[ref. p10860500] Advanced Paediatric Physiotherapist - neonates/neurodevelopment
Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
We have a rare and exciting opportunity to join our Paediatric Therapy team at UHS, in the rapidly evolving specialist neonatal and neonatal neurology service.
We are looking for a highly motivated, skilled and enthusiastic Physiotherapist with good problem solving and communication skills, to join our inpatient neonatal and under 2’s neurology service and outpatient neonatal follow up programme. The successful candidate will work alongside a team of experienced health professionals and AHP’s both within the unit, and across the other speciality services, to consider the holistic needs of premature babies and babies with identified therapeutic needs.
The successful post holder will work closely with the B7 OT neonatal lead, static and rotational B6 Physiotherapists, plus wider departmental therapy staff to ensure a comprehensive service is provided to babies both within the unit and those within Southampton Children's hospital, on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.
This post is part of the wider UHS Therapy dept, with over 300 therapy staff, including OT, Physio and therapy support staff. We run a 7-day service, working weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis. You will have many opportunities to develop new skills and knowledge through our in-service training, being part of a wider Paediatric therapy network and have links with local Universities through student placements.
Working for our organisation
University Hospital Southampton is one of England's largest acute teaching Trusts, offering a wide range of learning and development opportunities to support your career aspirations.
Located on the south coast with an international airport and direct rail links to London, Southampton offers an ideal setting to live and work, with the New Forest, South Downs and Jurassic Coast.
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At UHS we’re committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
At UHS, we proudly champion individuality, recognizing that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities.We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive, and contribute.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
We are looking for an experienced Paediatric Physiotherapist to be part of our neonatal service. This is a fast-paced environment where effective communication, prioritisation, and ability to be flexible, adaptable and cope with change is needed.You must be keen, enthusiastic and have a definite desire to work within this speciality, with experience in driving forward service improvements to meet the changing needs secondary to emerging treatment options.
The post holder will need to balance workloads across the neonatal inpatient units, outpatient follow ups and under 2 acquired neurology. They should have excellent communication skills to work closely with the child and their family, the MDT, community services, and regional networks.
As caseloads can often include patients that are chronically unwell, we are looking for someone who has experience working in challenging and emotive situations with active coping strategies and resilience.
Key duties:- Provide advanced physiotherapy assessment and treatment to babies and neonates who require respiratory, neuro-developmental and orthopaedic intervention within the neonatal unit, special care and high care, postnatal wards and post discharge follow up. To also provide neuro-developmental physiotherapy to children under the age of 2.
- Clinically lead in providing and coordinating treatment for neonates and to babies with neuro-developmental and orthopaedic conditions.
- Manage and run the Physiotherapy led clinic for the treatment of babies with sternomastoid tumours, torticollis, plagiocephaly and Brachial Plexus.
- Clinically lead for NHS Resolution Obstetrical Brachial Plexus standard – to maintain guideline, audit quarterly and implement changes and education as appropriate throughout the Maternity and Child Health Division
- Provide an educator role to parents/carers/ health visitors/ Drs/ other health professionals/students/B6 therapist on neonatal holistic care, neurodevelopment and respiratory care. To train MDT staff and assess competencies regarding the above for use on the Neonatal unit.
- Undertake comprehensive assessments of neurodevelopment and use these to research into the neuro developmental outcome of children alongside the Neonatal neurologist
- Provide specialist physiotherapy advice within the Trust and externally (locally, and regionally) consulted frequently for specialist advice and guidance.
- Supervise, initiate and participate in clinical audit and evidence-based projects and implement changes within neonatal and developmental care setting, setting and monitoring standards of practice
“We strongly believe in team working in a happy working environment. Workloads are shared and communication/ support is strongly encouraged. We are mutually responsible for the service and its development and expect everyone to carry out a certain level of responsibility.”
You will participate in a comprehensive in-service training programme and individual performance review scheme. The successful candidate will also be required to participate in the emergency out of hours respiratory rota (both with adults and children) as well as the Paediatric respiratory weekend service.The post holder will need to be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of this evolving service.
Please read the generic Job description and person specification for this role and ensure you meet the following skills needed for working in this specific clinical environment:- Comprehensive experience, including proven acute respiratory caseloads
- Acute respiratory On-call/ out of hours experience
- Comprehensive experience working within a busy neonatal unit
- Comprehensive experience within paediatrics including neurodevelopmental
- Proven experience working within emotive environments with and an understanding of palliative care
- Completion of the HEE Neonatal AHP introductory module, Neonatal Physio Module, Neurological Assessment of the Neonate and completed the Workbook, or equivalent
- Post graduate training in FINE and relevant assessment /outcome measures used with the neonatal unit and standardized follow up program.
- Clear and expressed interest to work at UHS, within our Paediatric Therapy team
- It is desirable for you to be a member of a relevant neonatal special interest group.
The UHS Therapy services department runs a 7-day service, using a rota system so weekend/BH working and active participation in the On-call out of hours unscheduled acute respiratory services will be expected.
Due the unique nature of this post we welcome informal enquiries or visits – please contact Michelle Geary or Denise Hart on 02381204560
We look forward to hearing from you.
If you are interested in other Therapy opportunities, please email [email protected]
Person specification
Trust Values
Essential criteria- Patient First
- Always Improving
- Working Together
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential criteria- Masters in Physiotherapy or equivalent experience: highly specialist skills with relevant levels of study
- Current HCPC registration
- Significant relevant clinical experience or with the ability to demonstrate significant experience in physiotherapy practice
- Evidence of proven leadership and supervisory skills
- Previous experience within relevant clinical area
- Previous experience on-call, where relevant to clinical area
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Experience of audit, evaluation, or research
- Evidence of implementing change in a clinical environment
- Management qualification, or equivalent experience
- Attendance at post-graduation courses, or conferences, relevant to clinical area
- Able to demonstrate sound understanding of healthcare priorities and political agendas
- Experience working in an acute hospital setting
- Leadership qualification, or experience
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.
For more information about our Trust
https://careers.uhs.nhs.uk
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