An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Hand Therapy Team in the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, as a Senior Therapist based at the Bedford Hospital site. You will be joining a forward thinking department which is valued and respected throughout the Trust and part of the wider therapies service.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised and well-motivated physiotherapist or occupational therapist to join our Hand Therapy team on a full time or part time basis.

The successful applicant must be able to undertake advanced assessment of patients referred in to the department with a diverse range of hands conditions including some burns/scar management to the body. In addition you will be able to demonstrate excellent communication and documentation skills plus prioritisation and delegation abilities. The service is committed to offering student placements.

Main duties of the job

To undertake advanced assessment of patients referred in to the department with a diverse range of hands conditions including some burns/scar management to the body.

To provide a diagnosis, as well as develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme to patients.

To be responsible for accessing advice and support from Senior Therapists to promote clinical reasoning and skills for highly complex situations.

To manage own caseload of patients, taking responsibility for assessing, treating and discharging these patients and undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To supervise and teach less experienced occupational therapists, physiotherapists, assistants and under-graduate students.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A& E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your work including management of patient caseloads.

Formulate and develop individual treatment programmes underpinned by sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and using a range of treatment options.

Use clinical reasoning skills and evaluate outcomes of treatments to continually reassess and develop treatment programmes.

Establish an accurate prognosis and recommend best course of treatments in addition to developing comprehensive treatment and discharge plans.

Use a large range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate with patients to progress and gain participation with rehabilitation treatment programmes. This will include patients who have difficulties in understanding and communicating.

To be responsible for management of clinical risk of your own caseload.

To work within Trust and Royal College of Occupational Therapy (RCOT) guidelines, or Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) and have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and other working practices in liaison with Senior Therapists

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment.

To be responsible for maintaining own competencies through CPD activities.

To be responsible for teaching student therapists to graduate level on knowledge and skills within your department.

To provide support, guidance and training to junior staff and assistants and contribute to their performance assessment and appraisal.

To participate in staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development plan to meet objectives and competencies.

To maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence-based practice in the area of Hand Therapy, developing specialist knowledge of related conditions.

To participate in audit/evidence-based projects/research to help develop improvements to service delivery and clinical practice, under guidance of senior staff.

Be an active member of the departments In-Service Training Programme

To be responsible for organisation and planning of own caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Re-adjusting plans as situations change, arise and interruptions change priorities.

To comply with all relevant Trust policies procedures, Professional standards and guidelines RCOT and /or CSP and the relevant Code of Conduct (HCPC). This will including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and attend all mandatory training.

This job description should be regarded as a guideline to the duties to be undertaken and not intended to be definitive or restrictive in any way. The content of this job description will be regularly reviewed and may be revised in light of changing circumstances following consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC Registered
• BSC(Hons) Occupational Therapy OR BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy

Desirable

• Leadership course

Experience

Essential

• Significant post qualification clinical experience relevant to post
• Experience of MDT working

Desirable

• Supervising practice placements for Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy students
• Previous audit experience

Knowledge

Essential

• IT literate - proficient in Microsoft office tools
• Ability to prioritise work load and delegate tasks appropriately

Desirable

• Experience of working with SystmOne

Employer details

Employer name

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bedford Hospital

Kempston Road

Bedford

MK42 9DJ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

418-AHP6398-SJ-C