Highly Specialised Hand Therapist (band 7) Full time (37.5 hours). An exciting opportunity has arisen for a hand therapist (either Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist) to join our well-established and dynamic multi-disciplinary team. We seek an individual who is autonomous, forward thinking and enthusiastic.

We are a large team of thirty therapists supported by three assistants. We are a busy service supporting our plastic and orthopaedic hand surgery colleagues with elective and trauma activity as well as managing patients referred from rheumatology and the community.

This position offers an important opportunity and challenging career move for you to advance your clinical and leadership skills. Your role will include supporting junior staff, delivering education and assisting with quality improvement and research. We pride ourselves in supporting our team through education, training and development opportunities.

Does this sound like the challenge that you are looking for?

Main duties of the job

You will manage a clinical caseload of non-surgically and surgically managed patients with traumatic and elective hand and upper limb injuries. Additionally you have the opportunity to assess and manage patients with non-surgical conditions referred from the community.

As a senior specialist hand therapist you will be involved with triaging referrals, formulating and discussing management plans with therapy and surgical colleagues and assisting with problem solving on an ad hoc basis. As such we are looking for someone with excellent communication skills that can be flexible and responsive and who is a strong team player.

About us

We are a large, busy but very supportive team that work across the Guys and St Thomas' hospital sites. We strive to provide an excellent service that we would be happy to recommend to our friends and family and put patient care at the heart of everything that we do.

Hand Therapy is part of the Therapies Directorate with a supportive and progressive management structure. Departmental objectives are founded upon the core principles of the clinical governance framework and Trust Core Values. Research activity, robust evidence based practice and national guidelines drive forward our vision and direct service delivery.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Performs an advanced musculo-skeletal assessment of plastic surgery/hand patients including those with highly complex presentations and from this formulates a diagnosis and treatment plan, which is carried out as an autonomous practitioner.
• Takes a lead role in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of senior, junior and assistant physiotherapists / occupational therapists, physiotherapy /OT students (including those at Masters level) and other members of the multi disciplinary team.
• As team leader, is responsible for operational management and overall development of designated team especially in regard to all aspects of clinical governance and deputises for service manager as required.
• Supervises, initiates and participates in evidence based projects and is responsible for implementing changes within designated team/area and setting and monitoring standards of practice

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Skilled in assessment and management of surgically and non-surgically managed Hand Therapy patients
• Skilled in the fabrication of splints for a broad range of conditions
• Skilled in exercise prescription for upper limb conditions

Experience

Essential

• Experience of supervising and managing junior hand therapy staff
• Experience of supervising hand therapy students
• Experience of working in pressured environment with strict time management
• Involvement in research process in subject relevant to HT
• Involvement in Hand Therapy service development
• Involvement in departmental audit (ideally HT)

Desirable

• Attendance of management courses in a clinical setting
• Attendance of clinical educator courses
• Published research within HT/upper limb field
• Led service development or audit within HT/upper limb service

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Physiotherapy/BSc Occupational Therapy (or equivalent)
• Post Registration Hand Therapy/Upper Limb MSK CPD
• HCPC Registration

Desirable

• BAHT Membership
• MSc level study in relevant area
• Accredited Hand Therapist
• Post registration CPD in splinting or exercise prescription within Hand/Upper Limb

Employer details

Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guys and St Thomas' Hospital

Westminster Bridge Road

London

SE1 9RT

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

196-LIS8797