Band 6 neuro physiotherapist

at  Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust

You will be joining a highly experienced team of specialist Neurological Clinicians, with opportunities for joint working. You will be responsible for managing a Physiotherapy caseload within the HCT Community Neuro Service. To provide specialised assessment and treatment for patients with complex needs. This takes place within the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit and various community settings. To provide expert advice, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, carers and relatives and other non-professionals.
To provide specialised assessment and treatment for patients with complex needs. This takes place within the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit and various community settings. To provide expert advice, guidance and information to health and social care professionals, carers and relatives and other non-professionals.
To work as a member of the Hertfordshire Community Neuro Team which specialises in the treatment and management of patients with complex neurological conditions.
This post holder may be required to work across other areas within the Hertfordshire Community neuro team if required. Opportunities may arise for a neuro specialist rotation, in which the post holder could be included.
At present there is not a seven day working rota, however if this is created in the future then you will be expected to participate in this.
You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-work
You need to apply before the interview takes place.
Operational Delivery
To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis.
To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service, working without direct supervision. Supervision takes the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences and reflective practice.
To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own clinical practice and work.
To be responsible for providing advanced physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with stroke and other complex neurological conditions.
To assess and manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.
Represent physiotherapy service and/or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team meetings.
Ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of individualised patient care and treatment packages, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning from bed bases.
To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment used within the role. This will include walking aids, manual handling equipment, exercise equipment, electrotherapy equipment, splinting and orthotic devices and other patient appliances and aids. Check all equipment prior to use and report any faults to the relevant authority.
To be responsible for organising and planning your own caseload to meet service and patient priorities.
To be adaptable and readjust plans as situations change/ arise.
Patient / Customer Care
To ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management.
Evaluate patient progress and treatment programmes, reassess and alter treatment programmes as required, using recognised outcome measures, assessment tools and clinical skills.
To undertake a comprehensive assessment of neurological patients and use clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis.
To formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence informed practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills including manual physiotherapy techniques, exercise prescription, gait re-education, patient education, splinting, electrotherapy techniques and other alternative options.
To formulate soundly reasoned prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing negotiated patient –centred goals.
Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals. Gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
Strategic Management
To take a lead role and/or assist in the audit and monitoring of performance against local and national guidelines and standards, both professional and clinical.
To take a lead role and/or assist in the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidence informed practice projects, audit, research and outcomes measures.
To undertake, as directed, the collection of data for use in service audit and research projects.
To participate in research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of research methodologies as part of MDT audit and departmental research initiatives.
Service Development and Improvement
To lead and/or assist in evidence-based audit and research projects to develop and enhance personal and team’s clinical practice.
Make suggestions to clinical lead/manager of service for changes to practice by the team.
Assist in the implementation of specific changes to practice or contribute to service protocols.
Contribute to improvements in service delivery and clinical practice.
Management and Leadership
To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of more junior staff, students and rehabilitation assistants on a daily basis.
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To deputise for more senior staff in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of assistant staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.
To be responsible for the clinical supervision of physiotherapy students on placement to graduate level.
Ensure that your own practice and that of staff under your supervision meet the required professional standards of physiotherapy practice.
To be aware of the Health and Safety aspects of your work and implement any policies which may be required to improve the safety of your area of work, including the prompt recording and reporting of incidents.
To be responsible for the safe and competent use of therapy equipment by patients, rehabilitation assistants and student physiotherapists, through teaching, monitoring, training and supervision of practice.
Participate in the staff appraisal scheme and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development programmes to meet standards of knowledge and competencies.
To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at, and participating in, in-service training programmes, tutorials, individual training sessions, reflective practice and peer review. To prepare and present at training sessions as part of this programme.
To actively participate in health promotion and health education initiatives including promoting active/healthy lifestyles.
Communication and Relationship Building
To liaise with Consultants, patients, family, carers, multidisciplinary team, allied health professionals, nurses, Adult Care Services, voluntary sector, enablement carers, GPs, acute hospital teams, Community Health Services , Continuing Care Panel, sports and leisure, Hertfordshire Equipment Service and others as applicable.
Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes, and to ensure an understanding of their condition/problem so that patients are supported in secondary prevention choices and self-management of their condition.
The communication skills of negotiation, motivation, explanation and gaining informed consent will be used with a wide variety of patients.
Barriers to effective communication will regularly be evident including: cognitive impairment, expressive and receptive communication difficulties, anxiety, pain, fear and visual/hearing impairment. When a barrier is identified strategies to overcome it will be put into place.
To use communication skills to address language and cultural diversity issues.
To communicate complex patient related information effectively, to ensure collaborative working with the Multi-Disciplinary Team MDT members across health and social care sectors ensuring the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service.
Information Management
To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient assessment and treatment records in line with legal, professional and HCT’s standards of practice.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation in line with legal and departmental requirements and communicate assessment and treatment results to the patient and appropriate professionals in the form of reports and letters.
To supervise the record keeping of student physiotherapists and rehabilitation assistants according to HCT and professional standards.
To achieve and maintain a competent level of skill using information technology relevant to all areas of your work.
General
To be registered with the Health Professional Council/physiotherapy register.
To maintain own clinical professional development (CPD) by keeping abreast of any new clinical evidence and developments and incorporate them as necessary into your work.
To maintain a portfolio which demonstrates personal development and shows evidence of reflective practice.
To develop and enhance skills and incorporate them as necessary into every day practice.

Please refer the Job description for details