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Cardiac Exercise Physiologist / Cardiac Rehabilitation Physiotherapist

Employer
Livewell Southwest CIC
Location
Plymouth
Salary
£27,055 to £32,934 a year pa, pro-rata
Closing date
7 Jun 2023

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Profession
Physiotherapist, Other allied health
Grade
Band 5
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Full Time
37.5 hours per week. A new and exciting opportunity has arisen within the Livewell Southwest Community Cardiac Team.

If you haveevidence of study at degree level in Exercise Physiology, Physiotherapy or Sport/Exercise Science with specific knowledge of exercise prescription in relation to people with complex conditions, this could be the job for you!! Based at the Cumberland Centre, you will work closely with the Cardiac Specialist Nurses and lead the exercise component of our Cardiac Rehabilitation service.

We recognise that gaining the required experience and knowledge in Cardiac Exercise prescription is difficult to ascertain, without the necessary supervision and training. That is why we are happy to advertise this Band 5 post with the expectation/condition that the post holder would gain the necessary knowledge, skills, competencies and qualifications as part of their 6 month probationary period which would then also achieve promotion to a Band 6.

Main duties of the job

Be responsible for the development, operation and evaluation of individual patient exercise programmes in a community setting in collaboration with the Cardiac Rehabilitation/ Heart Failure Team.

Support the clinical team in the provision of locality-based exercise programmes.

To adopt a flexible approach to patient care and service planning/delivery. The type and level of intervention required for each individual patient will be determined by several factors. These will include patient preference, service demands/constraints, in addition to considering the nature of the patients disease/symptoms and thereby recognising the diverse range of coronary heart disease/heart failure patients that will be referred to the service.

Be involved in service development and support colleagues in the Cardiac Rehabilitation/Heart failure team wherever possible, within the scope of professional practice.

Develop communication and support networks with local physical activity providers to enable new Phase IV groups to be established and developed, and to support existing groups.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise providing integrated health & social care services for people across Plymouth, South Hams & West Devon, as well as some specialist services for people living in parts of Devon & Cornwall. With teams in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, health & wellbeing hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we always value being kind, respectful, inclusive, ambitious, responsible and collaborative. Transforming services to make them sustainable, ensuring that we value, support & empower each other.

We are committed to involving the people we care for, families & carers in everything that we do, working towards co-production where we can. Helping us to deliver the right care for people, in the right place & at the right time. By putting people at the centre of what we do, we ensure to support people to lead, healthy independent lives & be the very best at helping people to live well.

Valuing our employees making an investment in their development a priority. We offer:

Protected CPD time for registered staff

Various development pathways and ongoing regular training packages for all staff

Leadership & mentoring programmes

Access & funding for training including Care Certificate, Assistant Practitioners Course & Scholarship Into Nurse Training

A Robust Preceptorship

A bespoke induction programme

Existing members of the NHS Pension Scheme can continue their membership when they join the organisation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Tasks & Responsibilities of the Post:
  • Accessing support from the team where required, ensure all patients receive appropriate individualized exercise prescription that uses up to date guidelines from nationally and internationally recognised exercise professional bodies e.g. British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, ACPICR, BASES.
  • Utilise professional qualifications in demonstrating a satisfactory and developing knowledge of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology and associated co-morbidities.
  • Analyse complex medical information and results of investigations that include exercise tolerance tests, echocardiograms, angiograms, and apply results in order to guide to exercise prescription, liaising as necessary with the wider clinical team.
  • Ensure all equipment is set out safely and appropriately.Contribute, where required, to overseeing, monitoring and authorising of equipment and ensuring maintenance and repair.
  • In order to ensure patients follow this prescription, excellent communication and negotiation skills will be required, as the understanding, agreement and co-operation of patients to follow their exercise programme is essential. The barriers to overcome with patients may include fear, lack on motivation, apathy, and/or denial of their condition.
  • Lead group-based exercise classes (with advice where required), providing clear instructions and physical demonstration of exercises, where required.
  • Measure the effectiveness of the exercise and physical activity prescription using observational methods and outcome measures, and change prescription accordingly.
  • Develop individualised home-based/ independent exercise prescription with supervision where required, in conjunction or as an alternative to group-based activities.
  • Undertake Intermediate Life Support training, update annually and manage medical emergencies in collaboration with Nursing staff.
  • Develop/utilise appropriate record keeping systems (both written & computerised) and review regularly in collaboration with Nursing staff.
  • Contribute to the auditing of patient records by audit or peer review in line with the Organisation policy.
  • Liaise with the multidisciplinary team and/or primary/secondary health care colleagues to assist with the provision of optimum management of patients with on-going or complex cardiac disease.
  • Undertake all aspects of this role as an autonomous practitioner, seeking clinical support where required from colleagues.
  • Undertake/assist with clinical audit to assess the effectiveness of the service and make recommendations regarding changes to improve/develop the needs of the service.
  • Participate in formal/informal audit and research projects to further own and team clinical practice, as required.
  • Be professional and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
  • Undertake health promotion whenever possible to all age groups and also contribute to planned health promotion activities.
  • Maintain accurate records, which are confidential, up to date, comprehensive and legible. These records may be paper or IT based systems and must be maintained as specified in the Organisation Policies, and government directives.
  • The post holder is required to comply with all infection control policies and guidance, attend relevant updates and report issues of concern to their immediate line manager.
  • Formulate and deliver individual treatment and care programmes based on highly developed specialist knowledge of evidence-based practice using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of subject area, accessing advice where required.
  • Manage clinical/non-clinical risks within own patient caseload and refer to appropriate multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.
  • Provide and receive complex or sensitive information, where skills are required to communicate effectively with patients, carers, GP's and Consultant's regarding patient progress and treatment. This will include patients who may have difficulty understanding or communicating, e.g. patients may be dysphasic, depressed, deaf, and blind or may have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.
  • Demonstrate the ability to use own initiative and act independently.

Managerial / Leadership
  • Day to day management responsibility of specialist exercise programmes for patients with complex cardiovascular conditions e.g. Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafts, valve replacement, angioplasty/stent insertion, heart failure, arrhythmias, heart transplant, LVAD and associated co-morbidities. Take advice where required.
  • Planning and organising all exercise-based rehabilitation programmes within the Community Cardiac Team.
  • Contribute to the Development, implementation and review of policies/standards/protocols for exercise based rehabilitation e.g. use of clinical assessment tools/outcome measures and co-ordinate change in practice as necessary.
  • Deal with patients property/valuables in a responsible manner.
  • Co-ordinate the availability of local leisure centre Phase IV staff that will be assisting at all Phase III exercise sessions.
  • Oversee the work of the Leisure Centre Phase IV staff during the exercise classes and liaise with the Leisure Centre management regarding any professional issues.
  • Advise on necessary maintenance and purchase of exercise-related equipment.
  • Take responsibility for collecting data and producing reports for Senior managers and all relevant parties regarding service delivery, exercise attendance and outcome data, as required.
  • Ensure that patients and nursing staff are aware on how to operate exercising equipment safely and allocate staff to patients as appropriate at the beginning of a session. During the sessions, monitor the level of supervision required by individual patients and re-allocate as necessary.
  • Ensure that periods of planned absence are covered by colleagues in order to facilitate the smooth running of the programme, so that classes are only cancelled in exceptional circumstances.
  • Ensure that all-relevant equipment and documentation is taken to appropriate leisure centres so that emergencies can be dealt with effectively and patient records can be readily accessed.
  • Provide support and advice to team members and act as a resource to other health professionals and community agencies.
  • Contribute to an environment conducive to team building, working and development.
  • Contribute to and support team through change processes, being proactive with problem solving.
  • Undertake an annual IPR as required, according to trust policy.
  • Act as a role model for patients/other team members demonstrating and maintaining high standards of practice and professional conduct.

Communication:
  • Work closely with the Community Cardiac team to provide comprehensive community-based Cardiac Rehabilitation/Heart Failure support. Other key working relationships include patients, families, GPs, Practice Nurses, Secondary Care Medical and Nursing staff, Phase IV Exercise Instructors, leisure centre staff and voluntary bodies.
  • Liaise with the Phase IV service providers to ensure a seamless patient journey.
  • Establish and develop ongoing links with other physical activity providers to
  • Facilitate a menu of exercise options for cardiac patients.
  • Communicate effectively with patients and their families on a range of issues including complex or sensitive medical information regarding their condition, overcoming barriers such as sensory loss or impairment and learning difficulties.
  • Be able to effectively communicate at all levels of the Organisation to a variety of health professionals, users and carers, in order to provide the best outcomes for service users.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records and inform other professionals about relevant conditions /symptoms.
  • Adopt a flexible approach to the working day in order to meet the needs of the patients and service.
  • Be aware of pressures facing your work colleagues and offer support where possible.
  • Abide by the Organisational policy with regard to the use of a mobile phone for work purposes.

Professional:
  • Move between different sites and adapt to different working environments e.g. office base/ leisure centres, managing time, travel and resources appropriately.
  • Maintain patient records in line with Organisational policy
  • Ensure evidence-based practice at all times utilising relevant policies, standards and guidelines.
  • Act as a professional representative of the Community Cardiac team at local and national level.
  • Be responsible for identifying personal and professional development paths that are consistent with your identified needs and scope of practice.
  • Keep abreast of Cardiac Rehabilitation/Heart Failure and Exercise Physiology literature.
  • Uphold and maintain Trust policies and statutory regulations related to health and safety.

Education & Training:
  • Assist Nursing staff in the development of their knowledge regarding safe and effective exercise rehabilitation for patients with complex cardiac conditions
  • Facilitate the mentorship and support of British Association for
  • Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Phase IV trainees.
  • Use expertise in communicating to patients/family members complex medical information which may affect their ability to safely exercise, in a manner that can be understood by those with varying levels of understanding and capability e.g. those with communication difficulties such as sensory loss.
  • Accommodate students on relevant Degree programmes on observational placement.
  • Assume responsibility for own professional development and personal knowledge.
  • Maintain professional expertise by attending meetings, study days and in service training, wherever possible.
  • Undertake mandatory training, in line with trust policy.


Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

    Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

    B9832-2023-NM-8390-2

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