Specialised Physiotherapist Community Stroke Team

Job responsibilities

To work as a 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 a knowledge of the full range of disability equipment and adaptations available to the patient group.

To advise other less qualified physiotherapists, rehabilitation 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 referral letters/cards on request in a variety of formats, using IT on a timely basis.

To refer patients for assessment and treatment by other agencies e.g. other therapies, orthotics as appropriate

To take a role in the specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients who may have complex presentation, to determine the physiotherapeutic 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 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 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 run the stroke specific exercise group in times of team lead absence 7-Day working on a roster basis. Liaise with team lead to maintain appropriate 7 day clinical cover. The post holder must have the ability to travel across Northamptonshire Physical effort required daily

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 and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy/ HCPC guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and policies, and monitor own and less qualified others quality of practice as appropriate.

Manage complaints as a first point of contact for the Trust. To assist the Physiotherapy team lead to supervise and coordinate the staffing of the team ensuring adequate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained.

To provide support, teaching, supervision and problem-solving to more junior physiotherapists 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 appropriate members of speciality team as delegated by Physiotherapy Team Lead.

To regularly and effectively communicate with band 7 team lead.

To communicate 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 in the home.

To ensure all more junior 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 assist team lead to provide education on all aspects of physiotherapy 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 assist team lead in producing working guidelines, competencies and objectives to develop the service.

To identify organisational changes within NGH and external influences which will effect NGH stroke services and act accordingly.

To record information that has been personally generated following assessment and treatments.

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.

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.

Other Information:

The postholder may be required to carry out other relevant duties as required.

The postholder will adhere to the duties specified under the Staff Responsibilities of the NHS Constitution in their day to day work and behaviours.

The postholder will be expected to aspire to the Values of the Trust in their day to day work and behaviours in order to support the Trust in achieving its Vision.

The postholder will adhere to, at all times, any Professional, NHS Code of Conducts and legislation relevant for their area of work.

The postholder will make themselves familiar with, and adhere to, at all times, the policies and procedures of the Trust, and their area of work.

The postholder will be expected to work to any Corporate/Division/Directorate/Department objectives and standards in order to provide an acceptable level of service.

The postholder will be expected to undertake training, including mandatory and role specific training, relevant to their role and ensure it is renewed as required.

Educations, Training and Qualifications

Essential

• BSc Honours or equivalent in Physiotherapy.
• Health Professions Council Registration.
• Evidence of stroke related continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Evidence of involvement in audit and promotion of evidence based practice.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Long term stroke management at band 5 level or above.
• Training other staff.
• Inter-professional team working.
• Recent experience working in the NHS.
• Experience of Audit

Desirable

• Experience of, or participation in, service development.
• Experience managing community based treatment.
• Experience of mentoring students.
• Involvement in innovative practice.

Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of stroke and the long term effects .
• Knowledge of current issues within NHS, clinical governance and profession .
• Knowledge of current issues within stroke care locally and nationally .
• Evidence of good management and liaison skills; excellent communication skills - written, listening and verbal.
• Ability to use IT skills required for recording input and producing patient related data .

Desirable

• Ability to use National guidelines to inform practice.
• University modules, post graduate learning, recent courses in stroke rehabilitation.

Key Competencies, Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Work flexibly.
• Motivate patients and colleagues
• Empathise and understand the needs of a diverse client group.
• Appreciate the dynamics of working within a team.
• Physical and mental effort e.g. moving patients and equipment/ concentration
• Emotional effort e.g. distressing or traumatic circumstances.
• Ability to lone work in the community setting.
• Car driver with access to vehicle during working hours, appropriate driving license and car insurance.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).