Specialist Physiotherapist in Welwyn Garden City

If you are an energetic and motivated Physiotherapist with a commitment to excellence in clinical practice and successful outcomes looking to work in a brand new service, then this role will appeal to you. The postholder will provide assessment and specialist physiotherapy for individuals with eating disorders across the east of England.

Main duties of the job:

• To work clinically as part of the A-EDIT eating disorder team.
• To assess and provide specialist physiotherapy treatment for individuals with eating disorders, with a variety of complex physical and mental health needs.
• To identify patient needs, agree goals, and provide appropriate physiotherapy interventions as part of exercise pathway.
• To formulate and support the delivery of physiotherapy led groups as part of the exercise treatment pathway, in the form of both practical, and psycho-education based groups.
• To provide specialist physiotherapy advice to other health professionals, carers and other agencies, within and outside the team.
• To contribute to the review and development of service delivery.
• To reassess care as treatment progresses and alter treatment programmes using knowledge and skills underpinned by clinical experience and best practice.
• Be able to motivate and encourage behavioural change as part of the treatment pathway, and work towards treatment goals.

Working for our organisation:

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high-quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life. Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

Please note for this role you will be required to travel independently around the county meeting strict time deadlines. You will need to hold a full UK driving licence and have use of a vehicle. You cannot use public transport for this role as this is not a reliable form of transport and will not allow you to meet service needs. Please confirm in your application that you meet the specified criteria.

To keep the patients at the centre of care, support a holistic approach, and collaborating in decision making. Provide support and education to peers, new staff, non-registered staff, and students. To work to standards set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and national guidelines. To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own and delegated work. To be responsible for managing a designated physiotherapy caseload and to organise this efficiently and effectively, about clinical priorities, use of time, clinical skills.

To undertake a comprehensive, specialist assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation of physical and mental health conditions, using investigative and analytical skills. To provide advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals, to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy interventions and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.

To provide specialist advice to physiotherapy and other colleagues in the multi-disciplinary team, regarding the management of dysfunctional exercise in eating disorders. To gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment and support assistant staff to do likewise.

Person specification:

Education / Qualifications:

• BSc, MSc or Diploma entry level qualification into the physiotherapy profession
• Current HCPC registration and CSP membership
• Documented evidence of own continuing professional development and its application
• Evidence of additional CPD activities related to motivational interviewing/CBT approaches
• Evidence CPD activities related to eating disorders
• Member of the specialist interest group ‘Chartered Physiotherapists in Mental Health’

Experience:

• Experience of working with patients with mental health conditions, including complex eating disorders
• Broad range of experience in the core areas of physiotherapy
• Experience in delivering physiotherapy led groups
• Experience in supervision and appraisal processes
• Evidence of working with a multi-professional and interagency approach
• Experience of supervising and training physiotherapy students
• Lived experience of mental health issues
• Experience of working virtually with patients, in both 1:1 and group delivery

Knowledge & Skills:

• Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality care and service provisions
• Advanced communication skills, proficient in IT systems
• Support other professional staff, Seeks and uses professional support appropriately
• Time management and prioritisation skills
• Good understanding of clinical supervision, recognises the limits of own authority within the role
• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others
• Demonstrates professional curiosity and understands confidentiality

Personal Qualities:

• Be able to integrate easily into a team
• Understand and commit to equal opportunities and challenges relating to people who use mental health services
• Communicate effectively patience, empathy and show sensitivity for the client/patient group
• Demonstrates empathy for the concerns of others
• Listens to and understands directly and indirectly expressed feelings
• Recognise peoples’ right to privacy and dignity, treating every person with respect
• Able to balance work and home life and employ strategies to manage own stress

Other:

• Knowledge of NICE guidance and other National guidance relevant to safe care and delivery in an eating disorder setting
• Knowledge of Mental Health Act
• Ability to travel to other sites within a timely manner

You must have appropriate UK professional registration. This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.