Team Lead Physiotherapist Early Supported Discharge Team (Stroke)

We are looking to recruit a part time Team Lead (band 7) physiotherapist for a fixed term of 12 months into our Early Supported Discharge Team.

The Oxfordshire Stroke Pathway comprises of the Acute Stroke Unit (ASU) with hyper-acute and acute beds at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford and the Early Supported Discharge Team (ESD). The team consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Dieticians, Nurses and Rehabilitation Support Workers who work as a flexible integrated team across both services alongside the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT) of nursing, medical and care staff. The Oxfordshire Stroke Service provides rapid, acute and hyper-acute care, specialist assessment and early rehabilitation within the Stroke Unit while seamlessly facilitating the transfer of patients into their own homes continuing to support their on-going rehabilitation goals and care needs in the community.

The ESD service works in partnership with community care partners to facilitate delivery of enabling care and intensive functional rehabilitation across all areas of the patient’s daily life 6 days a week. The ESD therapist can access medical and nursing support from the integrated MDT whilst also liaising closely with community services and patient’s GP.

Main duties of the job

To deliver specialist assessment, planning and rehabilitation to a complex clinical caseload of patients who have had a stroke

To be responsible for the co-ordination and prioritisation of therapy provision across the stroke service, ensuring at all times that the team is working in a safe and sustainable way

To be responsible, for the ongoing professional development and performance of all members of the multidisciplinary team

To be responsible for the collection and analysis of data to demonstrate inputs, efficacy and outcomes

To contribute to the clinical research agenda of the stroke pathway

To ensure the competence of all members of the therapy team and support the assurance of competence within the MDT

To work in partnership with the community care services to ensure the competence of all staff working with stroke survivors

To work with other senior colleagues, as the occasion arises, in managing and developing the Oxfordshire stroke pathway

To work flexibly across the pathway to ensure that therapy resource maps to patient need, · To be responsible for own caseload of patients, working as an autonomous practitioner within an interdisciplinary team, to diagnose (where appropriate), assess, plan and implement patient specific programmes of evidence based care/rehabilitation

· To develop own knowledge and practice in specialist area of work and contribute to the development of others whilst adhering to current professional standards and using evidence based practice

· To lead and contribute to the continuous assessment of patients, including those with diverse or complex presentations, using clinical reasoning skills, standardised assessments and employing a wide range of treatment modalities

· To function effectively across a variety of environments (including the patient’s home, Nursing/residential homes, community hospital settings and the acute hospital) involving changing and demanding conditions

· To use a comprehensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients and their families/carers, including advising of the diagnosis and treatment plan, including patients who may have difficulties with understanding or communication

· To provide client centered rehabilitation programmes and establish treatment goals with patients and families

· To evaluate patient progress and review/revise treatment programmes as and when appropriate

· To gain valid informed consent and to work within the relevant legal framework with patients who lack capacity to provide informed consent

· To supervise the practice of designated registered and non-registered staff within the Stroke Therapy Team

· To delegate appropriate duties to specialist and non-specialist care and rehabilitation support workers, and follow up outcomes

· To develop comprehensive transfer of care plans, and work with relevant professionals and agencies to arrange ongoing care

· To attend clinical meetings, liaise closely, both verbally and in writing with the multidisciplinary team and patient and carers to ensure continuity and integration of patient treatment

· To participate in the clinical education and support of other members of the Stroke MDT, patients, carers, and students

· To work within the OUH Health and Safety Policies and manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and the wider MDT

· To critically examine and evaluate own clinical performance and integrate new knowledge into work practice

· To be able to manage stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner supporting other members of the MDT, patients and their families in these situations

· To develop partnership working with all relevant agencies/services/individuals in order to provide current and appropriate information to patients and support optimum management of the identified client group

· To participate in audit/review of the stroke service in order to develop best practice

· To participate in regular weekend working within the stroke pathway, including ESD and the acute stroke unit

Leadership/Management:

The therapy lead will

· Collaborate with the multi-professional team to develop a shared vision of the service.

· To provide leadership in the development of the stroke service as part of the stroke pathway

· Act as a role model and resource in expert clinical evidence based practice.

· Work collaboratively with colleagues to develop effective documentation, pathways, protocols and guidelines for care. Demonstrate a commitment to share expertise and disseminate information.

· Lead the development of the team and the service to continuously improve patient care

· Actively manage the service budget and apply detailed level of understanding of the budgetary constraints.

· Use effective change management skills to initiate and implement service and practice development, making the best use of resources to improve practice and health outcomes.

· Participate in the selection, interviewing, appraisal and professional development of team members.

· Monitor and ensure that all members of the team maintain their clinical competence.

· Ensure all members of the team have an annual appraisal and personal development plan, with appropriate aims and objectives agreed and monitored.

· Ensure all members of the team maintain their statutory and mandatory training.

· Maintain involvement and active input in multidisciplinary meetings and appropriate local bodies / forums to contribute to practice and service development.

· Monitor and manage all issues related to staff sickness, absence or performance, liaising with human resources and occupational health as necessary.

• 2 years experience at Band 6

• Stroke/neuro experience

Desirable criteria

• Experience working in community

COVID-19: The COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment , we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information at Oxfordshire County Council Website where you can also find out more about how to access vaccination., You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Name

Sarah Wheeler

Job title

Matron

Email address

sarah.wheeler@ouh.nhs.uk

Telephone number

07779677418