Specialist Physiotherapist

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Physiotherapist to join the St Helens 2-hour UCR and Community Frailty Team. This integrated multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team will provide specialist rapid assessment and interventions to our local population of St Helens. Whilst being predominantly community based you will also work as part of a larger team in several Frailty and urgent care specialist areas.

Working in a diverse environment offers scope to build on skills across all our pathways including the community, a high paced AED setting as well as a specialist service within Bevan Court - our Frailty and Reablement Unit. Our progressive working environment will manage crisis on a daily basis, taking referrals from community, care homes and acute colleagues as well as self-referrals. Your clinical skillset will contribute to people being able to remain safely and supported in their own homes wherever possible and preventing unnecessary A&E attendances.

Our Crisis Response Service operates as a clinically led multi-disciplinary team comprising of Frailty Consultants, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists, Nurses, Social Workers and support workers. This post may be offered under Annex 21 AfC Terms & Conditions, subject to experience, competency and suitability. The service provides a 7 day, 8am-8pm, urgent and timely response to referrals. Following this, a rapid assessment and community intervention for up to 72 hours will support adults in crisis with health or social care needs at home.

You will be a champion of an integrated community care approach, a strong team player with experience of MDT working and an excellent communicator. You will be adaptable, committed, able to organise and prioritise work effectively and able to work well under pressure. You must be able to travel around various community locations delivering care. You must be motivated, enthusiastic and have proven experience of working as an autonomous practitioner. A commitment to improving the patients experience is essential.

The successful candidate should have a working knowledge and experience of community or acute services and be familiar with the patient pathways between hospital and home. You will be required to process referrals, manage a caseload independently and take responsibility for providing assessment and treatment of patients with a variety of medical conditions.

As a Trust, we are committed to continuing professional and personal development and will therefore provide support with regular supervision and training. We are keen to promote collaborative practice and to develop staff within a supportive and friendly environment. You will participate in delivering training to other staff to facilitate their development.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

• To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
• To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
• Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence-based practice and treatment options.
• Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
• To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
• To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations.

• To maintain Professional Registration.
• To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
• To be responsible for a designated area of work, as delegated by a senior clinician. Plan and organise efficiently and effectively patient/client caseload, and use of time for self and more junior staff.
• To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
• To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
• To provide specialist clinical advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas.
• To provide specialist clinical advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients.
• To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition.
• To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients/clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
• To communicate highly sensitive information effectively with all patient groups/clients/carers where there may be difficulties in accepting or understanding information.
• To maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic including potential complaints as per Trust Policy.

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
• To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies.

• To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments and incorporate them as appropriate into your work. To support junior staff to do likewise.
• To be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, and by attending external courses and being a reflective practitioner.
• To participate in the supervision scheme as supervisor and supervisee.

• To demonstrate leadership by means of: Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
• Influencing, motivating, supporting and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Therapy Team.
• To provide specialist advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment and long-term management of patients/ clients within sphere of practice.
• To deputise for the band 7 in terms of operational issues.
• To take responsibility for their own specialist and complex decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery.
• To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff.
• To participate in working parties developing policy changes within speciality which will impact on all service users.

• To adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and facilitate compliance of staff with local and national standards of practice.
• Implement policy and service development changes as directed.
• To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.
• To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures under the guidance of senior staff. Make recommendations for change and to implement change.
• To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
• To support research activity within the Service.
• To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to service to promote evidence-based practice.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to supporting and prioritising the wellbeing of our workforce through a range of dedicated services. The Trust's Health, Work and Wellbeing department offers comprehensive support, including the Wellbeing Hub, which provides 1:1 appointment, group sessions, events, and bespoke support for teams and departments. Each department has a Wellbeing Champion who actively promotes staff welfare. Wellbeing Champion organises regular Wellbeing Events, which staff are encouraged to attend. Additionally, the Trust runs a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, providing free and confidential support for any issues staff may face.

We are dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for all our colleagues, particularly in the face of challenges. We strive to maintain an open culture where staff feel comfortable seeking help and know they will be met with understanding and compassion. Colleagues have access to the resources they need, including peer support and professional services provided by the Trust. Together, we prioritise both patient care and the wellbeing of our entire workforce.