This is an opportunity to join the Acute Frailty Team at Darlington Memorial Hospital. We are looking for an applicant with knowledge and skills to work as part of the multidisciplinary Acute Frailty Team based in the acute medical unit and emergency department at DMH. The team provides comprehensive geriatric assessment, treatment and interventions to frail patients over an extended 7 day service. This is an opportunity for a highly motivated and flexible individual to join the team and work in an extended scope role alongside other advanced physiotherapists and occupational therapists, advanced nurse practicioners, consultants and therapy assistants.

This post is a fixed term role for the duration of 12 months, up until february 2025.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will have specialist skills in the assessment and treatment of frailty, including completion of evidenced based assessments and interventions, routinely carrying out the extended role of an Advanced Therapist working outside of traditional roles but within the agreed competence-based framework once competencies have been achieved.

They will work alongside the medical teams and the rest of the Acute Frailty Team to ensure every patient living with frailty presenting with an acute health or social care need receives the most appropriate care in the most appropriate setting in a timely manner.

Supporting the ongoing development of the Acute Frailty Team with an integrated approach to the delivery of unscheduled care involving all relevant stakeholders including health, social care organisations and the third sector.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented

We are unable to offer sponsorship for roles that do not require a professional registration, to apply you must have Right to Work in the United Kingdom. If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents

Job description

Job responsibilities

Contributing to the training and education of other professionals, including development of the MDTs competency framework and training modules to ensure safe generic working.

The post requires a flexible approach to working and requires the post holder to work 8am-8pm covering a 7 day service.

Please contact us for more information on the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Physiotherapy or equivalent.
• State Registration.
• Band 6 NHS experience including working in a frailty ward/environment.
• Continuing Professional Development diary including evidence of reflective practice, training and clinical experience.
• Completion of post graduate courses or training incorporating knowledge and skills in the physiotherapy management of frail, elderly and patients receiving medical speciality care.

Desirable

• Recognised relevant academic qualification.
• Post grad qualifications to MSc level.
• An understanding of County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation.
• Trust, its culture, strategic direction, achievements and NHS standing.
• Evidence of working on strategic planning and development.
• Experience of completing comprehensive geriatric assessment and formulation of treatment plans following assessment.
• Experience of working within a FOH department and providing therapeutic intervention to patients.
• Experience in the use of the Clinical Frailty Scale in practice.
• Experience of working in a generic role.

Experience

Essential

• Comprehensive experience incorporating experience within a range of specialisms in acute inpatient care.
• Highly experienced in the therapeutic management of frailty.
• Evidence of the ability to autonomously manage a highly complex caseload of patients.
• Evidence of working within multidisciplinary cross-agency teams.
• Experience in the discharge management of highly complex patients.
• Evidence of a clear understanding of frailty and the implications on patients when in acute care.
• Evidence of clinical decision making.
• Evidence of the use of outcome measures in order to evaluate treatments or service provision.
• Evidence of high level communication skills within a wide variety of settings.
• Experience of supervision of students, therapy assistants and physiotherapists, providing training and appraisal.
• Experience of providing team in service training.

Desirable

• Evidence of working on strategic planning and development.
• Broad experience at post graduate level.
• Experience of working generically across therapies.
• A working knowledge of the wider and community services available within CDDFT.
• Experience of leading on an audit task and interpreting findings.
• Evidence of being extremely efficient in time management and highly organised in order minimise waste of resources within a team.
• Experience of managing team members.

Statutory Registration

Essential

• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• Membership of the CSP.

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to participate in 7 day working rota and extended hours.

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• A proactive ability to represent the profession and the Trust with positive enthusiasm.
• Commitment, motivation and adaptability.
• Specialist knowledge of professional practice and research.
• An understanding of legal responsibilities within the profession.
• Able to present information, written and orally, in a clear and logical manner.
• Ability to organise and prioritise. Clear ability to manage waiting list pressures
• Evidence of ability to lead in service developments.
• Experience of robust performance management.
• Experience of carrying out respiratory physiotherapy intervention .
• Ability to carry out moderate to intense physical effort throughout the working day and to work within an environment with competing demands.
• IT skills

Desirable

• Evidence of ability to be innovative and proactive.
• Able to use own initiative appropriately to enhance service delivery.
• Presentational skills.
• Evidence of change management
• Knowledge, evidence and application of audit and research.
• Experience of working in / and or developing a new service and evaluating its effectiveness.
• Evidence of the ability to interpret medical findings and their relevance in the management of a cohort of patients.
• Competent in the physiotherapy management of respiratory patients.

Employer details

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust

Hollyhurst Road

Darlington

County Durham

DL3 6HX

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

C9439-23-0991