Job Description
To provide a specialist Physiotherapy Service to children and young people on the caseload some of whom may have complex needs.
To work as an autonomous practitioner, in collaboration with health, education staff, children/young people and their parents, to deliver integrated specialised packages of care to children with complex physical needs.
To provide support and mentoring to less experience colleagues.
To train students, other healthcare professionals and staff from other agencies who work with children with physical difficulties.
Service Description:
Solent Integrated Children’s Therapy service is for children aged 0-19 who experience challenges with Physical disability, daily functional activities, eating and drinking skills, speech, language and communication.
This is a community service delivered in children’s homes, pre-school settings, Children’s Centres, mainstream schools, special schools, and community clinics.
Physiotherapists, podiatry, Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists work together with children and their families as part of multi-agency teams with Health Care professionals across acute and community services, Education, social care colleagues and Equipment providers, to enable children achieve their therapy goals.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical and Professional
- To be an autonomous practitioner, professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your work including the assessment, diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and discharge of a caseload
- To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the children under your management, adhering to agreed departmental standards, national protocols/policies and the CSP Professional Code of Conduct and support less experienced colleagues to do likewise
- To use clinical knowledge and experience to undertake the comprehensive assessment, and differential diagnosis of children with a range of physical difficulties/multiple pathologies requiring the ability to make sound and at times complex clinical decision.
- To formulate, evaluate and review individual specialised physiotherapy management and treatment plans using clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of diagnosis and a wide range of treatment skills appropriate to children and young people with physical difficulties, working at all times inpartnership with parents, preschool/school staff, and if appropriate the children themselves
- To provide advice on specialised Physiotherapy interventions for a range of complex paediatric conditions based on theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience
- To recognise when intervention from other professionals is indicated and make appropriate referrals
- To effectively manage own caseload including responding to urgent requests/referrals, prioritising clinical work and balancing other patient related and professional activities in accordance with service standards and patient needs
- To provide advice to the LA, school staff, parents and other agencies including the voluntary sector on the development of policies and practice to facilitate physical abilities, aiming for inclusion, socialisation and the maximisation of education for all children with physical difficulties
- To maintain accurate and comprehensive case notes and records which would stand up to legal scrutiny and provide a full account of the child’s care
- To ensure that all those involved in a child’s care i.e. preschool/school staff, other professionals, parents are kept fully informed of the service provided and the progress made through the provision of information, regular and timely reports and input to the LA Annual Review process
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues in health and education to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service. This includes attending school development meetings, case conferences, annual reviews as appropriate
- To support the LA in fulfilling their statutory duty to meet the needs of each child in accordance with their Education, Health and Care plans. To provide professional advice on contentious cases, writing witness statements and attending Tribunals if required with the support and guidance of senior staff
- To demonstrate a working knowledge of legislation and guidelines pertaining to the field of physiotherapy including SEN procedures, Child Protection
- To manage conflict and potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner, dealing appropriately with grieving and at times angry parents
- To deal with initial complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation where possible, complying with the Trust Complaints Procedure at all times.
- To be able to work in a variety of environments including clinics, schools, playgroups and patients homes which will involve the necessity for on-site risk assessment and compliance with lone working guidelines
- To form productive relationships with others who may be under stress and/or having difficulty in accepting a diagnosis
- To employ appropriate strategies to manage children who may present with unpredictable and/or challenging behaviour
Communication
- To demonstrate the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information in an understandable form to children/young people, parents and other staff including imparting unwelcome news
- To enable others (e.g. parents, preschool/ school staff) to deliver effective therapy programmes by offering observation, explanation and demonstration, identifying barriers to understanding and using persuasion, negotiation and teaching skills to gain consent, cooperation and develop competence
- To advise preschools/schools and other agencies on staff training and development needs to ensure that all staff are competent to implement therapy treatment plans, understand the importance of posture and mobility in its widest context and therefore provide supportive environments
- To contribute to the production and delivery of core and specialist training to preschool/school staff, other agencies, the voluntary sector and health colleagues
- To maintain accurate and comprehensive case notes and records which would stand up to legal scrutiny and provide a full account of the child’s care
- To ensure that all those involved in a child’s care i.e. preschool/school staff, other professionals, parents are kept fully informed of the service provided and the progress made through the provision of information, regular and timely reports and input to the LA Annual Review process
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues in health and education to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary service. This includes attending school development meetings, case conferences, annual reviews as appropriate
- To support the LA in fulfilling their statutory duty to meet the needs of each child in accordance with their Education, Health and Care plans. To provide professional advice on contentious cases, writing witness statements and attending Tribunals if required with the support and guidance of senior staff
Administrative
- To share information with others, observing data protection guidelines
- To collect and provide accurate and timely activity data, information and statistics as required
Knowledge, Education and Training
- To develop competence as a recognised clinical specialist within an agreed designated area, providing advice and information to other Physiotherapists and professionals, including education staff and parents
- To provide clinical supervision and training to PT students on placement, up to and including their final year, supporting the Universities in determining fitness to practice
- To maintain own clinical professional development by keeping abreast of new trends and developments, incorporating them into working practice where possible, to ensure the continued development of professional competence/performance, and maintenance of HCPC and CSP registration. To be proactive in seeking learning opportunities both internally and externally to maintain and update knowledge and skills
- To participate in the Trust appraisal scheme, evaluating personal and service performance and agreeing on objectives which are in line with service and organisational goals
- To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training and be available for training other professionals as required
Management and Leadership
- To provide support and mentoring to less experience colleagues.
Quality and Service Improvement
- Identifies situations of clinical risk and takes appropriate action to ensure a safe environment for patients/clients/families and staff.
- Contributes to evidence-based practice in speciality areas.
- Demonstrates commitment to quality improvements, risk management and resource utilisation participating in monitoring and evaluation activities including audit and research activities
- Provides input into clinical standards/protocols and policies and undertakes clinical audits as required.
- Evaluates the effectiveness, efficiency and safety of clinical practice contributing to service improvement initiatives.
- Participates in the implementation of models of care appropriate to patient/client population needs.
- Contributes to and participates in Solent NHS policy development providing own expertise where relevant and feedback on proposed polices based on relevant experience and expertise where applicable.
- Participates in case review and debriefing activities as required.
- Participates in group/unit discussions that review current practice.
- Contributes to the development of programmes of care/care packages providing specialist advice where relevant.
- Promote patient and public involvement in activities designed to inform service improvement
- Actively participate in clinical audit and service improvement activity to improve patient care and patient outcomes (privacy, dignity and duty of candour).
- Fully adheres to the Solent NHS trust Integrated Clinical and Safeguarding Supervision policy along with Safeguarding Children and adult policies, and information sharing protocols to ensure the health and well-being of children and adults at risk.
- Familiarity with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act and maintains MCA mandatory training.
Health and Safety, Security and Equality
- Works in accordance with the relevant Health and Safety Trust policies, procedures, and guidelines.
- Contribute to development of service.
- Attends organisational mandatory training as required by the Trust and relevant to your role.
- Actively participates in and enables others to carry out risk assessments within the working environment.
- Ensures self and colleagues are trained and competent to use equipment safely.
- Ensures incident reporting is expedited promptly and appropriate action plans completed.
- Identifies potential health, safety and security issues and collaborates with others to promote and maintain an environment that supports infection prevention and control policies and procedures.
- Supports and promotes a positive approach to diversity and equality of opportunity, to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage in service delivery and employment, and to manage, support or comply through the implementation of the Solent NHS Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
- Promotes a culture which respects and values diversity, and support patients, visitors and staff in exercising their rights.
- Ensures care within areas of practice and adheres to the 5 principles of the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice (2005).
- Recognises and reports behaviour which undermines equality and diversity in accordance with organisational policies and current legislation.
Limits of Authority
- May not dismiss or suspend staff under the disciplinary procedures.
- May not take annual leave without prior agreement of the manager
General Requirements
- Ensure they and where appropriate their staff:
- adhere to trust policies and procedures at all times,
- comply with trust standing orders, standing financial instructions, policies, procedures and guidelines,
- follow any policies and procedures in relation to infection, prevention and control
- are aware of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children, and vulnerable adults, and the specific responsibilities placed on individuals who care for such clients/patients
- take all reasonable steps to manage and promote a safe and healthy working environment which is free from discrimination,
- comply with the trust policy on confidentiality, and the Data Protection Act 1998 as amended, relating to information held manually or on computerised systems,
- respect the confidentiality and privacy of clients and staff at all times,
- maintain a constant awareness of health, welfare and safety issues affecting colleagues, patients, visitors and themselves, reporting any accidents or fault in line with trust policy,
- fully participate in health and safety training,
- participate in personal training, development, appraisal, and attend all relevant training courses as required.
- comply with the professional body code of conduct
- This job description seeks to outline the key duties and responsibilities of the post; it is not a definitive document and does not form part of the main statement of Terms and Conditions. The job description will be reviewed during the annual appraisal process.
- The post holder may, with their agreement, which should not reasonably be withheld, be required to undertake other duties as required, which fall within the grading of this post, to meet the needs of this new and developing service.
- Individuals who are required to hold a professional registration in order to practice must continue to be a member of their professional body throughout the lifespan of this job description. Such individuals will be required to notify the Trust immediately if their professional body limits or changes the terms of their registration.
- This job description will be reviewed yearly as part of the annual individual appraisal, to ensure that it reflects the responsibilities of the post. No changes will be made without full consultation with the post holder.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Post: Band 6 Children’s Physiotherapist
Requirement
Where a specific requirement is identified, Solent NHS Trust will consider relevant skills and experience obtained via an alternative route (where the identified standard can be met) and/or where the standard can be met with reasonable adjustments i.e., appropriate access, equipment and/or software.
Essential
Desirable
Met
Criteria 1: Qualifications
BSC Hons Physiotherapy degree or equivalent
x
Registered member CSP
x
HCPC Registration
x
Criteria 2: Experience
Proven experience as a physiotherapist
x
Broad knowledge and experience working in specialities of neurological, respiratory and musculoskeletal
x
Experience of receiving clinical supervision
x
Experience of multi-disciplinary team work
x
Experience of clinical supervision of students / physiotherapy assistants
x
Experience of developing and delivering training
x
Experience of working in a constantly changing environment
x
Criteria 3: Skills
Demonstrates ability to be a good team member and assume leadership responsibilities
x
Excellent interpersonal skills – including observation, listening and empathy skills
x
Demonstrates excellent analytical and reflection skills
x
Ability to work sensitively with a diverse caseload
x
Efficient and dependable working practices
x
Proven skills in being flexible and adaptable to meet competing priorities
x
Excellent organisational skills
x
Self motivated, assertive, diplomatic and tactful
x
Ability to use a range of appropriate therapeutic interventions (relevant to the client group) and an ability to compare and contrast relative benefits
x
Ability to recognise when to seek advice.
x
Able to make decisions on own
x
Recognises when change is needed
x
Ability to keep accurate and legible notes
x
Competent in use of IT including Microsoft packages
x
Highly developed negotiation and problem solving skills
x
Excellent training and presentation skills, both written and verbal
x
Criteria 4: Knowledge
In-depth knowledge of national policies and procedures (relevant to the client group)
x
Sound understanding of normal child development
x
Well established knowledge of a broad range of assessment tools relevant to children
x
Knowledge of a broad range of children’s complex disorders and disabilities
x
Knowledge of trends/best practice within paediatric Physio
x
Understand clinical governance and its implications for services including experience of quality issues and audit
x
Membership of relevant Special Interest Groups
x
Understanding of infection control procedures
x
Understanding of personal health and safety responsibilities
x
Good understanding of the meaning of clinical supervision/mentoring
x
Understanding of the meaning of Improving Working Lives
x
Criteria 5: Equality
An understanding of the principles of equal opportunities as it relates to staff and patients and able to demonstrate personal commitment to challenging discrimination and promoting equalities An understanding of equality within the workforce and how it can impact on this post.
x
Criteria 6: Other
Is able to work legally in the UK
x
Is able to work with children and vulnerable adults
x
Ability to travel daily for meetings across a range of sites in Southampton/Portsmouth/Hampshire.
x
For posts which require a professional registration, postholders hold a valid up to date registration with their professional body.
x
For posts where postholders are required to drive as part of their role they hold a valid full driving licence which enables them to drive in the UK
x
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent
Salary: £33,706.00-£40,588.00 per year
Benefits:
Schedule:
- Day shift
- Flexitime
- Monday to Friday
Application question(s):
- Do you have experience of working with children and young people as a professional?
Licence/Certification:
Work Location: One location
Reference ID: 449-Team3-1077
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