Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist - NHS
We love what we do and we think you will, too!
At Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (GHC), we provide joined-up mental health, physical health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Gloucestershire. We run community hospitals and provide care and support in people’s own homes and in a range of other locations across the county.
We are on a mission to enable people to live the best life they can and we have a vision to work together to provide outstanding care. We put people at the heart of our services, focusing on personalised care by asking ‘what matters to you’.
We’re passionate about making sure that everyone can contribute to achieving our mission and we are continually working to support healthy and happy high-quality teams in all areas of the Trust.
Our application process aims to understand each candidates knowledge, skills and experience. We have found that candidates that use AI to generate their answers can lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.
It is really important to personalise your application to convey your individual skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively and for us to understand why you are applying for this role with GHC. We discourage over reliance on AI-generated applications as it will lessen your chances of success in securing an interview with us .
Job overview
1 x Fixed Term contract/secondment opportunity for up to 9 months at 22.5 hours per week
Internal applicants who wish to be considered for a secondment opportunity should discuss with their line manager the suitability of a possible secondment
An opportunity has arisen to work with the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust Community Mental Health Physiotherapy Team, covering a secondment for 9 months. The team work across Gloucestershire, embedded within the Community Mental Health Teams.
This is an exciting time to join our team, as we move towards working under the new Mental Health Transformation framework. You could be part of shaping Mental Health Physiotherapy services for the whole of Gloucestershire.
The post-holder will work within the Gloucester and Forest of Dean Recovery and Assertive Outreach (AO) services and will be responsible for providing physiotherapy to patients of working age (18 - 65) who are living with mental ill-health that prevents them engaging with non mental health services.
The community mental health teams are multi-disciplinary teams providing specialist mental healthcare in a wide range of settings and locations: client’s homes, residential services, day care, educational facilities, GP practices, outpatient clinics, hospital wards, etc.
Main duties of the job
The post holder may also be asked to assist colleagues within the Mental Health Physiotherapy Team in other parts of the county, and occasionally provide input into the Mental Health Inpatient Units and the Health and Exercise Service as required.
We are looking for an enthusiastic Physiotherapist with an interest in mental health to join our embedded community services based at Pullman Place, Gloucester. The caseload consists of adults between the ages of 18 and 65, who have physiotherapy needs but cannot access non mental health services due to their mental health presentation.
The role will involve completing comprehensive assessments for patients with a wide variety of both physical and mental health conditions as well as complex social issues, implementing treatment plans and collaborative working with our experienced MDTs.You will be expected to liaise and refer into wider health, social care and voluntary agencies, when appropriate, to ensure best possible outcomes are achieved for patients, their Carers and families.
You should have post-graduate NHS experience, preferably with both acute and community experience, have a good understanding of risk management, moving and handling. Excellent communication skills, an ability to prioritise your caseload are essential.You will need good time management skills, and be familiar with lone working. This post would suit a Physiotherapist wishing to develop their skills and knowledge in mental health, in a supportive team.
Working for our organisation
We have in excess of 5000 staff working over 50 sites, providing a diverse range of services. We strive to support an organisational culture that is welcoming, builds and celebrates inclusivity and diversity and provides a sense of belonging and trust.
The annual NHS Staff Survey gives our people the opportunity to tell us about their experience working at the Trust. For the 2023 survey just over 2800 colleagues gave us their views (58.5%). It was great to see from the results that colleagues are saying that:
- 89.7% believe they are making a positive difference to patients/service users;
- 73.3% would recommend the organisation as a place to work;
- 82.4% agree that care of patients and service users is the organisations priority;
- 76.7% would be happy with the standard of care for a friend or relative
Our results put us as 5th nationally as a Community, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities NHS Employer of Choice and 1st equal amongst all NHS Provider Trusts in the South West. However, we know we have more to do and will continue to drive forward our commitment to making GHC a Great Place to Work.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see the job description and personal specification for application requirements. Applicants are requested to provide the required information outlined in these documents in their application to demonstrate their suitability for the post.
We welcome applications from any Physiotherapist who has experience of working with adults with mental health needs, or those looking for an exciting new opportunity to use transferable skills from a different speciality.
The qualification, training & experience requirements for the role are underlined in the Job Description/Person Specification.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria- Degree in Physiotherapy supplemented by specialist training, experience in specialist fields) to post graduate diploma level or equivalent.
- Registration with Health and Care Professions Council
- Member of a relevant Professional Body, e.g. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
- Supervision / Appraisal Training
Length and / or Nature of Experience
Essential criteria- Broad range of clinical experience across a variety of clinical areas. For example, Musculoskeletal, neurology, general medicine, respiratory, orthopaedics, specialist equipment prescriptions.
- Experience of working collaboratively and effectively with a broad range of professionals and agencies.
- Experience of working with individuals with mental health issues (in either health or other settings.)
Professional / Managerial / Specialist Knowledge
Essential criteria- Ability to adapt and transfer physiotherapy skills into the field of mental health.
- Ability to solve problems and take responsibility for seeking help as appropriate.
- Ability to carry out assessment taking account physical, social and environmental issues.
- Knowledge of appropriate legislation e.g. current Mental Health Act legislation, Mental Capacity Act, Child Protection legislation and other policy related to mental health and understanding of appropriate safeguarding
- Knowledge of a wide variety of treatment and exercise techniques
- Knowledge of falls
- Knowledge of risk assessment and management, including a recognition of immediate risk and what actions may need to be taken.
- Ability to demonstrate identification of own development needs, and the effect on practice of own continuous professional development activity, through a professional portfolio
- Able to work independently for prolonged periods without direct supervision, often in isolated circumstances.
- Basic level of computer competence, e.g. e-mail, word processing
When joining us, as well as becoming part of a team that makes a difference, we also offer:
- Free car parking at many of our sites
- 27 days leave plus bank holidays, increasing up to 33 days with long service
- A broad range of training and development opportunities, including apprenticeships up to Level 7 qualification.
- A multi-professional preceptorship programme for all Newly Qualified; Nurses, Nursing Associates, Internationally Educated Practitioners, Allied Health Professionals and Return to Practice Practitioners.
- Generous NHS pension and enhanced pay when if you work unsocial hours
- Flexible, family friendly and agile working opportunities
- Recognition and long service awards
- Fast Track physiotherapy
- Our Wellbeing line
- Access to discounts and salary sacrifice schemes; including Cycle to Work, Car scheme and discounts on travel, leisure and retailers.
Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.
For more information please see the attached 'Additional Information for Applicants' document.