Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Mersey Regional Burns, Plastics and Reconstructive Therapy Team based at Whiston Hospital as a fixed term/secondment band 6 Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist (end date March 2026).
The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in burns and plastic surgery and will work in one of the largest units in the UK.
This is a dynamic service that encompasses therapy provision across seven days in which you will play a key role. There will be opportunity to work with inpatients, outpatients and therapy led clinics. This is a rotational role across both clinical areas with the expectation that you will advance your knowledge and skills within the speciality.
As a regional centre we are responsible for the therapy management and rehabilitation of complex, challenging cases and are an integral part of a large multidisciplinary team. You will be a therapist who is motivated, enthusiastic and able to demonstrate specialist clinical, interpersonal, communication, organisational, time management and clinical reasoning skills to provide bespoke patient care. You will have the ability to work independently and as a core member of the MDT.
There is a well-established in-service training programme, and you will be expected to participate in this. You will assist with the development of junior staff and students, completing supervision and appraisals as required.
Main duties of the job
To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care
To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition
Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options
Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations.
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
- To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
- To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
- To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
- Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options.
- Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
- To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
- Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
- To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To maintain Professional Registration.
- To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
- To be responsible for a designated area of work, as delegated by a senior clinician. Plan and organise efficiently and effectively patient/client caseload, and use of time for self and more junior staff.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide specialist clinical advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas.
- To provide specialist clinical advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients.
- To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition.
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients/clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To communicate highly sensitive information effectively with all patient groups/clients/carers where there may be difficulties in accepting or understanding information.
- To maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic including potential complaints as per Trust Policy.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as appropriate into your work. To support junior staff to do likewise.
- To be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, and by attending external courses and being a reflective practitioner.
- To participate in the supervision scheme as supervisor and supervisee.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
To demonstrate leadership by means of:
- Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
- Influencing, motivating, supporting and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Therapy Team.
- To provide specialist advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment and long term management of patients/ clients within sphere of practice.
- To deputise for the band 7 in terms of operational issues.
- To take responsibility for their own specialist and complex decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery.
- To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff.
- To participate in working parties developing policy changes within speciality which will impact on all service users
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, RESEARCH & AUDIT
- To adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and facilitate compliance of staff with local and national standards of practice.
- Implement policy and service development changes as directed.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.
- To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures under the guidance of senior staff. Make recommendations for change and to implement change.
- To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
- To support research activity within the Service.
- To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to service to promote evidence based practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
- To be professional and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients/clients in your care.
- To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients/clients under your care, and support more junior staff to do likewise.
- To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients/clients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use specialist clinical reasoning skills and appropriate assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition.
- Formulate and deliver an individual treatment programme using assessment, reasoning skills and treatment skills based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options.
- Formulate an initial diagnosis and prognoses in order to recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.
- To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 clinician for managing patients/clients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
- Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required.
- To have the ability to undertake self-directed/lone working in a variety of locations.
CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To maintain Professional Registration.
- To work within Trust clinical guidelines, HCPC and Registrant Body guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practise against these.
- To be responsible for a designated area of work, as delegated by a senior clinician. Plan and organise efficiently and effectively patient/client caseload, and use of time for self and more junior staff.
- To be responsible for equipment used in carrying out clinical duties, and to adhere to policy, including competence to use equipment and to ensure the safe use of equipment by others through teaching, training and supervision of practice.
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote understanding of the aims of treatment and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To provide specialist clinical advice to colleagues working within other clinical areas.
- To provide specialist clinical advice, teaching and training to other members of the MDT regarding the management of patients.
- To train, supervise and performance manage more junior staff and students. This will include the use of formal appraisal documentation.
- To communicate effectively with patients and carers to maximise potential and to ensure understanding of their condition.
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients/clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
- To communicate highly sensitive information effectively with all patient groups/clients/carers where there may be difficulties in accepting or understanding information.
- To maintain tact and diplomacy and use highly developed communication skills when working in situations which may become hostile/antagonistic including potential complaints as per Trust Policy.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
- To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
- To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies.
TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES
- To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as appropriate into your work. To support junior staff to do likewise.
- To be an active member of relevant training programmes attending and delivering presentations and training sessions at staff meetings, tutorials, and by attending external courses and being a reflective practitioner.
- To participate in the supervision scheme as supervisor and supervisee.
LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
To demonstrate leadership by means of:
- Delivering change within sphere of practice, when and where indicated, to improve service delivery.
- Influencing, motivating, supporting and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Therapy Team.
- To provide specialist advice and guidance in working with colleagues locally to ensure best practice across all disciplines in the assessment, treatment and long term management of patients/ clients within sphere of practice.
- To deputise for the band 7 in terms of operational issues.
- To take responsibility for their own specialist and complex decision making and the decisions of their team which effect service delivery.
- To undertake any other duties that might be considered appropriate by senior staff.
- To participate in working parties developing policy changes within speciality which will impact on all service users
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, RESEARCH & AUDIT
- To adhere to the appropriate Registrant Body code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and facilitate compliance of staff with local and national standards of practice.
- Implement policy and service development changes as directed.
- To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situation.
- To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence based practice projects, audit and outcome measures under the guidance of senior staff. Make recommendations for change and to implement change.
- To comply with the organisational and departmental policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating as appropriate.
- To support research activity within the Service.
- To engage actively in practice development, evaluation, audit and research activities relevant to service to promote evidence based practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Clinical Educators Certificate
- Post Grad accredited study e.g. MSc in relevant health studies
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practise in relevant health setting
- Awareness of own strengths and limitations
- Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
- Experience of line managing a team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and co-ordination
- Evidence of effective working within an MDT
- Experience of Service development
- Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
- Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Desirable
- Audit and research in a clinical area
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
- Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
- Have a flexible approach to working with good time management
Desirable
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy
- HCPC registration
Desirable
- Clinical Educators Certificate
- Post Grad accredited study e.g. MSc in relevant health studies
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Advanced clinical knowledge relevant to the care environment and evidence of evidence based practise in relevant health setting
- Awareness of own strengths and limitations
- Knowledge of relevant national policies and guidance and relevant assessment tools
- Experience of line managing a team including setting objectives, conducting appraisals and effective delegation and co-ordination
- Evidence of effective working within an MDT
- Experience of Service development
- Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches
- Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Desirable
- Audit and research in a clinical area
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to motivate team performance to achieve objectives
- Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
- Accurate record keeping, report writing and IT skills including presentation skills
- Have a flexible approach to working with good time management
Desirable
Other
Essential
- Ability to travel various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver
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).
