Senior Physiotherapist - Stroke

Job overview

Are you an innovative and motivated individual that has an interest in working across the specialisms of stroke?

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a static Band 6 Physiotherapist to join the Stroke therapy team within the Therapy department at Northampton General Hospital, part of the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.  This is a 12 month fixed term post to cover an internal secondment. Secondments will be considered.

This role will help you develop specialist clinical skills in stroke,  as well as allowing you the opportunity to be involved in staff development, audit and service improvement.

Main duties of the job

• To provide a high standard of Physiotherapy to stroke patients across a 7-day service.
• To be an active member of the evening and weekend respiratory on call service.
• To carry out specialist physiotherapy care for patients who have had a stroke, completing physical and functional assessments of patients including those with a complex presentation.
• To work closely with Occupational therapy colleagues to provide joint therapies assessments and treatment plans enabling efficient use of Therapies Team resources and meet recommended guidelines.
• To manage a clinical caseload and attend board rounds and other ward meetings to pro-actively contribute to the timely and efficient discharge planning process for patients.
• To be highly skilled in identifying pathways of patient care, discharge plans, and suitable discharge locations
• Provide clinical support and access to advice and supervision for junior staff
• Support to band 7 and 8 Therapy colleagues in the day-to-day running of the service / department including staff appraisals, clinical projects, benchmarking, teaching and service evaluation.
• To support student education, primarily as an educator for physiotherapy students but also to contribute to the development of other students for example OT, and nursing students, providing support and regular supervision with support from the Practice Development Lead as required.
• Support newly registered staff during the preceptorship period taking on the role of preceptor, completing regular reviews and clinical supervision.
• To constantly improve clinical and professional practice and performance throughout the team.
• To act as a source of expertise, demonstrating advanced knowledge and skill in the role and educate other healthcare professionals as to the therapy role.
• To be actively involved in identifying areas for service improvement through evidence-based audit, assisting in the implementation of clinical projects and promoting positive changes within the department.
• Partake in the delivery of in-service training and teaching within the department for both registered and non-registered staff.
• Be able to create and review activity packs for patients to aid recovery promoting self-management. This will include education and training to the wider MDT and patients’ supporters to promote 24-hour rehab ethos.
• To promote the achievement of Northampton General Hospital’s vision and values

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

• Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide safe patient care and participate in maintenance and training

Supporting Clinical and Patient Excellence

• To work autonomously within the clinical team to provide excellent physiotherapy care to a diverse client group.
• Manage a caseload independently on designated ward/s, supporting junior staff with their caseload management.
• To increase and expand knowledge base and experience, clinically and non-clinically in stroke.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentation/multiple pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
• Formulate and deliver a complete specialised therapy programme based on sound knowledge of evidence-based practise and treatment options.
• Ensure that all patients have a documented problem list and goals that the patient has been involved in creating
• To participate in 7-day working patterns, including Bank Holidays
• To be an active member of the respiratory on call overnight and weekend rota.
• To represent the Therapy service and/or individual patients at multidisciplinary team meetings.  This will include discussion of patient care, progress and involvement in discharge planning
• Support junior members of staff to develop the skills required to effectively attend and contribute to MDT meetings and board rounds.
• Use clinical reasoning to balance risk, safety, patient choice and eligibility for services
• Communicate effectively with patients, their families, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team, Therapy colleagues and other agencies
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to colleagues, relatives, and carers when appropriate to promote understanding of the aims of therapy.
• Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
• Lead on appropriate service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions
• Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within the Therapy Service to improve effectiveness and efficiency
• Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
• Submit accurate timesheets within set department timescales for additional hours worked
• In the absence of Therapy colleagues through planned or unplanned leave, work flexibly to meet the prioritised needs of the Therapy service both within the specific clinical areas and across all service areas
• Delegate work tasks appropriately to junior Therapy staff and Administrative Support staff
• Take the lead in training and education of other staff and students within the Therapy services
• Where appropriate, take the lead in the induction of new staff
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of clinical interventions, consistent with legal and organisational requirements
• Provide formal clinical reports for the multi-disciplinary team as required
• Collect, record and submit accurate clinical and personal statistical data in line with departmental requirements and guidelines
• Maintain and develop professional knowledge and skills to ensure fitness to practice as an Physiotherapist, in line with HCPC standards
• Regularly attend and participate in Therapy service staff meetings
• Identify own learning and development needs which will contribute to the production of a Personal Development Plan
• Build an ongoing Continuing Professional Development portfolio, reflecting on and recording learning outcomes of development opportunities
• Demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current Physiotherapy research and apply this to practice in conjunction with the Therapy team
• Contribute to audit and research activity within the Therapy Service as appropriate
• Review and reflect on own practice and actively participate in regular supervision and annual appraisals

People / Management Excellence

• To deputise for band 7s as necessary to ensure smooth running of service. Work alongside team leader to co-ordinate annual leave cover
• Be involved in the supervision and appraisal process for both registered and non-registered staff member.
• Support the probation process for new starters
• To develop and demonstrate basic leadership skills through the management of designated projects.

Supporting Financial Excellence

• To make best use of NHS resources

Professional Responsibilities, Quality Assurance and Monitoring

• To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives (Knowledge and Skills Framework based CSP guidelines, HCPC standards and code of conduct and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and policies
• Complete all work necessary to maintain registration and encourage others to do so.
• Monitor own and others’ quality and standard of practice by appraisal and review.
• Maintain and monitor standards on health and safety, consent, note keeping, clinical governance, continuous professional development on both a personal, professional and departmental level.
• To supervise and teach students on placement.

Policy and Service Development, Research and Development Responsibilities

• To use information such as Clinical governance, RCP, NICE, and other clinical specific guidelines and evidence of best practice to assist in producing working guidelines, competencies and objectives to develop the service.