Highly Specialist Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Physiotherapist
Guy’s and St Thomas’ is among the UK’s busiest and most successful NHS foundation trusts. We provide a full range of hospital and community services for people in south London and as well as specialist care for patients from further afield including cancer, renal, orthopaedic, respiratory and cardiovascular services.
Guy’s is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.St Thomas’ has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Evelina London cares for local children in Lambeth and Southwark and provides specialist services across south east England including cardiac, renal and critical care services. We lead a number of specialist service networks aiming to ensure children are treated locally where possible, but have access to specialist expertise when they need it.Our community services include health visiting, school nursing and support for families of children with long-term conditions.
Our adult community services teams deliver care at the heart of the local communities we serve, working in partnership with GPs, local authorities and other healthcare and voluntary sector organisations. Working with our partners in Lambeth and Southwark, we are focusing on new ways of working to improve care for local patients.
In February 2021 the Royal Brompton and Harefield joined Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, bringing together world-leading expertise in the care and research of heart and lung disease. Our merger provides a once in a generation opportunity to build a lasting, world-renowned heart and lung centre, providing the highest quality care for patients and conducting world-leading research.
We have a reputation for clinical excellence and high quality teaching and research. We are part of King’s Health Partners, one of eight accredited UK academic health sciences centres. In partnership with King’s College London we have dedicated clinical research facilities including an MHRA accredited Phase I clinical trials unit.
Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible patient experience as well as safe, high quality care. We are proud to have one of the lowest mortality rates in the NHS. Following a comprehensive Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection in 2019 we maintained our overall rating of ‘good’.Our adult community services achieved a rating of ‘outstanding’.
The commitment of our 23,500 staff is key to our success. We are one of the largest local employers and we aim to develop and support all our staff so they are able to deliver high quality, safe and efficient care. The 2019 NHS staff survey results show that we have one of the most engaged and motivated workforces in the NHS.We know this has a positive impact on the care provided to our patients.
We have one of the most ambitious capital investment programmes anywhere in the NHS.
Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Band 7 Physiotherapist to join our multidisciplinary team in delivering high-quality cardiac rehabilitation services. This role involves providing specialist care to patients recovering from cardiac events, surgery, or with chronic cardiovascular conditions, ensuring optimal physical recovery, improved quality of life, and reduced risk of recurrence.
The successful candidate will play a key leadership role within the cardiac rehabilitation team, offering clinical expertise, supporting service development, and mentoring junior staff members. You will work collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines to provide a holistic, patient-centred approach to rehabilitation.
Main duties of the job
An opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Physiotherapist with proven clinical skills to join the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation team . You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in operational and clinical management in the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Team which is multi-professional, providing care and to optimise outcomes for our patients across Lambeth and Southwark living with cardiovascular conditions.The post is supported by a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, Clinical Lead and Consultant Physiotherapist, and is a member of the wider Band 7 and 8 respiratory in- and outpatient team.
You will have experience at a senior level including cardiovascular care and evidence of an interest in developing further in this area. An excellent communicator you will demonstrate a desire to work creatively to bring about innovative service development within cardiovascular rehabilitation services and the Physiotherapy profession.A strong commitment to training at undergraduate and post-graduate levels and an interest in quality improvement and research is desirable.
The wider Trust incorporates several leading cardiovascular rehabilitation services with whom we liaise and jointly develop services. You will be expected to contribute to this service development to further the aims of the Trust in delivering exceptional services to cardiovascular patients.
Working for our organisation
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK’s busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We are working in partnership with King’s Health Partners, to deliver our vision of creating a new centre of excellence, which will be the global leader in the research into and treatment of heart and lung disease, in patients from pre-birth to old age.
We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.
We strive to recruit and retain the best staff as the dedication and skills of our employees lie at the heart of our organisation and ensure that our services are of the highest quality, safe and focused on our patients.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To take a lead role in the advanced assessment and treatment of patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation, including those with multi-pathology and those who have highly complex and / or chronic presentations, to determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated and to maintain associated records, as an autonomous practitioner.
To take a lead role in supervision and teaching of physiotherapists / physiotherapy assistants / students and MDT staff across both sites and the phase IV community based exercise programmes in physio-therapeutic treatment and management of patients referred for cardiac rehabilitation including those requiring complex rehabilitation.
To provide skilled team leadership and be responsible for operational management, team development, implementation of policy and policy changes in own clinical area, and to set and monitor standards of practice in both the acute and community settings.
To supervise, initiate and participate in evidence-based projects, including recommendations for change in practice and to lead in departmental research and audit within cardiac rehabilitation.
To oversee and participate in new initiatives within cardiac rehabilitation services (Pilot Heart Failure Programme, Home Rehabilitation and Community Phase III)
To develop and deliver exercise rehabilitation and educational materials in a group based patient setting.
Person specification
Knowledge/ Qualifications
Essential criteria- Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy
- Post Graduate Courses relevant to the clinical speciality
- Registration HCPC
- Continued Professional Development including evidence of reflective practice
- Recognised post-graduate qualification e.g. MSc. in Cardiovascular Rehabilitation
- Post graduate course(s) in management and / or leadership training
- Membership of relevant National SIG e.g. ACPICR/BACPR
Skills
Essential criteria- Specialist skills in the management of complex cardiac patients including specialist assessment and identification of suitability for the rehabilitation programme
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary setting, goal planning, developing care pathways and using outcome measures
- Experience of service development / evaluation and audit / change management
- Shows excellent written and oral communication skills, including ability to present information in a clear and logical manner.
- Evidence of leadership skills and an awareness of skill mix and service needs
- Advanced knowledge of a wide range of approaches to the holistic management of complex patients living with cardiovascular disease
- Knowledge of current national policies / standards / initiatives in cardiovascular physiotherapy
- Advanced IT skills e.g. Excel spreadsheet functions, word document editing and report writing
Experience
Essential criteria- Significant post-registration experience at Band 6 level with evidence of experience in cardiovascular physiotherapy in both inpatient and outpatient settings
- Experienced in clinical Governance and demonstrates an understanding of the implications for physiotherapy services
- Training, development and supervision of students / physiotherapists /instructors / assistants.
- Experience of research development or participation
- Previous experience as a Band 7 within a cardiovascular setting
Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrates, respects and values the diversity of its staff and patients. We review our policies, procedures and practices to ensure that all employees, patients and carers are treated equitable according to their needs. We are actively committed to ensuring that no one who applies for a job, works or study’s at the Trust, or accesses our services is discriminated against on the grounds of race, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion or belief, age, gender identity , gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity/paternity, or marital/civil partnership.
Applications are welcomed from applicants with a disability. We can make reasonable adjustments and offer support and advice in a variety of ways throughout the application process. Equality of opportunity is our policy.
As an organisation we are committed to developing our services in ways that best suit the needs of our patients. This means that some staff groups will increasingly be asked to work a more flexible shift pattern so that we can offer services in the evenings or at weekends.
Flexible working
We are committed to supporting all employees to achieve a healthy work life balance and to work in a way that is best for them and our patients. We will consider all requests to work flexibly, taking in to account the individual’s personal circumstances as well the needs of the service.We encourage all prospective applicants to discuss their individual circumstances with the recruiting manager as part of the on-boarding process.
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