Job summary
The Myalgic Encephalopathy / Chronic Fatigue Service ( ME/CFS) is well established, delivering highly specialist care to individuals inn community and clinic settings.
We are seeking Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists with a keen interest in the field of ME/CFS who would like to develop their knowledge and skills in this area. You will work closely alongside and be supported by other Specialist staff in the team. This is a permanent post (22.5.hours) to be worked across Monday to Friday.
The post holder will work within a multi-disciplinary team to manage a defined caseload, referred by local partners. Within the multi-disciplinary team, the post holder will support the provision of high quality patient centred health care to identify, assess and treat adults with ME/CFS. The post is intended to improve outcomes for patients by delivering care closer to home, reducing avoidable admissions to hospital.
NHS experience isessential.
An Enhanced DBS with Adults' Barred List check will be obtained during pre-employment checks.
This vacancy may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Main duties of the job
- To provide a high standard of intervention to patients with ME/CFS in various settings across Ashton, Wigan and Leigh.
- To act as a source of knowledge for patients presenting with a range of conditions and provide advisory/educational service to patients, relatives, therapists, and other healthcare professionals.
- To take a role in the specialist assessment and treatment of patients who may have complex and chronic presentation, and to determine clinical diagnosis and treatment indicated.
- To manage a defined caseload using evidence based / client centred principles to access, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
- To provide leadership and clinical supervision for other junior staff as delegated by manager and/or professional supervisor. To regularly supervise junior staff members, and students on placement within the service.
- To work collaboratively within the ICS model in Wigan and liaise with professionals and voluntary agencies to optimise patient care.
About us
Choose Well - Choose WWL
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust are the proud providers of acute hospital and community services to the people of the Wigan Borough and surrounding areas. At WWL, we value our staff believing that 'happy staff, makes for happy patients'. We have a recognised track record in staff engagement and living our values 'the WWL Way'.
WWL are committed to placing the patient at the heart of everything we do, and in the provision of safe, effective care that acknowledges and ensures dignity. With this in mind we are seeking to recruit people who share our values and beliefs.
COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst COVID-19 vaccination is not a condition of employment, we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated. If you are unvaccinated there is helpful advice and information available by contacting covid-19.vaccine@wwl.nhs.uk where you can also ask about how to access vaccinations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care, and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of conditions, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive discharge plans.
- To ensure interventions take place in the most appropriate setting, e.g. hospital or clients homes.
- To work with clients and/or carers to identify goals as part of an overall care plan in cooperation with the inter-disciplinary professional team using recognised goal setting system.
- To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and long term condition management and ensure high standards of holistic clinical care.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professional, to promote understanding of the aims of intervention, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide advice and support to colleagues working within other clinical areas (outpatient department, sub-acute sites, and other in-patient specialities) regarding patients who have ME/CFS.
- To comply with the Code of Ethic and Professional Conduct, Health and Care Professions Council Guidance and National and Trust Policies and Procedures.
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of time.
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable attendance.
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
- To maintain a professional portfolio of Continuing Professional Development recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- To contribute to client related developments and activities within the multi-professional and interdisciplinary team.
- Any other duties incidental to the post.
Planning and Organisational Duties
- To plan, prepare and undertake client assessments for a designated caseload in line with professional and national standards and guidelines.
- To use clinical judgement in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinical guidelines and protocols.
- To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions in collaboration with clients using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
- To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs/pathology in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
- To be responsible for ensuring the appropriate and effective selection of treatment modalities and sites for delivery of interventions i.e. in a community or hospital setting
- To maintain accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Trust Policies Practice.
- To justify own clinical judgements when differences of opinion occur and demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work practises
- To contribute to the Trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
- To maintain timely statistics and other records as requested by the Service and the Trust.
- To monitor the quality of record keeping for support staff and students.
- To demonstrate understanding of national and local guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and their impact on service delivery.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practices, clinical pathways, and protocols within your clinical area.
- To participate in the day-to-day organisation and development of the Service.
- To participate with other team members in measurement of and evaluation of work and current practice through use of outcome measures and audit.
- To contribute to the Trusts and Teams Clinical Governance arrangements and the quality agenda.
- To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects
- To identify and implement service and practice development within own area of clinical specialism in conjunction with supervisor and/or manager.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- To demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management
- To demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, relatives, carers, team members and other agencies
- To convey information on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plans in a range of verbal and non-verbal forms that clients/relatives can understand.
- To use communication skills and aids, as part of the IDT to gain informed consent where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., challenging behaviours, impaired cognition, anxiety, dysphasia
- To assess capacity, gain valid consent and can work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Must demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management
- To be able to organise and take a lead in Multi-Disciplinary Team / Inter-disciplinary team meetings and case conferences.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs to maintain good working relationships. =
- To act as an advocate for patients needs when necessary.
- Use a variety of skills to gain consent and co-operation to treatment plans.
- To educate patients, relatives and carers in conditions and their effects to adapt to an appropriate lifestyle.
Responsibility for Finance
- To advise team leader on resources required to carry out the job.
- Be responsible for the monitoring of materials and equipment and bring defects or deficits to the attention of the team leader / clinical manager.
- To advise, assess and prescribe appropriate equipment for patient use within resources available in Health, Social Services and Education.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- To be responsible for working within locally agreed protocols and guidelines.
- To actively participate and comply with the annual PDP and appraisal system.
- To plan and implement the induction of junior staff/students.
- To receive, plan and deliver in-service training for own profession and others.
- To undertake the supervision of junior staff as delegated by senior staff.
- To regularly supervise, evaluate and assess students to include negotiating learning contracts and setting objectives.
- To contribute to development of practice/procedures etc. within the Chronic Fatigue team.
- To ensure annual retention on Health Professions Council Register to maintain state registration, taking responsibility for own continued professional development and document this evidence in a professional portfolio, showing proof of competence to practise within the NHS.
- To take responsibility for ensuring clinical supervision needs are met and personal development plans are undertaken.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
- To comply with the Trust Manual Handling and Health and Safety Policies at all times and within guidelines for therapeutic handling.
- To contribute to the Clinical Governance agenda, attending Clinical Forum, Staff meetings, Care Governance etc.
- To assess risk to ensure safety of user/carer/self and colleagues and report back to senior member of team where applicable.
- Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
- To be responsible for providing fieldwork education placements and liaising with students/college.
- To promote the service to the wider community delivering awareness training to other health professionals, schools etc. as required.
- To take part in training/education of colleagues and staff/students of other disciplines.
Work Circumstances & on-call
- To deputise for the Team Leader in terms of operational and clinical issues
- To be responsible, in conjunction with the Operational Leads and Highly Specialist therapists, for the delivery of the ME/CFS Team.
- To be responsible for clinical supervision of appropriate staff
- Part time. This role will be 22.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care, and to maintain overall accountability for delegated duties of treatment to junior staff for patients on your caseload.
- To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of conditions, to recommend the best course of intervention, and to develop comprehensive discharge plans.
- To ensure interventions take place in the most appropriate setting, e.g. hospital or clients homes.
- To work with clients and/or carers to identify goals as part of an overall care plan in cooperation with the inter-disciplinary professional team using recognised goal setting system.
- To demonstrate and apply a broad level of understanding of the effect of disability and long term condition management and ensure high standards of holistic clinical care.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professional, to promote understanding of the aims of intervention, and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide advice and support to colleagues working within other clinical areas (outpatient department, sub-acute sites, and other in-patient specialities) regarding patients who have ME/CFS.
- To comply with the Code of Ethic and Professional Conduct, Health and Care Professions Council Guidance and National and Trust Policies and Procedures.
- To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients, and to organise this effectively and efficiently regarding clinical priorities and use of time.
- To exercise good personal time management, punctuality, and consistent reliable attendance.
- To review and reflect on own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
- To maintain a professional portfolio of Continuing Professional Development recording learning outcomes through participation in internal and external development opportunities.
- To contribute to client related developments and activities within the multi-professional and interdisciplinary team.
- Any other duties incidental to the post.
Planning and Organisational Duties
- To plan, prepare and undertake client assessments for a designated caseload in line with professional and national standards and guidelines.
- To use clinical judgement in order to prioritise caseload in line with clinical guidelines and protocols.
- To plan and implement individual and/or group interventions in collaboration with clients using graded activity to achieve therapeutic goals.
- To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs/pathology in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
- To be responsible for ensuring the appropriate and effective selection of treatment modalities and sites for delivery of interventions i.e. in a community or hospital setting
- To maintain accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Trust Policies Practice.
- To justify own clinical judgements when differences of opinion occur and demonstrate a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management and apply to work practises
- To contribute to the Trusts clinical governance arrangements and quality agenda.
- To maintain timely statistics and other records as requested by the Service and the Trust.
- To monitor the quality of record keeping for support staff and students.
- To demonstrate understanding of national and local guidelines and legislation relating to health and social care and their impact on service delivery.
- To participate in the planning, evaluation and audit of practices, clinical pathways, and protocols within your clinical area.
- To participate in the day-to-day organisation and development of the Service.
- To participate with other team members in measurement of and evaluation of work and current practice through use of outcome measures and audit.
- To contribute to the Trusts and Teams Clinical Governance arrangements and the quality agenda.
- To demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate current research, apply them to practice and disseminate findings at a local level.
- To broaden research and development skills through participation in local audit and research projects
- To identify and implement service and practice development within own area of clinical specialism in conjunction with supervisor and/or manager.
Communications and Key Working Relationships
- To demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management
- To demonstrate effective communication skills with patients, relatives, carers, team members and other agencies
- To convey information on diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment plans in a range of verbal and non-verbal forms that clients/relatives can understand.
- To use communication skills and aids, as part of the IDT to gain informed consent where there will often be barriers to effective communication e.g., challenging behaviours, impaired cognition, anxiety, dysphasia
- To assess capacity, gain valid consent and can work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- Must demonstrate excellent verbal and non-verbal communication with the ability to motivate people and empathise with the challenges of long-term condition management
- To be able to organise and take a lead in Multi-Disciplinary Team / Inter-disciplinary team meetings and case conferences.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs to maintain good working relationships. =
- To act as an advocate for patients needs when necessary.
- Use a variety of skills to gain consent and co-operation to treatment plans.
- To educate patients, relatives and carers in conditions and their effects to adapt to an appropriate lifestyle.
Responsibility for Finance
- To advise team leader on resources required to carry out the job.
- Be responsible for the monitoring of materials and equipment and bring defects or deficits to the attention of the team leader / clinical manager.
- To advise, assess and prescribe appropriate equipment for patient use within resources available in Health, Social Services and Education.
Responsibility for Human Resources
- To be responsible for working within locally agreed protocols and guidelines.
- To actively participate and comply with the annual PDP and appraisal system.
- To plan and implement the induction of junior staff/students.
- To receive, plan and deliver in-service training for own profession and others.
- To undertake the supervision of junior staff as delegated by senior staff.
- To regularly supervise, evaluate and assess students to include negotiating learning contracts and setting objectives.
- To contribute to development of practice/procedures etc. within the Chronic Fatigue team.
- To ensure annual retention on Health Professions Council Register to maintain state registration, taking responsibility for own continued professional development and document this evidence in a professional portfolio, showing proof of competence to practise within the NHS.
- To take responsibility for ensuring clinical supervision needs are met and personal development plans are undertaken.
Responsibility for Health & Safety
- To comply with the Trust Manual Handling and Health and Safety Policies at all times and within guidelines for therapeutic handling.
- To contribute to the Clinical Governance agenda, attending Clinical Forum, Staff meetings, Care Governance etc.
- To assess risk to ensure safety of user/carer/self and colleagues and report back to senior member of team where applicable.
- Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.
Responsibility for Teaching
- To be responsible for providing fieldwork education placements and liaising with students/college.
- To promote the service to the wider community delivering awareness training to other health professionals, schools etc. as required.
- To take part in training/education of colleagues and staff/students of other disciplines.
Work Circumstances & on-call
- To deputise for the Team Leader in terms of operational and clinical issues
- To be responsible, in conjunction with the Operational Leads and Highly Specialist therapists, for the delivery of the ME/CFS Team.
- To be responsible for clinical supervision of appropriate staff
- Part time. This role will be 22.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree Occupational Therapist
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of relevant post graduate course/continuous professional development
Desirable
- Accredited Wheelchair Therapist Qualification
Experience
Essential
- NHS experience
- Post registration experience as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
Desirable
- Experience of research or audit
- Experience in supervising therapy support staff
Skills
Essential
- Apply Health & Safety and Risk Management Policies.
- Apply Therapy process with designated client group.
- Have effective overall personal time management
- Able to analyse professional and ethical issues
- Have basic computer skills including use of internet and e-mail
- Able to manage own workload and determine priorities
- Be able to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Desirable
- Training and facilitation skills
- Supervisory skills
- Able to work with patients with multiple pathologies
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad knowledge of current best practice in OT/ physio
- Have an understanding of Team dynamics.
- A knowledge of basic ADL equipment and it's application
Desirable
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines pertinent to the service
Additional
Essential
- Able to travel across Trust independently
- Ability to work flexibly according to service needs
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
written and verbal
Desirable
- Knowledge and practical application of the principles of Normal Movement
- Counselling Skills
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Diploma/Degree Occupational Therapist
- HCPC registration
- Evidence of relevant post graduate course/continuous professional development
Desirable
- Accredited Wheelchair Therapist Qualification
Experience
Essential
- NHS experience
- Post registration experience as an Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist
Desirable
- Experience of research or audit
- Experience in supervising therapy support staff
Skills
Essential
- Apply Health & Safety and Risk Management Policies.
- Apply Therapy process with designated client group.
- Have effective overall personal time management
- Able to analyse professional and ethical issues
- Have basic computer skills including use of internet and e-mail
- Able to manage own workload and determine priorities
- Be able to reflect and critically appraise own performance
Desirable
- Training and facilitation skills
- Supervisory skills
- Able to work with patients with multiple pathologies
Knowledge
Essential
- Broad knowledge of current best practice in OT/ physio
- Have an understanding of Team dynamics.
- A knowledge of basic ADL equipment and it's application
Desirable
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines pertinent to the service
Additional
Essential
- Able to travel across Trust independently
- Ability to work flexibly according to service needs
- Speak English to an appropriate standard relevant to their role, i.e. with confidence and accuracy, using correct sentence structures and vocabulary, and without hesitation
written and verbal
Desirable
- Knowledge and practical application of the principles of Normal Movement
- Counselling Skills
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).
