Advanced Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

Job overview

A new post to lead the pelvic health physiotherapy team and drive service development across pelvic health and gynaecology. It is aligned with the national Women's Health Strategy commitment to a single point of access (SPA) for gynaecology and women's health referrals.

A highly complex caseload covering pelvic floor dysfunction, continence, pelvic pain, perinatal pelvic health, and pelvic rehabilitation. The postholder leads development in line with Perinatal Pelvic Health Service (PPHS) guidance across acute, outpatient and community pathways, and acts as the Trust's senior clinical expert.

Location: Homerton University Hospital and community sites, in the Therapies directorate. Managed by the Clinical Lead for Outpatient Physiotherapy and the Service Manager for Adult Therapies.

Line management: the Band 5-6-7 pelvic health physios, support staff and students.

Contract: fixed-term for one year, with a review at 12 months of its impact, ongoing need and fit within the wider service structure.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work as an autonomous specialist practitioner, managing a highly complex pelvic health caseload, including joint work with consultants, group and individual programmes, and requesting investigations and referring on to the MDT.

They will lead clinical delivery and oversight of the community pelvic health single point of access (SPA), including triage, prioritisation and streamlined referral pathways, and play a key role in developing the new women's health SPA across City and Hackney.

They will lead audit, research and outcome measurement, write SOPs, local guidelines and governance processes, and support business cases. They will supervise and develop Band 5-7 staff and students, take part in recruitment, and deputise for managers.

They will also lead pelvic health training for physiotherapy, maternity and medical staff, and contribute to research, publication and Trust-wide clinical leadership, while upholding HCPC and CSP standards.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Clinical · As a highly specialist autonomous practitioner, to be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work including management of patients in your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
• Lead the clinical delivery and oversight of the Single Point of Access (SPA) for pelvic health across the community.
• Ensure timely triage, clinical prioritisation, and streamlined referral pathways for all pelvic health presentations entering the SPA.
• Undertake a full and comprehensive assessment of a range of complex Pelvic Health therapy patients using highly advanced clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques.
• Assess and treat patients alongside consultants in inpatient and outpatient clinic settings where appropriate.
• Use advanced investigative and analytical skills to assess and develop diagnoses, using clinical and non-clinical information from the patient, carers, hospital notes, physical assessment techniques and visual analysis, including identifying and interpreting conflicting elements from different sources.
• Effectively use a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to negotiate and engage with patients and the MDT across a diverse multicultural and intellectual spectrum, including patients who may have difficulties with understanding or communicating.
• Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals and gain valid informed consent, and work within a legal framework with patients who are unable to give informed consent.
• Use specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options to formulate, deliver and initiate a specialised individual or group Pelvic Health therapy treatment programme, including problem list and goal setting, leading to an agreed comprehensive self-management discharge.
• Use highly advanced clinical reasoning skills to evaluate patient progress, reassess and adapt treatment as required.
• Prioritise, plan and manage own and team clinical caseload and risk, and supervise more junior staff, along with agreed additional responsibilities within the work area.
• Prioritise new patient referrals to ensure response targets are met.
• Provide highly specialist advice, teaching and training to patients and referring Consultants within the scope of one’s own practice, including individuals or groups.
• Maintain accurate records of assessment, treatment and progress, and any additional patient contact, in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) practice, including writing reports and letters which may be used in a legal capacity.
• Supervise and support the clinical work and record keeping of designated junior staff and students, encouraging development of their skills, knowledge, caseload and time management.
• Work within the Trust’s and CSP clinical guidelines and adhere to the professional code of conduct.
• Be safe and competent in the use of all relevant equipment, such as ultrasonography and patient appliances/aids, and competent in teaching the safe use of such equipment to patients and other staff as appropriate.
• Use highly specialist clinical reasoning skills and experience to identify and diagnose actual and potential physical and psychological factors that could lead to patient deterioration, and act accordingly.
• Independently request investigations, blood tests etc. to aid diagnosis of Pelvic Health conditions and refer patients as appropriate to other members of the MDT.
• Leadership & Service Development · Play a key role in the development of a new Single Point of Access for women’s health across City and Hackney, implementing local clinical and practice guidelines in line with quality care.
• Take a lead role in identifying areas for audit and research, initiate the collection and collation of relevant data, make recommendations for change in your service area, and take a lead role in implementation.
• Undertake the measurement and evaluation of own work using evidence-based outcome measures, audit and reflection to ensure practice is of a high standard and techniques are current.
• Participate in and facilitate the team development and performance appraisal scheme as an appraisee and comply with agreed Personal Development Programmes (PDP) to meet set knowledge and competency levels.
• Provide specialist support and guidance to other therapists and MDT members within the Trust as required.
• Maintain own competency to practise through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) activities, following Therapy Department guidelines, and maintain an accurate portfolio reflecting personal development.
• Act as a lead member of the women’s and therapy department’s in-service training programmes by coordinating and leading presentations and tutorials.
• Teach Student therapists to a graduate level whilst on placement in the clinical environment and support team members to do likewise.
• Attend and participate in all mandatory training relating to Trust and departmental policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Adhere to all Trust and departmental policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Act as one of the clinical leads within the wider Outpatient therapy team, supporting the Outpatient Therapy Lead as required.
• Organisational · Take responsibility for the daily operational clinical management of your area of responsibility and deputise for Managers as required.
• Promote adherence to CSP, HCPC, Trust and departmental standards and guidelines amongst departmental members, including those from other disciplines as appropriate.
• Assist in the organisation, evaluation and development of the service, attending and leading internal and external courses and meetings as required.
• Work in partnership with Managers to identify service development needs and create and facilitate the implementation of Trust and departmental policies, standards, guidelines and protocols to meet these needs.
• Participate in the recruitment and interviewing of potential staff by reviewing CVs and application forms in conjunction with the Clinical Lead/Managers and sit on interview panels.
• Develop relevant SOPs, local clinical guidelines, governance and audit practices for your service.
• Support relevant business cases to build upon the provision of care within the field of pelvic health.
• Education & Training · Lead pelvic health training for physiotherapy staff, maternity teams, medical staff, and students.
• Develop and deliver advanced pelvic health teaching programmes.
• Support research, publication, and dissemination of pelvic health evidence.
• Maintain and promote a culture of learning and professional development.
• Professional Responsibilities · Maintain advanced clinical expertise through CPD and postgraduate training.
• Uphold HCPC and CSP professional standards.
• Participate in Trust-wide clinical leadership initiatives.
• Contribute to development of pelvic health research and innovation.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.