Job description

Job responsibilities

Responsibility for People who use our Services:

• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including caseload management and direct clinical care in each setting.
• Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of neurological patients, demonstrating good time management skills.
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of neurological and stroke patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management, treatment plans and patient goals, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options.
• To ensure a high standard of clinical care and support more junior staff to do likewise.
• Provide specialist advice via written or verbal instruction to patients, carers and relatives to promote understanding of the aims of rehabilitation, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. This may be exercise programmes, health education, preventative or condition- specific advice.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment plans as required.
• Demonstrate highly developed palpatory and therapeutic handling skills for the assessment of muscle tone, pain, MSK changes and specific handling of neurological patients.
• Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate and gain co-operation to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g., patients may be aphasic, low in mood, hearing and/or visually impaired or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or unrealistic expectations of intervention.
• Independently organise and plan a designated caseload to meet service and patients priorities, being flexible to meet the demands of the service.
• To work jointly with other health and social care colleagues and services (for example GPs, District Nursing, Social Services, private sector and therapy colleagues) to ensure patients identified rehabilitation and care needs are met through delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary service.
• To advise on and prescribe as appropriate, and in line with organisational policies and procedures, both general and specialist rehabilitation aids, equipment, ensuring all equipment is maintained and used effectively and efficiently with risk assessments and appropriate training completed.
• To assess a patients understanding of treatment plans and mental capacity, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
• Be an autonomous practitioner, working within appropriate professional guidelines and code of conduct.
• To respond effectively to any concerns of abuse/safeguarding and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.

Responsibility for People Management:

• To regularly teach, train, supervise and support junior staff, rehabilitation assistants and students. This may include the use of formal appraisal and documentation.
• To be an active member of the in-service training programme by the attendance and delivery of presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, in-house training sessions and by attending external courses, organising courses and practicing reflective practice to develop own and others skills, knowledge and expertise.
• To assist in the recruitment of relevant grades of staff, as required.
• To take a flexible approach to supporting colleagues in times of caseload pressure, including working with colleagues to maintain clinical cover across the team within the resources available.

Responsibility for administration:

• To ensure competency in record keeping
• To maintain an up-to-date record of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, goals, assessments and reports whilst always ensuring confidentiality in line with professional and organisational guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic and paper records of activity and contacts to support contractual requirements. This could include providing timely data about team performance and client outcome measures related to activity.
• Maintain an accurate diary of visits and submit completed travel and special duty claim forms as required.
• To report accidents, incidents or complaints following LSW procedures and policies and to comply with the most recent health and safety at work Act.
• To actively contribute to department working parties, leading on specific delegated projects.
• To attend and contribute to relevant team/service meetings.
• To access email regularly and other information through Livewell Southwest intranet.

Responsibility for Implementation of Policy and/or Service Developments:

• Manage often competing clinical and non-clinical demands and prioritise appropriately to meet the overall service need.
• To comply with Livewell southwest policies and procedures relevant to the role. This will include adherence to Uniform & Dress Code Policy.
• To report any observed incidents of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.
• To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.
• Comply with universal infection control precautions and procedures.
• To behave in a manner which does not bring the Organisation into disrepute.
• To complete all Mandatory training and other training pertinent to the role.
• To take an active role in audit, research, and interdisciplinary development, to measure effectiveness and efficiency of the team and its service.
• When working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior therapist or Team Lead if required.

Communication and Relationships:

• To adapt communication style if the patient has communication, cognitive or other problems that may create a barrier affecting treatment outcomes eg using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication tools e.g. instructions, motivation, diagrams, and pictures.
• To use the written or spoken word effectively and appropriately, via face-to-face, email, telephone, letter, presentation. Communication may be 1:1, or in groups. Patients may have complex communication disorders which require skilled support.
• To work in a patient centred way using approaches such as; patient empowerment, cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and problem solving to provide support to patients.
• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Social, Health and other agency colleagues, at all levels to ensure delivery of a co-coordinated multidisciplinary service. This may include case conferences, patient reviews and discharge planning.
• To maintain a calm, professional approach to their duties
• To act as an ambassador for Livewell with external agencies and partner organisations.
• Always address staff, patients and members of the public in a polite and respectful manner either in person or on the telephone.
• To communicate highly specialist advice, teaching and training to physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the MDT working within other clinical areas.

Other Responsibilities:

• The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies
• Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Livewell southwest policies
• To participate in induction and support programmes in relation to new staff and volunteers.
• To actively engage in practice supervision.
• Actively participate in regular line management and appraisals with line manager.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance, Risk Management and Lone Working policy and apply to work situation.
• To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To exhibit a committed attitude to all aspects of work
• Be conversant with and comply with all relevant organisational protocols and policies and have valid organisational IT access.
• Compassionate, caring and kind in their practice
• When necessary, represent the organisation externally at local, regional and national level regarding neurological physiotherapy services.
• Ability to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging, demonstrating anti-discriminatory behaviour and acting as an advocate for others.
• Ability to identify and understand the impact of health inequalities within neurological rehabilitation.
• Undertake other duties when requested by professional or operational managers.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Extensive knowledge in the physiotherapy management of people with complex neurological presentations.
• Knowledge of the physiotherapists role in managing complex and altered tone.
• Knowledge and understanding of multidisciplinary team working and individual roles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of Clinical Governance.

Desirable

• Knowledge of current local and national health service provision issues.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of on-going education and professional development
• Relevant post-graduate education in neurological rehabilitation
• Recognised qualification in written and spoken English if this is not first language

Desirable

• Clinical Educator
• PG-Cert or Masters degree in Neurological Rehabilitation
• Membership into relevant Special Interest Group
• Management training (e.g. Managers Toolkit sessions)
• Current valid UK driving licence

Specific Skills

Essential

• Specialised neurological physiotherapy skills, including assessment, treatment and evaluation of people with complex neurological presentations.
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent team working skills
• Leadership qualities
• Innovative
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Ability to recognise the impact of culture, equality and diversity on practice, practicing in a non-discriminatory and inclusive manner.
• Ability to utilise technology to keep full, clear and accurate records.
• Motivated
• Compassionate
• Empathetic
• Reliable
• Confidence in dealing with patients
• Ability to work in stressful conditions

Desirable

• Applying research to practice
• Monitor and evaluate quality of practice.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Friendly and caring manner
• Approachable
• An appreciation of working with a wide age group of clients
• Flexible approach - rotational post supporting a variety of working rotas.

Experience

Essential

• Post graduate experience, including a practice within a neuro setting.
• Autonomous practitioner with experience of managing a caseload
• Supervision of junior staff, assistance and/or students
• Participation in the development of others, including attending and delivering in-service training
• Evidence of continuing professional development through attending formal and informal training.

Desirable

• Experience of working with members of the MDT, including Drs, nurses, OT, SLT and psychologists.
• Clinical educator for students
• Experience of audit and/or service improvement projects.
• Previous experience working at band 6 level
• Previous management experience
• Orthotics/splinting

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

Livewell Southwest

Address

200 Mount Gould Road

Mount Gould

Plymouth

Devon

PL4 7PY

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