Luton - Band 6 Community Paediatrics Physiotherapist

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the community paediatric physiotherapy team for a full time/part time 6 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. We are looking for a highly motivated, experienced band 6 Paediatric Physiotherapist, who is looking to further develop their skills and career within the Community.

This role will require managing a paediatric physiotherapy caseload based at Children and Young People’s Centre and in mainstream and special needs nurseries and schools.

You will gain experience with a wide range of conditions and will have an interesting and varied caseload.

You will be actively involved in our in house Orthopaedic clinics, Postural Management clinics and participate with the wider MDT.

Your role will involve supervision of technical instructors and students, . You will be expected to work as an independent, autonomous practitioner.

Full Driving license desirable.

Main duties of the job

To manage a full caseload in an allocated area of work within community paediatrics, ensuring each child receives the highest standard of care possible within resource limitations.

To undertake the advanced assessment and treatment of children within the speciality who usually have complex and /or chronic conditions.

To determine the clinical diagnosis and physiotherapy treatment required and to maintain detailed records.

To liaise closely with parents, care staff and other professionals involved with this patient group.

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Ensure the highest possible standard of clinical care for the patients under care which will include:

1. To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills. To interpret clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions. These include children with neurological, orthopaedic and respiratory problems.
2. To formulate individualised management and treatment plans recommending the best course of intervention. To formulate a specialised programme of care using clinical reasoning and to utilise a wide range of treatment skills. This usually involves liaison with a wide range of professionals across the health, social services and education. Due to the complexity and nature of the patient’s conditions, care management is often long term and thus requires frequent re-assessment.
3. To develop comprehensive discharge plans, liaising with other team members

1. To demonstrate highly developed skills in the handling of children with complex needs for assessment and treatment.
2. To maintain current knowledge of specialised equipment for children with physical disabilities. To make recommendations and decisions regarding appropriate equipment to meet the needs of specific patients.
3. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal hospital requirements.
4. To communicate assessment and treatment plans to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters. This involves communication with professionals from the health, social services and education.
5. To provide physiotherapy assessment, advice and recommendations for children’s statutory special educational needs statement, with support of Senior I staff.
6. To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with multiple medical, nursing and therapy staff within both acute and community settings. This also extends to professional in social services, education and the voluntary sector.
7. To communicate effectively with patients and carers, including advice, instruction and teaching; to ensure a consistency in the approach to understanding of conditions and to maximise rehabilitation potential. Due to the long-term nature of the condition of patients seen, great emphasis has to be placed on the variety of types of treatment to maintain patient and carers motivation, to ensure the success of treatment programmes.

1. To maintain clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping informed of any new trends, which includes attending internal or external courses and sharing knowledge within the team.
2. To be an active member of the in-service training programme by delivering presentations and training sessions. To provide supervision for technical instructors and assistants.
3. To have some input into the teaching and supervision of physiotherapy students.
4. To provide specialist advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team (MDT) (including hospital and community based consultants, specialist nursing teams and paediatric therapy services) regarding the physiotherapy management of patients with neurological, orthopaedic and respiratory conditions.
5. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of work and current practise through audit and outcome measures, as required within the paediatric team.
6. To participate in the staff personal development and appraisal scheme.

1. To demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and apply to work situation.
2. To be aware of health and Safety and risk management aspects of clinical work. To follow any policies, which may be required to improve the safety of the work area, including the prompt recording and reporting of accidents or equipment defects to senior or designated staff.
3. To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
4. To participate in working parties developing policy changes within the community that will impact on service users.
5. To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties and to adhere to departmental policy, including competence to use equipment and ensuring the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practise.
6. To be actively involved in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.

1. To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of work including the management of patients following national, local and occupational policies.
2. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and to organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities. To balance this with other patient relayed and professional demands within the available working hours.
3. To deliver training to junior physiotherapy colleagues and other members of the MDT regarding physiotherapy management of children with complex needs including knowledge and practical skills.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in Physiotherapy
• Member of HCPC
• Member of CSP

• Evidence of relevant CPD

Experience

• Postgraduate experience in Physio including Paediatrics speciality
• Experience of working in the NHS
• Experience of supervising others
• Experience of teaching groups

• Service improvement

Knowledge

• Broad range of clinical conditions relevant to Paediatrics
• Broad range of assessment and treatment knowledge relevant to Paediatrics
• Knowledge of Clinical Governance and its impact on services

Skills

• Competent IT skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Able to present written information in a clear and logical manner

• Presentation skills

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

Travel between hospital sites may be required. 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.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.