Specialty Physiotherapist – Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

1. To consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
2. To effectively communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including the sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
3. To overcome barriers to effective communication, such as those caused by pathological impairment or language differences, by deploying effective mitigating strategies.
4. To engage and build relationships with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
5. To be able to motivate and positively influence others through effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
6. Be able to write complex reports accurately describing patients clinical status and ensuring that the information provided aids effective continuing care and clinical management.

Clinical

1. To enact the professional and legal responsibilities for all aspects of the post-holders own clinical practice.
2. To carry out comprehensive assessments following hospital admission, including those with complex presentations, and form treatment and rehabilitation plans in partnership with the patient and their carers/family.
3. To interpret and analyse multiple sources of clinical information to form accurate physiotherapy diagnoses in acute neurological care; drawing on guidance from senior physiotherapists when required.
4. To formulate and deliver comprehensive treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge plans, based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice, and patient preferences.
5. To evaluate patient progress against agreed treatment goals and be able to modify plans accordingly.
6. To determine a patients mental capacity to understand and to gain informed consent for treatment. To work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent and are deprived of their liberty.
7. To co-ordinate intervention where there is a need to collaborate across multiple disciplines.
8. To maintain accurate written records using an electronic patient record system and maintain fidelity to professional standards.
9. To determine and mitigate for risk of patient and staff harm using the agreed risk assessment frameworks and the Trusts manual handling policy.
10. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling.
11. To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory skills for assessment and therapeutic treatment and handling of patients.
12. To represent physiotherapy and/or individual patients at multi-disciplinary team meetings, to ensure delivery of co-ordinated care.
13. To be an integral part of the teams extended hours and seven-day service provision.

1. To be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in the effective and safe use of this equipment.
2. To assist in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff, students, and assistants.
3. To undertake delegated tasks and roles from the team lead and be able to deputise for them on occasions.
4. To effectively plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and be able to adjust plans as required according to staffing levels and unpredictable factors.
5. To assist in the planning of junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties.

Education and training

1. To organise and contribute to the teams training and post-registration education programme.
2. To contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families, and carers as appropriate.
3. To be responsible for individual undergraduate student physiotherapists supervision and practice-based learning.
4. To adopt a proactive approach in learning from others within, and outside of the physiotherapy profession.
5. To be responsible for continuing professional development and maintain a portfolio record to evidence this.
6. To maintain contemporary knowledge to apply and maintain best practice in the delivery of neurological rehabilitation and condition management.

1. To actively participate in the departments quality improvement and clinical audit programme through the completion of authorised projects.
2. To implement and maintain evidenced-based physiotherapy practice through continuing professional development.
3. To ensure good working knowledge and application of national and local clinical standards.

Effort

1. To be able to undertake episodes of moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift.
2. To be able to effectively maintain concentration at work despite frequent interruptions and, at times, an unpredictable working pattern.
3. To tolerate and manage frequent exposure to distressing or emotional circumstances and maintain a high level of professionalism.
4. To tolerate and professionally manage frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions, such as exposure to bodily fluids and offensive odours.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications

Essential

• oDegree in Physiotherapy
• oRegistered with the Health & Care Professions Council
• oEvidence of continuing professional development - post graduate level

Experience

Essential

• oBroad range of experience at band 5 level (including core areas, such as respiratory, orthopaedics, neurology)
• oExperience of working in critical care
• oExperience of neurological rehabilitation
• oParticipation in on-call respiratory and weekend rotas
• oWorking with students and support workers

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• oUp to date with best practice in neurological condition management and rehabilitation
• oAble to present information, written and verbal, in a clear and logical manner
• oAble to communicate complex and sensitive information, e.g., where there are barriers to communication
• oAble to effectively deliver and participate in staff training
• oAble to effectively work as part of a multi-professional team for patient benefit
• oApplied policy, procedure and legislation in relation to the scope of the role and area of practice
• oIntermediate IT skills, including the effective use of Microsoft Office and collaborative platforms, such as Microsoft Teams
• oAbility to keep legible and accurate written notes in English in accordance with agreed standards
• oShows evidence of being self-motivated and a positive influence on others
• oPhysical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessments, interventions and therapeutic handling throughout the working day and carry out concurrent activities
• oAbility to cope with working in an unpredictable, stressful environment
• oAble to comply with Trust Manual Handling Policies and Guidelines
• oProfessional demeanour
• oAbility to work as part of a seven-day roster

Desirable

• oMember of clinical interest group

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Headington, Oxford

OX3 9DU

Employer's website

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)