Highly Specialist Physiotherapist

Job overview

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Band 7 Specialist Physiotherapist to join our established Specialist Fatigue Service. A fantastic opportunity to contribute and develop specialist skills and knowledge.  This is an exciting opportunity to take a leadership role in delivering evidence‑based assessment and intervention for people experiencing complex, long-term fatigue as a result of ME/CFS or Long COVID/Post Covid Syndrome.

The post holder will work alongside other specialist professionals, in the disciplines of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Psychology. The service provides specialist MDT assessment and treatment for patients with long term moderate/severe fatigue and those with more complex presentations working in collaboration with wider networks and pathways for fatigue locally and nationally. This is a varied role with both direct patient work and training to community services colleagues. The post offers a unique opportunity to join an effective and creative team which is developing and adapting to a new need. Experience delivering group treatment will be an advantage however specific skills for this client group can be developed in the role. The service professionals are active contributors to national special interest networks and NICE guidance development in the field.  The services operate within Bedfordshire Community Health Services.  For more information, please contact Dr Sarah Duff, Service Lead 07790 342 864.

Main duties of the job

To undertake a lead role in delivering care and developing services within the Chronic Fatigue and Post Covid Fatigue Teams.

To safely triage referrals

To be responsible for planning and carrying out complex multidisciplinary assessments and treatment in a community clinic environment. To hold a caseload of patients and manage their care within the service and co-ordinate referrals to other services where appropriate.

To provide expert advice on management of fatigue to other health and social care professionals and teams within the Trust. To provide expert advice on physiotherapy assessment and management within the Fatigue services.

To provide a leadership and supervisory role for Band 6 Physiotherapy staff and assistants in the team, and to support training within the team to ensure practice is evidence based and up to date.

To represent the Fatigue Services at Trust meetings and externally when required to do so.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• -        Provide supervision and clinical support for physiotherapists or assistants in the team -        Provide line management for physiotherapy and assistant team members -        Steering and developing the treatment offered from the physiotherapy fatigue specialism and advising on outcome measures and treatment delivery methods -        To provide specialist physiotherapy input to other team members and support with patient care where required -        To provide specialist fatigue management advice for other teams where needed -        Provide physical assessment of complex chronic health conditions with clinical skill, safety and accuracy -        Provide holistic assessment of social, environmental, functional and behavioural aspects of general health -        Develop care plans within the wider MDT for patients with long term health conditions -        Communicate difficult concepts of diagnosis and management to patients -        To take responsibility for own caseload of patients, delivering treatment, and all aspects of follow up care and discharge. Be able to deliver treatment in a variety of ways including remotely, in clinic setting and in the community -        Oversee the physiotherapy caseload as a whole to ensure the team is working effectively -        Deliver specialist exercise and pain advice and create customised self-management programmes -        To contact and liaise with other health and social services as required on an individual case basis including local authority access to exercise teams