Physiotherapist

Job responsibilities

The postholder will be an integral part of the Therapy Services Team at St Leonards Hospice and a key member of the multi-disciplinary team. They will be responsible for providing person-centred, holistic rehabilitation services to palliative care patients including those with cancer, long term neurological and other progressive life threatening conditions other than cancer.

Main duties and responsibilities

Clinical

1. Provide an expert and skilled therapy service to patients under the care of the Hospice.

2. Undertake holistic, specialist assessments of patients and develop dynamic treatment plans. Implement and deliver excellent treatment to patients focussing on maximising function and engagement with their lives.

3. Act as a specialist within the Hospice for rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

4. Along with other allied health professions, develop and appropriate rehabilitation programme for patients. Identify and work with patients at as early a point as possible to maintain or develop independence in activities of daily living and routines.

5. Work as part of the MDT in meeting patients personal goals around their needs and priorities whether they are an inpatient or outpatient.

6. Work with patients in either a one to one or group setting as appropriate. Provide support, training and care.

7. Provide education and support to carers when developing discharge plans either from inpatients or outpatients. Actively involve both patient and carer in developing treatment plans around self-management.

8. Act as a source of physiotherapy clinical expertise, consultancy and advice within the MDT.

9. Regularly attend MDT meetings, family meetings and case meetings to supply specialist advice.

10. Undertake risk assessments as required within the hospice environment, the wider community and in patients homes.

11. Be responsible for the safe moving and handling of patients during mobility and transfers, including the use of equipment such as hoists.

12. Provide physiotherapy intervention in multiple settings outpatients, inpatients or community according to the need of the wider team configuration.

13. Have knowledge of how to order equipment for patient use at home.

14. Liaise regularly with the Occupational Therapist and Therapy Assistant to feedback progress or concerns regarding any aspect of clinical work.

15. Liaise regularly with members of the AHP team internally and externally to structure workload appropriately.

16. Accept responsibility for delegated departmental clinical and administrative duties.

Managerial

1. Share appropriate tasks between the Occupational Therapist and Therapy Assistant to ensure direction, guidance and management of these tasks.

2. Be involved in the supervision of physiotherapy students whilst on placement at the Hospice.

3. Keep up to date patient notes and records in accordance with Hospice policy and with CSP standards (and to keep up to date statistical records as required using the Electronic Patient Record System) as required.

4. Actively contribute to the achievement of the Hospice strategic plan in partnership with the Occupational Therapist, other AHPs and the wider team to identify opportunities for service development. Lead on the planning of future Therapy Services.

5. Place an active role in developing/ contributing, reviewing and updating policies concerning physiotherapy/ rehabilitation as requested.

Communication

1. Use formal and informal communication mechanisms to a wide variety of staff and people within and outside the hospice including both clinical and non-clinical information to ensure that effective communication is maintained between the therapy team and all other agencies (health, social care and voluntary) to enhance patient care.

2. Communicate with patients in emotionally charged situations using tact and empathy to communicate difficult and challenging information whilst encouraging client participation in therapy by using negotiation, reassurance and sympathy.

3. Promote awareness of the role of occupational therapy, physiotherapy and palliative rehabilitation at all times during one to one communication and meetings with AHP staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

Education

1. Organise and deliver teaching courses to healthcare professionals including those internal and external to the organisation, in collaboration or consultation with the Occupational Therapist and Lead Nurse for Education.

2. Provide teaching both within the departments and to the wider multidisciplinary team on issues around physiotherapy service, manual handling and more broadly into the notion of rehabilitation within palliative care.

3. Engage in evidence based practice by ensuring the most up to date and evidence based treatments and protocols are used.

4. Identify, initiate and undertake audit and research projects pertinent to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and the AHP team. Comply with all Care Quality Commission compliance requirements.

5. Be responsible for the maintenance and development of own continuing professional development. Regularly receiving supervision and actively seeking to develop skills and knowledge through reading, reflection and attending both internal and external teaching courses.

Personal

Essential

• Ability to assess the needs of individuals and groups including the whole family in order to work with then as a unit
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-professional team
• Leadership and management qualities
• Dynamic, enthusiastic and well-motivated
• Flexible, supportive, calm approach in what can be a busy environment
• Open to change and new ideas
• Excellent time management skills
• Self-directed and self-motivated

Communication

Essential

• Excellent liaison skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Experience

Essential

• Clinical experience gained across a range of clinical areas e.g. general medicine, neurology, respiratory, orthopaedic, elderly care etc.
• Experience in palliative care and/ or oncology
• Proven commitment to CPD
• Experience to deliver group based and individual physiotherapy
• Understanding of the dying process and the ability to manage the emotional impact of working with the dying and bereaved
• Understanding of loss and grief and its impact on individuals and families and their social networks
• Understanding of the importance of research, evaluation and audit
• Good organisation and administration skills

Desirable

• Experience of work within manual handling
• Experience of service development
• Experience of teaching

IT

Essential

• Good computer literacy
• Knowledge of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook)

Other

Essential

• Be prepared to assist with Hospice fundraising activities
• Driving licence as theres capacity to undertake duties in a community setting (e.g. home visits)
• Enhanced DBS Check

Qualifications

Essential

• Recognised qualification in physiotherapy (BSc/ MSc)
• Registered with the HPC
• MCSP or equivalent

Desirable

• Evidence of further study within palliative care
• Evidence of study at masters level or equivalent
• Relevant clinical education courses
• Communication skills qualification

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).