an expert in your own professional field.
• To be understand and be aware of health inequalities and suggest and support strategies to eliminate or mitigate these.

Person Specification

Professional Registration

Desirable

• MSCP

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• Physiotherapy Degree (BSc or MSc equivalent). UK registration

Desirable

• Evidence of Post-graduate education such as post grad Diploma/ MSc modules

Skills Non-Clinical

Essential

• Excellent IT, presentation, and teaching skills
• Experience of supporting, developing and training staff
• Evidence of Reflective Practice
• Understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and how this applies to healthcare
• Documented evidence of recent speciality relevant CPD

Desirable

• Able to use spreadsheets, social media platforms and other related IT programs.
• Remain updated with professional practice and research
• CIG membership e.g. ATOCP
• Knowledge of broader departmental working National agendas NSF guidelines NICE guidelines
• Experience of service development Evidence of research , audit and service development

Skills Clinical

Essential

• Have completed at least one band 5 rotation within the NHS in Trauma & Orthopaedics
• Completed at least one full MSK rotation at band 5 or above
• Proven clinical skills in speciality
• Evaluation of treatment intervention
• Analysis and assessment processes
• Clinical reasoning, decision making and problem solving
• Staff supervision
• Teaching experience
• Effective communication within MDT
• Handling day-to-day professional issues with colleagues
• Recognition of importance of team working
• Seeks help appropriately

Desirable

• Experience of treating a variety of complex conditions within both Elective and Trauma Orthopaedics
• Orthopaedic X-ray interpretation through experiential learning or via short course/module
• On-call respiratory competency training and participation
• Previous band 6 experience in speciality
• Experience of a Virtual Fracture Clinic

People Manangement and Development

Essential

• Experience of appraising and supervising less experienced staff and students
• Experience of developing and leading training sessions
• Ability to manage a busy and complex caseload, and complete clinical and non-clinical duties.
• Evidence of up to date CPD / portfolio etc.

Desirable

• Experience of supporting / supervising staff with performance development needs
• Student supervision
• Leadership and experience of first line management and assessment of junior and support staff

Other Qualities

Essential

• Willingness to participate in the Orthopaedic and respiratory (with appropriate competency training and assessment) on-call / weekend rota

Desirable

• Able to drive / owns car Lives within 30 mins of a UH Sussex hospital for on-call purposes

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Essential

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

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 .

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 .

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing Hospital

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH

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