This is a 30 hour a week static physiotherapy post on Plym Neuro Rehab Unit based at Mount Gould Hospital, Plymouth

An experienced and specialised physiotherapist who will act with the Team Lead to plan, co-ordinate, deliver, develop, and evaluate the inpatient neuro rehabilitation physiotherapy service on a day-to-day basis.

The post holder will be clinically responsible for the provision of a quality neurological physiotherapy service with the guidance from the Team Lead, whilst working as a member of the MDT on PNRU.

To provide advice, signposting, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, patients, carers, relatives or other non-professional contacts.

To be an integral member of the MDT providing education, training and dissemination of information to all healthcare professionals.

To be an autonomous practitioner, holding a caseload and working without direct supervision.

To continue own professional development in line with HCPC regulations

Please note that this role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, please refer to the Direct Gov website for more information with regards to eligibility

Main duties of the job

Provide a high standard physiotherapy service on Plym Neuro Rehab Unit using advanced physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and evaluation of patients with complex neurological presentations.

Undertake assessment of neurological patients with complex presentations utilising analytical skills, formulating individualised problem lists, management, and treatment plans. Discuss outcomes and set goals with patients.

Implement individual treatment programmes based on EBP and treatment options using assessment, reasoning and neurophysio treatment skills e.g. e-stim, splinting, taping, casting, groups etc.

Evaluate and review therapeutic interventions to support care, treatment and rehabilitation of people with neurological conditions, using appropriate and evidence-based outcome measures.

Work closely with the specialist MDT contributing to individual patient care.

To supervise, educate and assess performance of physiotherapy students, including working with universities to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by degree-level qualification.

To supervise, educate and manage staff, including completing annual appraisals, setting objectives and focusing on the development of others.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To participate in audit, service improvement and research projects to further own and the teams clinical practice. Make recommendations and implement change jointly with Team Lead.

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

Responsibility for People who use our Services:

• Be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work including caseload management and direct clinical care.
• Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of neurological patients, demonstrating good time management skills.
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of neurological and stroke patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills, and to formulate individualised management, treatment plans and patient goals, using clinical reasoning and utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options.
• To ensure a high standard of clinical care and support more junior staff to do likewise.
• Provide specialist advice via written or verbal instruction to patients, carers and relatives to promote understanding of the aims of rehabilitation, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. This may be exercise programmes, health education, preventative or condition- specific advice.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment plans as required.
• Demonstrate highly developed palpatory and therapeutic handling skills for the assessment of muscle tone, pain, MSK changes and specific handling of neurological patients.
• Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers to motivate and gain co-operation to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating, e.g., patients may be aphasic, low in mood, hearing and/or visually impaired or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or unrealistic expectations of intervention.
• Independently organise and plan a designated caseload to meet service and patients priorities, being flexible to meet the demands of the service.
• To work jointly with other health and social care colleagues and services (for example GPs, District Nursing, Social Services, private sector and therapy colleagues) to ensure patients identified rehabilitation and care needs are met through delivery of a coordinated multi-disciplinary service.
• To advise on and prescribe as appropriate, and in line with organisational policies and procedures, both general and specialist rehabilitation aids, equipment, ensuring all equipment is maintained and used effectively and efficiently with risk assessments and appropriate training completed.
• To assess a patients understanding of treatment plans and mental capacity, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
• Be an autonomous practitioner, working within appropriate professional guidelines and code of conduct.
• To respond effectively to any concerns of abuse/safeguarding and know procedures they need to follow to escalate their concerns.

Responsibility for People Management:

• To regularly teach, train, supervise and support junior staff, rehabilitation assistants and students. This may include the use of formal appraisal and documentation.
• To be an active member of the in-service training programme by the attendance and delivery of presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, in-house training sessions and by attending external courses, organising courses and practicing reflective practice to develop own and others skills, knowledge and expertise.
• To assist in the recruitment of relevant grades of staff, as required.
• To take a flexible approach to supporting colleagues in times of caseload pressure, including working with colleagues to maintain clinical cover across the team within the resources available.

Responsibility for administration:

• To ensure competency in record keeping
• To maintain an up-to-date record of all patient contacts, MDT care plans, goals, assessments and reports whilst always ensuring confidentiality in line with professional and organisational guidelines.
• Maintain accurate and timely electronic and paper records of activity and contacts to support contractual requirements. This could include providing timely data about team performance and client outcome measures related to activity.
• Maintain an accurate diary of visits and submit completed travel and special duty claim forms as required.
• To report accidents, incidents or complaints following LSW procedures and policies and to comply with the most recent health and safety at work Act.
• To actively contribute to department working parties, leading on specific delegated projects.
• To attend and contribute to relevant team/service meetings.
• To access email regularly and other information through Livewell Southwest intranet.

Responsibility for Implementation of Policy and/or Service Developments:

• Manage often competing clinical and non-clinical demands and prioritise appropriately to meet the overall service need.
• To comply with Livewell southwest policies and procedures relevant to the role. This will include adherence to Uniform & Dress Code Policy.
• To report any observed incidents of unprofessional behaviour, accidents/incidents, untoward occurrences, or faulty equipment.
• To participate professionally in service development and proposed service changes.
• Comply with universal infection control precautions and procedures.
• To behave in a manner which does not bring the Organisation into disrepute.
• To complete all Mandatory training and other training pertinent to the role.
• To take an active role in audit, research, and interdisciplinary development, to measure effectiveness and efficiency of the team and its service.
• When working in the community and domiciliary settings, work as a lone practitioner with telephone support from a senior therapist or Team Lead if required.

Communication and Relationships:

• To adapt communication style if the patient has communication, cognitive or other problems that may create a barrier affecting treatment outcomes eg using appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication tools e.g. instructions, motivation, diagrams, and pictures.
• To use the written or spoken word effectively and appropriately, via face-to-face, email, telephone, letter, presentation. Communication may be 1:1, or in groups. Patients may have complex communication disorders which require skilled support.
• To work in a patient centred way using approaches such as patient empowerment, cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing and problem solving to provide support to patients.
• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with Social, Health and other agency colleagues, at all levels to ensure delivery of a co-coordinated multidisciplinary service. This may include case conferences, patient reviews and discharge planning.
• To maintain a calm, professional approach to their duties
• To act as an ambassador for Livewell with external agencies and partner organisations.
• Always address staff, patients and members of the public in a polite and respectful manner either in person or on the telephone.
• To communicate highly specialist advice, teaching and training to physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the MDT working within other clinical areas.

Other Responsibilities:

• The post holder will be aware of and work within their own limits, and competencies
• Be punctual for work and conduct themselves in a professional manner in accordance with Livewell southwest policies
• To participate in induction and support programmes in relation to new staff and volunteers.
• To actively engage in practice supervision.
• Actively participate in regular line management and appraisals with line manager.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance, Risk Management and Lone Working policy and apply to work situation.
• To exercise good time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.
• To exhibit a committed attitude to all aspects of work
• Be conversant with and comply with all relevant organisational protocols and policies and have valid organisational IT access.
• Compassionate, caring and kind in their practice
• When necessary, represent the organisation externally at local, regional and national level regarding neurological physiotherapy services.
• Ability to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging, demonstrating anti-discriminatory behaviour and acting as an advocate for others.
• Ability to identify and understand the impact of health inequalities within neurological rehabilitation.
• Undertake other duties when requested by professional or operational managers.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree or equivalent in physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of on-going education and professional development
• Relevant post-graduate education in neurological rehabilitation
• Recognised qualification in written and spoken English if this is not first language.

Desirable

• Clinical Educator
• PG-Cert or Masters degree in Neurological Rehabilitation
• Membership into relevant Special Interest Group
• Management training (e.g. Toolkit sessions)
• Current valid UK driving licence.

Specific Skills

Essential

• Specialised neurological physiotherapy skills, including assessment, treatment and evaluation of people with complex neurological presentations.
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent team working skills
• Leadership qualities
• Innovative
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skill
  Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
  
  B9832-2024-PTA-1381