Senior Physiotherapist - Specialist Physiotherapist (XR06) in Leeds

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a dedicated and enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join our Band 6 Musculoskeletal Inpatients/Outpatients Team. Musculoskeletal Inpatients and Outpatients cover a variety of specialties. Inpatient areas include Vascular, Trauma & Orthopaedics, Elective Orthopaedics, Major Trauma, Plastic Surgery and Spines. Outpatient rotations cover mixed MSK Outpatients, Rheumatology, Long Term MSK Conditions, Hands and Plastics and Pelvic Health. You will have the opportunity to work closely with the clinical specialists, community services and the MDT to achieve high quality care and positive outcomes for these patient groups. Rotations are usually 12 months and are a combination of the rotations listed above. A part of a friendly and supportive team, you will benefit from a wide range of learning opportunities to help advance your musculoskeletal skills. Close links with the MDT provides the opportunity to be involved with research and service development. You will be involved in inspiring the next generation through delivering education and supervision to less experienced members of the team.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate post graduate experience and clinical knowledge of the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions in a variety of settings. They will be required to demonstrate an ability to work both as an autonomous practitioner, and also as part of the multidisciplinary team. The rotations are based at Leeds General Infirmary, St James Hospital and Chapel Allerton Hospital but the post holder would be expected to work flexibly as required by service need. You must have excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate not only patients but staff. You must be organised, flexible and able to empower others.

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE To perform physiotherapeutic assessment of patient with diverse presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions, to provide a diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme. The post-holder will participate in the senior rotational scheme which involves working across a range of settings. To be responsible for their own continuing professional and personal development.

JOB DIMENSIONS Hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working without direct supervision. Access to advice and support from a senior physiotherapist is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated. Undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner within this specialist field.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

• Qualifications: Degree or equivalent
• Experience: Significant experience working as a physiotherapist Working with a wide range of professionals including medical, nursing and therapy colleagues
• Skills: Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing Ability to prioritise, organise and allocate workload
• Knowledge: Insight into clinical speciality e.g. through academic study at postgraduate level Graduate level or equivalent Insight into current professional issues and those influencing the NHS standards of professional practice
• Personal Attributes: Professional and patient focused Ability to work independently and as part of a team Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking Good interpersonal skills

Core behaviours and skills

• Teaching skills with the ability to use various media
• Communication skills
• Team player
• Professional

Core knowledge and understanding

• An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of this specialist area
• To have a working knowledge of Professional Standards set by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Health Professions Council and National Standards e.g. NSFs

Principal duties & areas of responsibility

Clinical Accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and organise this effectively and efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time. Demonstrate dexterity, co‑ordination and palpatory skills in the assessment and manual treatment of patients. Develop and deliver the physiotherapy element of the rehabilitation programme and occasionally deliver some elements normally undertaken by nursing or occupational therapy colleagues. Use a range of verbal and non‑verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients and/or carers on a daily basis. Formulate and deliver physiotherapy treatment programmes based on evidence‑based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment options such as manual physiotherapy techniques, patient education, exercise classes, electrotherapy techniques and other alternative options. Represent the physiotherapy service at multidisciplinary team meetings and support the delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service.

Education and Training Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy. Be an active member of the in‑service training programme by attendance at, and participation in tutorials, individual training sessions, external courses, peer review and reflective practice. Contribute to the teaching of student physiotherapists to graduate level on physiotherapeutic skills and knowledge within core clinical areas. Teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of junior physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistant staff. Provide daily support, guidance and training to junior physiotherapist, support workers and students, assessing evaluating and ensuring competence.

Professional and Managerial Maintain and develop current knowledge of evidence based practice in the areas of each rotation. Ensure policy and service development changes are implemented appropriately. Maintain own competency to practice through continued professional development activities. Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to ensure delivery of a coordinated multidisciplinary service. Participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraiser and be responsible for complying with agreed personal development programmes. Undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through evidence‑based projects, audit and outcome measures. Demonstrate an understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work situations.

Organisational Plan and organise efficiently and effectively with regard to patient management and use of time. Decide priorities for workload, balancing other patient related demands. Ensure safe and competent use of individually prescribed equipment and general therapy equipment through teaching and supervision of practice. Maintain accurate comprehensive and up‑to‑date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines. Assist in the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department. Be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement policies as required to improve safety. Comply with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in reviewing as appropriate.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent. Health Professions Council Registration. CSP member. Relevant validated clinical courses.
• Skills & behaviours: Professional and hardworking with a positive attitude. Able to work flexibly responding to the needs of the service. Self‑motivated and able to work unsupervised. Make sound judgments and reliable decisions in a variety of demanding situations. Able to seek guidance and assistance when required and to be aware of personal limitations. Able to empathise and handle difficult or emotional situations, using judgment to determine optimal intervention.
• Additional Requirements: Use transferable skills to ensure effective patient care. Contribute to effective team working including prioritisation, organisation of self and others and delegation of workload with good time‑keeping. Good clear written, verbal and interpersonal skills. Ability to cope working in a stressful environment including the ability to convey information on a daily basis regarding poor prognosis for rehabilitation. Able to deal with emotional or aggressive situations.
• Experience: Post‑graduate clinical experience including relevant core and specialist rotations. Post‑graduate clinical experience including both adult musculoskeletal inpatient and outpatient areas. Proven relevant clinical experience in the management of respiratory conditions and ability to participate in the relevant weekend rota and/or on‑call rota. Knowledge and experience in a range of approaches to the management of musculoskeletal patients. Rotational experience at junior level within an NHS setting or equivalent. Experience of clinical education of less experienced staff, students or assistants with development of basic supervision skills. Working knowledge of audit/research within physiotherapy or as part of the MDT. Involvement in audit and an understanding of research and quality issues.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.