We are looking for a Specialist Physiotherapist to join the St Helens and Knowsley Community Learning Disabilities Team based at Willis House. The team currently consists of two full time Band 6 Physiotherapist, a full time Band 5 Physiotherapist, one full time Therapy Assistant, and is part of a wider Learning Disabilities Multi Disciplinary Team (LD MDT).

The post is offered as a fixed term contract for 6 months.

The post holder must have the means to travel within and outside of the borough of Knowsley as part of the role.

This post is subject to an enhanced check with adults barred list Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check. Successful candidates will be required to pay for the cost of the DBS Disclosure which is £47.50 for an enhanced disclosure, the cost of which will be deducted from first salary.

Shortlisting date is planned for: 16/11/2022.

Interviews are planned for: 23/11/2022.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide Specialist Physiotherapy assessments and interventions to meet the needs of Service Users with Learning Disabilities across both St Helens and Knowsley Boroughs. You will be able to use your clinical expertise to assess and treat the more complex and urgent referrals that the team receives.

The post holder will work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team to offer specialist physiotherapy care which is holistic and person-centred ensuring continuity of care for service users on their journey through the Specialist Learning Disability Service. The post holder will work from within the community service but be expected to be flexible in terms of delivering care within a variety of settings.

The post holder will demonstrate an attitude which respects and values service users and their carers.

The ability means and willingness to travel between multiple sites in the course of performing duties is essential.

The post holder will contribute towards clinical support and supervision for the Band 5 member of staff and Therapy Assistant in post where appropriate. Support and supervision for your role will be available from existing Physiotherapy team members and there is Band 7 Clinical Support available pan borough.

As part of the Physiotherapy role, in addition to service user contact, the post holder will have the opportunity to support Physiotherapy and Learning Disabilities Team Service Development, alongside other CPD opportunities.

About us

Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.Mersey Care is one of the largest trusts providing physical health and mental health services in the North West, serving more than 11 million people.

We offer specialist inpatient and community services that support physical and mental health and specialist inpatient mental health, learning disability, addiction and brain injury services. Mersey Care is one of only three trusts in the UK that offer high secure mental health facilities.At the heart of all we do is our commitment to 'perfect care' - care that is safe, effective, positively experienced, timely, equitable and efficient. We support our staff to do the best job they can and work alongside service users, their families, and carers to design and develop future services together. We're currently delivering a programme of organisational and service transformation to significantly improve the quality of the services we provide and safely reduce cost as we do so.

Job description Job responsibilities

CLINICAL:

To provide individual and group therapy for clients with learning disability and physiotherapy needs, by diagnosing, deciding upon management, designing and implementing clinical care packages. Clients will include those with dual diagnosis, dysphagia, autistic spectrum disorder, profound and multiple learning difficulties and challenging behaviour.

To use highly specialist listening, physical, and observational skills to diagnose and manage cases in evidence-based and quality performance, risk framework.

To sensitively provide and receive information about clients from the client, carer and other professionals and to manage difficult or contentious information appropriately.

To work in an empathic manner in partnership with clients, carers and families, where there are barriers to understanding and differences in the way the client communicates e.g. sign language. To alter approaches to a relevant level for the client to be as actively involved in his or her own care as possible.

To arrange appointments, attend reviews/case conferences and liaise with carers, families and other professionals regarding patient care.

To design and evaluate specific Physiotherapy projects.

To maintain a high standard of documentation across all aspects of the service, including the patients case notes, administrative and statistical procedures and all related written communications.

MANAGERIAL:

To supervise the work of less experienced physiotherapists, assistants and students on placement. To facilitate the development of the teams skills and knowledge to meet the service needs.

To provide fieldwork education for students from a variety of professions, who are observing Physiotherapy practice.

Lead, participate and contribute to issues, within monthly clinical supervision, relating to clients, own skills and development needs.

To manage own caseload, prioritising the waiting list, and delegating cases to the other qualified physiotherapists and assistants.

EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT:

To identify the training needs of carers in relation to clients Physiotherapy needs and design training to meet this need.

To plan the content and delivery of training programmes as required. To provide specialist training about learning disabilities and physiotherapy to families, care staff and professionals.

To share experience and expertise about Physiotherapy issues with other colleagues, carers and service users.

To set up rooms and equipment e.g. OHP, TV, for training.

To recommend and work towards achieving Personal Development Plan objectives to met the service need and development. You will discuss individual job development with your Manager at the Personal Plan Development meetings each year.

To undertake identified development of work related skills. To attend relevant courses, meetings and Specific Interest Groups related to ALD specialist physiotherapist and to keep own regular record of C.P.D.

To participate in training that is critical to the Trust, as identified by the Learning Foundation and the Physiotherapy professional body.

To work following Trust Policies.

You will work at having good working relationships with the public and team.

To maintain accurate patient records and statistical information.

RESEARCH AND AUDIT:

To carry out physiotherapy research and audit as required to evaluate the service provision and develop the service against team, trust and national objectives.

To search for clinical articles on the Internet or other sources.

Generic Responsibilities for all staff:

All post holders will agree to:

• Commit to the vision of supporting Mersey Care in becoming a leading organisation in the provision of community services, mental health care, addiction services and learning disability care, and in doing so fully utilise their skills and experience to support the objectives of the Trust.
• Role model the values of the Trust Continuous Improvement, Accountability, Respectfulness, Enthusiasm and Support in all activities and interactions with employees, service users and other stakeholders
• Challenge the stigma associated with mental health and learning difficulties.
• Comply with the Duty of Candour, defined by Francis as: 'The volunteering of all relevant information to persons who have or may have been harmed by the provision of services, whether or not the information has been requested and whether or not a complaint or a report about that provision has been made.
• Work across professional and organisational boundaries to improve services for all.
• Maintain their specific knowledge base and develop new skills.
• Value the contribution of the patient / service user voice.
• Operate within any organisational codes of practice or those from a relevant professional body.
• Respect equality and diversity across all areas of working practice and communications with staff, service users and other stakeholders.
• Take responsibility for the accurate and timely collection and recording of data and ensuring all personally identifiable information is protected and used only for the purposes for which it was intended.
• Comply with all health and safety legislation and local policies and procedures.
• Adhere to all organisational policies.
• Have knowledge and understanding of technology in the workplace which is sufficient to maintain their efficiency and also how technology can empower service users in a digital environment
• Comply with the NHS Constitution in relation to the staff responsibilities that it sets out for NHS employees.
• Attend a one day Just and Learning & Civility and Respect training work shop
• Be an ambassador for Just & Learning and Civility & Respect following the training
• Positively advocate the just and learning culture within your team
• Be a confident supporter and implementer of the Trust CARES Values including Civility & Respect within your team.
• Support their team/services to create a positive environment for Just and Learning Culture
• Participate in Just and Learning Culture events.
• Bring Just and Learning Culture updates/information to the attention of team members and other MCT colleagues they work with.
• Support and encourage the sharing of concerns about the safety and quality of care with senior leaders with the aim of improving safety and quality.
• Actively participate in creating an open culture within your team so that concerns and difficulties can be discussed safely and respectfully.
• Speaking up in the event that they are exposed to incivility between colleagues in the workplace #iwillspeakup.
• Listening and understanding others who have concerns and taking a collaborative approach to work towards a solution to improve civility and respect.

This job description is intended as an outline indicator of general areas of activity and will be reviewed in light of the changing needs of the Trust in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Qualifications
• Experience

Desirable

• Experience in learning disabilities

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

350-SEC4676612-B