Job summary
Highly Specialised Physiotherapist - Community Stroke Team
Northampton General Hospital has a dynamic and highly rated stroke service and is one of the designated centres in the East Midlands to provide hyper-acute care. Northamptonshire Community Stroke team (N-CST) is a regionally and nationally acclaimed part of this service. N-CST has been described as an exemplar team and we are one of the three teams currently delivering the NHS England Stroke Rehabilitation Pilots.
You will have the ability to work on your own initiative and on your own in patient's homes, yet thrive on working as a valued member of a multi-disciplinary team. You will possess excellent interpersonal skills and approach your work with energy and enthusiasm. Excellent communication skills and motivation to make a positive change to the quality of life of our local stroke survivors and support your HR team are essential. Experience of delegating programmes to and training support staff will be valuable as will previous community experience.
We provide a countywide seven day service. Due to the community nature of this work being a car user and driver is required.
It is highly advised that you contact Leanna Luxton on 07429080087 or email leanna.luxton@nhs.net for further information and a discussion regarding the role and the future direction of the team.
Main duties of the job
- Responsible for overseeing, providing and co-ordinating Physiotherapy assessment and treatment for all stroke patients in N-CST.
- Responsible with the MDT for managing and co-ordinating treatment and care input for all patients on the caseload in conjunction with the patient, family and carers within the patient's own home or place of care.
- Supervise, appraise and develop band 6 and 5 physiotherapist, band 4 and 3 staff and student PTs in the team.
- Support band 7 and 8 staff in managing and planning the community stroke rehabilitation services, deputising for team lead as required
About us
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All of our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered into a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds.This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Patient Excellence
- To work as a highly specialist autonomous practitioner.
- To identify, select and implement, with the patient and their carers, the most appropriate intervention options which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, patient choice, independence, areas of conflict and availability for services.
- To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of stroke and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the patients physical and social environment.
- To share records and information with patients, carers and MDT and store securely in an accessible location.
- To generate handouts/information booklets/exercise programmes for supplying to patients, carers and MDT using electronic/IT and software.
- To utilise an established knowledge of the full range of disability equipment and adaptations available to the patient group.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out Physiotherapy duties and to adhere to dept policy including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To advise patients, their family and carers-teaching and demonstrating the safe use of equipment and other techniques to optimise the patients functional ability and independence
- To advise patients on purchase and provision of necessary equipment that cannot be supplied.
- To advise specialist PT, other PTs, generic assistants, carers and MDT in the selection of appropriate aids/methods of treatment to promote patient care and independence.
- To participate in and where indicated, initiate multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure co-ordination of patient care. This will include the review of patient progress and discharge planning and close working relationships with other health and care sectors.
- To generate reports/discharge documents, including referrals on request in a variety of formats, using IT on a timely basis and demonstrate ability requirements to specialist team.
- To refer patients for assessment and treatment by other agencies e.g other therapies, orthotics as appropriate
- To take a lead role in the highly specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients who may have complex presentation, to determine the occupational therapy interventions indicated to provide the best outcome for the individual using evidence-based practice and establish clinical reasoning and knowledge where recommendations may not agree.
- To utilise and further develop highly specialised skills for stroke including therapeutic handling (e.g ability to move complex patients from bed to chair).
- To undertake environmental and manual handling risk assessments in the community/rehabilitation environment and advise as appropriate
- To use expert clinical reasoning skills frequently with no access to other colleagues.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies to promote understanding of the aims of therapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme
- To take into account the psychological, social and leisure needs as well as medical aspects of the patients situation considering the functional impact of stroke on everyday life.
- To utilise high levels of negotiation and reasoning with patients and their families and carers on a daily basis including possible unpredictable and volatile response to discussions about long term effects of stroke and discharge from service.
- The post holder must have the ability to travel across Northamptonshire
- 7-Day working on a roster basis. Liaise with team lead to maintain appropriate 7 day clinical cover.
- Physical effort required daily
Supporting Clinical Excellence
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through the effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal, using reflection and analysis to inform practice and identify training needs.
- To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives (Knowledge and Skills Framework) and Chartered Society of Occupational Therapy/ HPC guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and policies, and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
- Lead a small team of physiotherapy staff. Be the initial point of contact for managing or resolving minor or day to day difficulties or disputes amongst staff or general employment problems of staff within the team/service. Manage complaints as a first point of contact for the Trust. To supervise and co ordinate the staffing of the team ensuring adequate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained. Monitor and act on sick leave, annual leave and other staffing issues
- To provide a high standard of support, teaching, supervision and problem-solving to specialist physiotherapists, PTs and rehab assistants within the team as well as to physiotherapists in other specialities and all therapists, carers and staff within the MDT.
- To carry out appraisals, IPRs and learning contracts for members of speciality team.
- To regularly and effectively communicate with band 8 team lead.
People/Management Excellence
- To communication sensitively and effectively in all situations and with all people.
- To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia and fear or inability to accept diagnosis and implications.
- To engage the patient and relatives and carers where appropriate, in the planning and agreement of a treatment programme to maximise rehabilitation potential.
- To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the nature of the condition/prognosis and the aims of therapy intervention and long term management of stroke
- To ensure all team members maintain timely written records including realistic goal setting and activity data in accordance with professional and Trust standards.
- To undertake ongoing measurement and evaluation including audit, uni professional and team outcome measurement and integration of evidence based practice and research into clinical practice.
- To liaise with tertiary education establishments to aid student placements
- To provide education on all aspects of PT care to other members of the MDT to further their professional development and improve patient care.
- To use information such as Clinical Governance, NICE and other stroke guidelines and evidence of best practice to produce working guidelines, competencies and objectives et cetera and to develop the service.
- To identify organisational changes within NGH, the SHA or NHS which will effect NGH stroke services and act accordingly.
- To record information that has been personally generated following assessment and treatments.
- To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within stroke, leading on delegated projects, in liaison with the team lead.
- Maintain and monitor standards on health and safety, consent, note keeping, clinical governance, continuous professional development on both a personal and departmental level. Complete all work necessary to maintain registration and encourage others to do so.
- Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide patient care and participate in risk assessment, maintenance and training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Supporting Patient Excellence
- To work as a highly specialist autonomous practitioner.
- To identify, select and implement, with the patient and their carers, the most appropriate intervention options which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, patient choice, independence, areas of conflict and availability for services.
- To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of stroke and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the patients physical and social environment.
- To share records and information with patients, carers and MDT and store securely in an accessible location.
- To generate handouts/information booklets/exercise programmes for supplying to patients, carers and MDT using electronic/IT and software.
- To utilise an established knowledge of the full range of disability equipment and adaptations available to the patient group.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out Physiotherapy duties and to adhere to dept policy including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To advise patients, their family and carers-teaching and demonstrating the safe use of equipment and other techniques to optimise the patients functional ability and independence
- To advise patients on purchase and provision of necessary equipment that cannot be supplied.
- To advise specialist PT, other PTs, generic assistants, carers and MDT in the selection of appropriate aids/methods of treatment to promote patient care and independence.
- To participate in and where indicated, initiate multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure co-ordination of patient care. This will include the review of patient progress and discharge planning and close working relationships with other health and care sectors.
- To generate reports/discharge documents, including referrals on request in a variety of formats, using IT on a timely basis and demonstrate ability requirements to specialist team.
- To refer patients for assessment and treatment by other agencies e.g other therapies, orthotics as appropriate
- To take a lead role in the highly specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients who may have complex presentation, to determine the occupational therapy interventions indicated to provide the best outcome for the individual using evidence-based practice and establish clinical reasoning and knowledge where recommendations may not agree.
- To utilise and further develop highly specialised skills for stroke including therapeutic handling (e.g ability to move complex patients from bed to chair).
- To undertake environmental and manual handling risk assessments in the community/rehabilitation environment and advise as appropriate
- To use expert clinical reasoning skills frequently with no access to other colleagues.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies to promote understanding of the aims of therapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme
- To take into account the psychological, social and leisure needs as well as medical aspects of the patients situation considering the functional impact of stroke on everyday life.
- To utilise high levels of negotiation and reasoning with patients and their families and carers on a daily basis including possible unpredictable and volatile response to discussions about long term effects of stroke and discharge from service.
- The post holder must have the ability to travel across Northamptonshire
- 7-Day working on a roster basis. Liaise with team lead to maintain appropriate 7 day clinical cover.
- Physical effort required daily
Supporting Clinical Excellence
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through the effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal, using reflection and analysis to inform practice and identify training needs.
- To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives (Knowledge and Skills Framework) and Chartered Society of Occupational Therapy/ HPC guidelines and to have good working knowledge of national and local standards and policies, and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.
- Lead a small team of physiotherapy staff. Be the initial point of contact for managing or resolving minor or day to day difficulties or disputes amongst staff or general employment problems of staff within the team/service. Manage complaints as a first point of contact for the Trust. To supervise and co ordinate the staffing of the team ensuring adequate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained. Monitor and act on sick leave, annual leave and other staffing issues
- To provide a high standard of support, teaching, supervision and problem-solving to specialist physiotherapists, PTs and rehab assistants within the team as well as to physiotherapists in other specialities and all therapists, carers and staff within the MDT.
- To carry out appraisals, IPRs and learning contracts for members of speciality team.
- To regularly and effectively communicate with band 8 team lead.
People/Management Excellence
- To communication sensitively and effectively in all situations and with all people.
- To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia and fear or inability to accept diagnosis and implications.
- To engage the patient and relatives and carers where appropriate, in the planning and agreement of a treatment programme to maximise rehabilitation potential.
- To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the nature of the condition/prognosis and the aims of therapy intervention and long term management of stroke
- To ensure all team members maintain timely written records including realistic goal setting and activity data in accordance with professional and Trust standards.
- To undertake ongoing measurement and evaluation including audit, uni professional and team outcome measurement and integration of evidence based practice and research into clinical practice.
- To liaise with tertiary education establishments to aid student placements
- To provide education on all aspects of PT care to other members of the MDT to further their professional development and improve patient care.
- To use information such as Clinical Governance, NICE and other stroke guidelines and evidence of best practice to produce working guidelines, competencies and objectives et cetera and to develop the service.
- To identify organisational changes within NGH, the SHA or NHS which will effect NGH stroke services and act accordingly.
- To record information that has been personally generated following assessment and treatments.
- To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within stroke, leading on delegated projects, in liaison with the team lead.
- Maintain and monitor standards on health and safety, consent, note keeping, clinical governance, continuous professional development on both a personal and departmental level. Complete all work necessary to maintain registration and encourage others to do so.
- Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide patient care and participate in risk assessment, maintenance and training.
Person Specification
Clinical Skills and Evidence based knowldege
Essential
- Stroke specific
- Community stroke
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Evidence based knowledge of research and national guidance
Service development skills
Essential
- Change management
- Stroke specific
- rehabilitation specific
IT skills
Essential
- Microsoft skills - Word, Excel, Teams
- Use of NHS systems
- Data analysis
- Telehealth, use of apps, VR etc
Managerial skills
Essential
- Supervision and Appraisal
- Sickness Management
- NHS systems and policies
Person Specification
Clinical Skills and Evidence based knowldege
Essential
- Stroke specific
- Community stroke
- Neurological rehabilitation
- Evidence based knowledge of research and national guidance
Service development skills
Essential
- Change management
- Stroke specific
- rehabilitation specific
IT skills
Essential
- Microsoft skills - Word, Excel, Teams
- Use of NHS systems
- Data analysis
- Telehealth, use of apps, VR etc
Managerial skills
Essential
- Supervision and Appraisal
- Sickness Management
- NHS systems and policies
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
