Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

TITLE OF POST: Physiotherapist

LOCATION: Your base of work will be at the hospice in North Anston, however it is also be expected that you will work in the community and in other locations in order to meet the needs of the service

REPORTABLE TO: Head of Care

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Care Services Director

JOB PURPOSE: To work autonomously as a Children's Physiotherapist to ensure a high standard of therapeutic care for children and young people with life limiting/life threatening conditions. This will include delivery of clinical duties alongside developing the physiotherapy service offer at Bluebell wood Hospice.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

CLINICAL:

• To support the high standard of holistic therapeutic care to children and young people with life limiting/life threatening conditions and their families within Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice and the community.
• To be competent to plan and deliver hydrotherapy sessions for children with a wide variety of needs and different therapeutic goals.
• To work closely with professionals outside of Bluebell Wood to deliver co-ordinated therapeutic care and advice, respecting professional boundaries and delivering care to enhance and support statutory provision.
• To maintain and develop excellent channels of communication with other professionals across organisational boundaries.
• To Work effectively with different therapy professionals within Bluebell wood to plan, deliver and develop therapeutic group work to children of different ages.
• To be able to evaluate and assess a childs postural needs and take the lead on delivering 24-hour postural care for children during their visits to Bluebell wood to protect body shape and enhance comfort.
• To carry out and assess physiotherapy needs of children and young people under the care of Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice as requested by family, care staff or as indicated to meet the needs of the child/young person To be able to deliver therapeutic respiratory techniques, as required to support comfort.
• To complete risk assessments for children/young people accessing Bluebell Woods services and provide support and advice on therapeutic handling for the children who access our services
• To produce clear goal focused therapy programmes, where appropriate, and share with all relevant parties.
• To work with staff providing day care/short break services and take the lead in ensuring that staff within Bluebell wood, know how to competently support the Physiotherapy needs of the children and young people attending the sessions.
• Establish effective working relationships with children, young people, and their families. Always displaying empathy and understanding when communicating complex information and be able to adapt styles of communication where there may be barriers to understanding.
• To act as an advocate for children/young people and their families with regards to ethical issues, choice and support their decisions.
• To use electronic patient records effectively to record and communicate episodes of care.
• To facilitate safe and effective care in respect to moving and handling.
• Represent Bluebell Wood at external multi-disciplinary meetings presenting the needs of the child/young person and the service professionally and effectively.
• Promote working relationships within Bluebell Wood and with service users and families, and other professionals
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service including working x1 Saturday per month.

LEADERSHIP

• To support the ongoing development and provision of Physiotherapy Services in line with hospices strategy and vision.
• Share good practice to improve standards and consistency of care.
• To keep up to date with ongoing developments in evidence-based practice for physiotherapy and reflect this in practice.
• To work with our moving and handling advisors to; monitor, research and advise on moving and handling and postural equipment needs of the hospice e.g. slings, specialist seating and postural support systems
• To evaluate and develop the physiotherapy service delivered at the hospice

TEACHING:

• Participate in formal and informal education within and outside Bluebell Wood.
• Provide educational input for students and others.
• To provide training for staff and carers as required.
• To act as a health educator and promotor in practice.
• To promote good practice through the enhancement of skills and knowledge.

GOVERNANCE:

• To welcome and respect diversity and contribute positively to anti-discriminatory practice and actively promote equality and diversity.
• Ensure a consistent approach to all aspects of care delivery by following protocols and prescribed care and recommend changes to advance practice.
• Report all incidents/accidents and near misses in line with reporting procedures to facilitate opportunities to advance practice.
• Actively contribute to employee consultation around policy and procedure development and highlight any areas of concern or suggestions for improvement.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPEMENT:

• Proactively seek and take responsibility for continuing professional development and routinely undertake clinical supervision according to policy guidance.
• Proactively seek opportunities to share skills and expertise and learn from the wider team.
• Successfully complete required competences as defined by Bluebell Wood.
• Use appraisal constructively for personal and professional development.

SAFEGUARDING

• Maintain high standards of support at all times adhering to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults, record keeping, information sharing, health and safety and all related policies and procedures.
• Have up to date knowledge of safeguarding procedures and support referral processes.
• To participate in safeguarding supervision.
• GENERAL

• All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:
• Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act
• Adhere to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults.
• Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas.
• Work within Hospice policies and procedures
• Demonstratable understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR.
• Comply with the Hospice no smoking policy.
• Participate in and contribute to team meetings.
• Co-operate and liaise with colleagues.
• Behave in a professional manner at all times.
• Act as an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to always work in the best interests of the charity.

All Bluebell Wood employees are expected to:

• Demonstrate a commitment to their own development and to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence.
• Support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.
• Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.

This job description is not exhaustive. It will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post-holder and employer.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with Children and young people in palliative care or complex health needs
• Experience of respiratory Physiotherapy

Desirable

• Experience of working within the community setting
• Experience of working with Children who have palliative care needs
• Experience of service development planning

Other

Essential

• Legally entitled to work in this country
• Ability to travel regionally to meet the needs of the service
• Full driving licence with access to a reliable vehicle and business insurance cover

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree / diploma in Physiotherapy
• Current registration with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Heath Care Professions Council
• Evidence of recent professional development

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with relevant professionals inside and outside of BBW
• Effective communication skills with people of all ages
• Ability to complete postural assessments for children with complex body shape and lead on postural management advice for children at BBW
• Devising and delivering training sessions to in house and external staff
• Highly developed therapeutic handling skills
• Ability to act as an advocate for children and their families
• Able to provide and evaluate care according to a complex care plan.
• Able to maintain professional boundaries.
• Ability to recognise own learning needs

Desirable

• Ability to test temperature and chlorine content of the hydrotherapy pool
• Be an accredited placement educator
• Awareness of the ethical dilemmas in palliative care.
• Competence in Microsoft Office packages including MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Confident and assertive
• Flexible and be able to manage change
• Cheerful and positive outlook and attitude
• Team player
• Resilient and able to seek support as needed

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).