Physiotherapist

Job overview

12-Month Fixed Term Maternity Cover

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Physiotherapist to join the specialist Major Trauma Therapy Team at Aintree Major Trauma Centre on a 12-month fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover.

Aintree Major Trauma Centre is a regional specialist service providing life and limb-saving care for patients across Merseyside, Cheshire and the Isle of Man. The successful candidate will work within a highly regarded multidisciplinary team delivering specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation to patients with complex traumatic injuries, including polytrauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, orthopaedic trauma, chest trauma and amputations.

This is a varied and rewarding role and you will play a key role in delivering early rehabilitation, facilitating recovery, promoting independence and supporting safe and timely discharge planning from the point of admission through to transition into community and specialist rehabilitation services.

Working closely with Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dietitions, Consultants, Nursing Teams, Trauma Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Psychologists, Pharmacists, Social Care, Mental Health Services and external rehabilitation providers, you will contribute to coordinated, patient-centred care across the entire major trauma pathway.

Main duties of the job

Deliver specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for patients within the Major Trauma Centre across critical care, acute trauma and inpatient rehabilitation settings.

Manage a complex caseload including polytrauma, traumatic brain injury, spinal injuries, amputations and respiratory compromise.

Assess physical function, mobility, respiratory status and rehabilitation potential, developing individualised treatment plans.

Deliver early mobilisation and rehabilitation to optimise recovery and reduce complications associated with injury and prolonged hospital stay.

Provide specialist physiotherapy input to ward rounds, MDT meetings and discharge planning processes.

Work collaboratively with Trauma and Orthopaedics, Critical Care, Neurosciences, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Psychology, Pharmacy and Social Care teams.

Liaise with community and specialist rehabilitation services to support ongoing recovery and safe discharge.

Contribute to rehabilitation prescriptions, patient flow and transitions across the trauma pathway.

Support audit, service development, quality improvement, education and research activities.

Supervise and support junior staff, therapy assistants and students.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• To provide specialist physiotherapy assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for patients admitted to the Major Trauma Centre.
• To independently manage a complex caseload of patients with traumatic injuries including: Polytrauma Traumatic brain injury Spinal cord injuries Orthopaedic trauma Chest trauma Limb loss and amputations Complex medical and rehabilitation needs.
• Polytrauma
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injuries
• Orthopaedic trauma
• Chest trauma
• Limb loss and amputations
• Complex medical and rehabilitation needs.
• To undertake comprehensive assessment of: Physical function Mobility and transfers Respiratory function Balance and coordination Exercise tolerance Rehabilitation potential Discharge needs.
• Physical function
• Mobility and transfers
• Respiratory function
• Balance and coordination
• Exercise tolerance
• Rehabilitation potential
• Discharge needs.
• To develop and implement evidence-based treatment programmes aimed at preventing complications, maximising recovery and promoting independence.
• To provide specialist physiotherapy intervention within both acute ward and critical care environments, including respiratory management, early mobilisation and rehabilitation.
• To assess and manage patients with complex physical, cognitive, psychological and social needs as part of a holistic rehabilitation approach.
• To contribute to rehabilitation prescriptions and support seamless transitions between acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and community services.

Acute Trauma and Critical Care

• To provide physiotherapy assessment and treatment for patients requiring critical care rehabilitation and step-down rehabilitation following critical illness.
• To support early rehabilitation and mobilisation of critically ill and mechanically ventilated patients where appropriate.
• To work closely with Critical Care and Trauma teams to optimise patient recovery and prevent secondary complications associated with prolonged hospitalisation.
• To participate in daily trauma board rounds, consultant-led ward rounds and multidisciplinary reviews.

Multidisciplinary Team Working

• To participate fully in multidisciplinary team meetings, rehabilitation MDTs, board rounds and discharge planning meetings.
• To work collaboratively with: Major Trauma Consultants Trauma and Orthopaedic Teams Critical Care Teams Nursing Staff Occupational Therapists Clinical Psychologists Dietitians Speech and Language Therapists Pharmacists Mental Health Liaison Teams Social Care Teams.
• Major Trauma Consultants
• Trauma and Orthopaedic Teams
• Critical Care Teams
• Nursing Staff
• Occupational Therapists
• Clinical Psychologists
• Dietitians
• Speech and Language Therapists
• Pharmacists
• Mental Health Liaison Teams
• Social Care Teams.
• To provide expert physiotherapy advice to the wider MDT regarding rehabilitation potential, discharge planning and ongoing therapy requirements.
• To contribute to goal setting and person-centred rehabilitation planning.

Discharge Planning and Care Coordination

• To contribute to effective discharge planning from the point of admission.
• To work closely with internal services and external agencies to ensure timely, safe and effective discharge arrangements.
• To develop productive working relationships with: Community rehabilitation teams Community physiotherapy services Specialist rehabilitation units Neuroscience rehabilitation services Major Trauma Network partners Social Care providers Voluntary and charitable organisations Specialist tertiary referral services.
• Community rehabilitation teams
• Community physiotherapy services
• Specialist rehabilitation units
• Neuroscience rehabilitation services
• Major Trauma Network partners
• Social Care providers
• Voluntary and charitable organisations
• Specialist tertiary referral services.
• To provide detailed handovers and rehabilitation recommendations to ensure continuity of care across the patient pathway.

Communication Responsibilities

• To communicate highly complex and sensitive information regarding diagnosis, prognosis, rehabilitation goals and discharge plans to patients and their families.
• To adapt communication styles for patients with cognitive impairment, communication difficulties, brain injury, psychological distress or altered levels of consciousness.
• To act as an advocate for patients and families throughout the rehabilitation process.
• To provide education and support to patients, carers and healthcare professionals regarding recovery, rehabilitation and ongoing management.

Leadership, Education and Service Development

• To provide supervision, mentorship and support to junior physiotherapists, therapy assistants and students.
• To contribute to the planning and delivery of teaching and training programmes.
• To support the development of evidence-based clinical practice within the Major Trauma Service.
• To actively participate in service development initiatives, quality improvement projects and implementation of national major trauma standards.
• To contribute to the continued development of rehabilitation pathways within the Major Trauma Centre and wider Major Trauma Network.

Governance, Audit and Research

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and contemporaneous clinical records in accordance with Trust, HCPC and CSP standards.
• To participate in audit, service evaluation, data collection and quality improvement activities.
• To support outcome measurement and rehabilitation data collection where required.
• To contribute to governance processes including incident reporting, risk management and implementation of learning identified through audits, peer reviews and service evaluations.

Service Requirements

• To participate in the delivery of a seven-day Major Trauma Therapy Service.
• To maintain professional registration and undertake continuing professional development in line with HCPC and CSP requirements.
• To comply with all Trust policies, professional standards and Major Trauma Network requirements.

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.