The Ealing Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities is a multi-disciplinary health and social care service for adults with Learning disabilities living in Ealing.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a developing specialist physiotherapist in our community team for adults with learning disabilities.

We are looking for a professional who wants to develop their specialist clinical skill sin learning disabilities with an interest in supporting young people to transition into adult services.

If you are looking for a new opportunity, are passionate about joint working and improving health and social care outcomes for people with learning disabilities and wish to be part of a dynamic and innovative team then we want to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• To be a member of the specialist healthcare team, providing physiotherapy services to adults with learning disabilities in Ealing.

• To provide assessments and interventions for those with postural needs and to support the management of associated conditions and reduce risk.
• To advocate for people with learning disabilities with health needs across the borough Ealing
• To lead on the therapies transition service for students leaving St. Ann's school and other secondary special schools within the borough and those returning from out of borough services.

About us

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.

Our 3,982 staff care for people in hospital and in the community, helping them to recover and go on to lead full and productive lives. We aim to be the best organisation of our kind in the country.

We provide care and treatment for more than 800,000 people living in the London boroughs of Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham and Hounslow, delivering services in the community (at home, in GP surgeries and care homes), hospital, specialist clinics and forensic (secure) units.

We'rerated good overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Together, we're committed to promoting hope and wellbeing, working with patients, service users, carers, families and partners across the communities we serve.

We are keen to ensure that our workforce reflects the community it serves, particularly in terms of ethnicity, gender, disability, LGBTQ+ and experience of mental illness.

Job description Job responsibilities

To ensure that the professional standards and ethics as set out by CSP and Health HCPC are adhered to at all times.

• Provide specialist physiotherapy for adults with a learning disability where access to generic physiotherapy treatment is not appropriate for them.
• To assess and treat clients in a variety of settings including; inpatient facilities, clients homes, residential homes, day centres, education facilities and leisure facilities including swimming pools.
• Use Physiotherapy skills to treat complex muscular-skeletal physical problems which often occur in combination with other cognitive and/or sensory disabilities.
• To be familiar with and promote a 24-hour approach to postural management and to recommend appropriate specialist seating or equipment such as sleep systems or standing frames.
• To carry out basic wheelchair assessments and make appropriate referrals to the wheelchair service for specialist seating. This includes training in safe management, re-evaluation of prescription and adjustments to meet the changing needs of the client.
• Use respiratory Physiotherapy skills to assess and establish non-invasive chest management protocols for appropriate clients in conjunction with ILDP SLT and Nursing.
• Improve mobility for people with physical disabilities through the assessment and provision of specialist equipment.
• To support the Lead Physiotherapist in shaping a dynamic, forward-thinking service that provides high quality, evidence-based interventions for adults with learning disabilities.
• To ensure that the service user, and those who may be accessing on the service users behalf, have an understanding of treatment proposals and give informed consent to examination and treatment. This will necessitate the use of a range of communication approaches.
• To take a key role in identifying gaps in service provision to inform future commissioning specifically around postural care, people who are aging with learning disabilities and those transitioning from childrens services.
• To work with physiotherapy and therapy colleagues in other service areas within the organisation, for example Community Neuro Rehab Team, Community Respiratory Services, Childrens, wheelchair and special seating, to continually develop a care pathway which is flexible and responsive to need.
• To take responsibility for an allocated physiotherapy caseload.
• To prioritise and discharge referrals timely and communicate with referrers and other key individuals on a regular basis.
• To work with vulnerable people with highly complex needs in ways which respect their rights, choices and best interests at all times.
• To use person centred, evidence based principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and keep accurate records of work done.
• To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the effective working and development of the team and the service.
• To be a key contributor to the multidisciplinary team for management of dysphagia and to support the Lead with scoping the need for a more streamlined physiotherapy pathway in this area.
• To participate in continuing professional development, supervision and appraisal and keep abreast of developments and changes in clinical practice in this area.
• To develop collaborative partnership working with our external partners within the area for example, voluntary sector, education and social services
• To be aware of LeDer reviews and if required, to undertake training to be able to carry out reviews

Transition Co-ordination

• To lead on the identification of therapy needs and determine the support implications of these when planning for transition to adult services
• To demonstrate understanding and sensitivity to clients and their families through the difficult transition process
• To advocate for and negotiate on behalf of young people with complex needs through their transition process
• To advise multi-disciplinary colleagues on transition issues and facilitate their own input to reflect the needs of the individual
• To contribute to the risk assessments involved in transition service planning for young people with highly complex needs
• To support colleagues in develop, implement and review EHC plans for students and young adults.

This is a description of the main duties and responsibility of the post and as such is not intended to be exhaustive. The job description will be periodically reviewed and changed with prior consultation from time to time.

Person Specification Education / Qualifications Essential

• Qualified physiotherapist
• HPC registration

Desirable

• Member of the clinical special interest group for physiotherapists in learning disabilities

Knowledge & Experience Essential

• Previous experience of working with clients with learning disabilities
• Previous experience of community physiotherapy work

Desirable

• Previous experience in mental health, musculoskeletal, elderly, hydrotherapy, audit, health promotion and supervision
• Understanding of the philosophy and values of learning disability services.
• Knowledge of 24/7 postural management in the community
• Experience in working with young people/ transition

Skills, Abilities and Attributes Essential

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Effective communication(verbal and written) and ability to use a range of strategies to present information in a clear and logical manner
• Ability to use electronic systems and applications including electronic patient records.
• Ability to work as an effective member of a team.
• Good listening and counselling skills
• Good time management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Car driver

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

222-LS-ICS-110