Band 5 Rotational Physiotherapist- Royal Brompton Hospital

A Vacancy at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. The successful physiotherapist will join our multi-professional therapy teams, rotating every 6 months across: Respiratory Medicine, Intensive Care and Cardiothoracics on the Royal Brompton Site and Paediatrics (including PICU) at the Evelina Children's Hospital site at St Thomas Hospital. They will treat a variety of cardio-respiratory patients in critical care, ward, outpatient and virtual settings.

The post holder will be assessing and treating patients acutely in ICUs, post-operatively as well as those with long term conditions. You will need good organisational and communication skills, and the ability to work as a member of a team. There is regular supervision, training and support from highly skilled senior physiotherapists and a fantastic wider MDT. There are excellent opportunities for CPD and team members are encouraged to attend and present at national and international conferences. This is a great opportunity for a physiotherapist who is enthusiastic and interested in developing their expertise in cardiorespiratory care.

To participate in the Band 5 rotational scheme which involves working across the Trust in a range of critical care, ward settings and out-patient clinics. To provide a specialist physiotherapy service in respiratory medicine, cardiothoracic surgery/cardiology services, paediatric cardiorespiratory and surgical services. To independently perform physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations to provide a diagnosis and deliver an individualised treatment programme.

To manage own patient caseload and be responsible for a defined area of service or a particular patient type, working with direct supervision. Supervise, educate and assess the performance of physiotherapy students; this would be to a graduate standard and involve working with Universities to ensure standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by degree level qualification. Supervise, educate and assess the performance of therapy assistants.

Undertake evidence-based audit, formulate guidelines and research projects under the supervision of direct line manager to further own and department clinical practice within each rotation. To use evidence based principles/current best practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. To be an active member of the on-call and weekend rosters. To consolidate and develop knowledge and skills through participation in continuous professional development (CPD). Staff are required to work at other sites within the organisation.

Patient/customer care (both direct and indirect) To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your work, including the management of patients in your care. To be able to carry out and prioritise daily your own designated clinical caseload, working as an autonomous practitioner, with regular supervision from your supervisor. Using clinical reasoning skills be able to undertake competent physiotherapy assessments of your patients in line with department and professional standards to form diagnoses and/or establish impairments or disabilities.

To use a range of appropriate and effective assessment and manual treatment techniques including subjective and observational analysis and therapeutic handling skills. To use problem orientated medical records (POMR) to aid the clinical reasoning process in the assessment and treatment of patients. To use good communication skills to identify physiotherapy goals with individual patients. To use clinical reasoning, understanding of the medical diagnosis and knowledge of treatment options to plan and implement individual physiotherapy programs.

To make competent use of treatment options such as advice, exercise prescription, respiratory retraining techniques, manual techniques and provision of appropriate therapeutic adjuncts, aids and equipment. To monitor and evaluate treatment to measure progress and to ensure the effectiveness of the intervention. To be able to identify problems and modify treatments in routine cases but with support of senior in more complex cases.

To assist in the treatment of critically ill and high dependency patients with the supervision of senior staff, in intensive care, recovery and high dependency wards until able to take autonomous responsibility for patients in these areas, except for the complex cases. This may involve stressful or upsetting circumstances. To determine the patients understanding of the physiotherapy intervention in order to gain valid, informed consent and to be able to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be an active member of the evening, weekend and on call rota undertaking assessment and treatment of acutely ill respiratory patients who have complex medical problems. To be able to provide advice regarding the patient’s condition to other members of the MDT involved in their care. To work without supervision and support when on call except for a senior member of the physiotherapy team within telephone contact.

To provide informal support and counselling to patients and their families following guidelines from senior staff. To provide comprehensive written/computer records of assessment and treatment according to department standards. To receive training in hoisting and other manual handling techniques to allow the transfer of patients from bed to chair.

To undertake an evidence-based project within each rotation and propose improvements to service delivery and clinical practice within that area. To assist in updating department guidelines in conjunction with senior colleagues. To comply with Trust clinical guidelines and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) codes of professional conduct at all times.

To be responsible for personal Continued Professional Development (CPD) by the use of self education, reflective practice and active participation in the in-service training programme and to maintain a CPD portfolio in accordance with Health Professions Council (HPC) standards. To be involved in the education of therapy assistants and peers with the support of a senior physiotherapist. To participate in the appraisal system as appraisee during each rotation and be responsible for fulfilling agreed objectives and personal development plan.

To attend mandatory training, manual handling, health and safety, basic life support, infection control as specified in Trust and departmental policies. To abide by the Trust’s core behaviours for staff and all other Trust policies including standing financial instructions, research governance, clinical governance, patient and public involvement, codes and practices, and health and safety policies. Be an active member of the physiotherapy department. Be an active member of the Rehabilitation and Therapies Directorate.

To supervise the physiotherapy assistant and assist student physiotherapists where appropriate. To make appropriate referrals to other physiotherapists and other members of the multidisciplinary team when required.

Communication To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools when communicating with patients/carers to make the most of the patient’s rehabilitation potential. This will include communication with people with complex communication difficulties such as dysphasia, deafness or speak English as a second language or who have difficulty accepting their diagnosis.

To attend multidisciplinary meetings such as case conferences, ward rounds and discharge planning meetings to communicate information about individual patient progress and to assist the multidisciplinary decision making, e.g. regarding discharge plans. To maintain a close liaison with the superintendent physiotherapist and senior staff on all matters and to maintain close working relationships with other disciplines within the hospital.

To talk to relevant medical staff, nursing staff, social workers and other health care professionals who may be in direct contact with the post holder with regard to patient care. To meet with other physiotherapists as necessary to discuss patient care. To attend physiotherapy/Rehabilitation & Therapy meetings as required. To contact physiotherapists outside the Trust to ensure a smooth discharge plan where appropriate.

To report all complaints and adverse clinical incidents to the immediate senior member of staff as soon as possible and document accordingly. This should help the development of clinical reasoning and coping strategies for different clinical situations. Participate in regular supervision sessions.

Resource management To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, and to adhere to departmental equipment policy, including competence to use equipment.

Information management To provide comprehensive written/computer records of assessment and treatment according to department standards. To maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system using a POMR format according to departmental standards. To keep up to date with, and provide accurate data required for collection of performance indicators and other statistical information as required, in consultation with senior staff.