Clinical Specialist MSK Outpatients - Spinal

at  Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical To achieve and maintain a high standard of clinical care using evidence based practices and encouraging this throughout the Outpatient physiotherapy team. To provide advice on specialised physiotherapy care and treatment for complex musculo-skeletal patients ensuring good links are maintained with the referring medical practitioner. This will be achieved by using highly developed clinical skills, theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience, seeking guidance as required by peers or an external specialist. To undertake the specialist assessment, carry out diagnostic procedures and interpret the results for patients with multi-faceted musculo-skeletal rehabilitation problems including those patients with a complex presentation using investigative and analytical skills.
To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your professional activities working within codes of practice and professional guidelines. This includes patient documentation on EPIC To be responsible as an autonomous practitioner to undertake a significant specialist clinical workload and using clinical reasoning skills to utilise a wide range of treatment skills and options in order to formulate a specialised programme of care. To demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical governance, clinical risk and to demonstrate the use of treatment plans with an evidence based link. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions including highly developed manual physiotherapy techniques and therapeutic handling.
There is a frequent requirement to exert moderate physical effort for several short periods during the day. Work with orthopaedic colleagues to ensure clinical pathways for inpatient and outpatient spinal conditions To keep up to date with clinical developments, analysing current research and discussing and implementing changes in clinical practice. To be responsible for the safe use of equipment used in carrying out physiotherapy duties, adhering to the departments medical devices policy. This includes competence and accuracy to use specialist equipment by you and other healthcare professionals, carers and patients.
To link own objectives with teams annual business plan to lead on anything relating to spinal patients. This job will involve exposure to unpleasant working conditions e.g. Bodily fluids, including sputum, unpleasant smells and occasional exposure to hostility in the form of verbal and physical aggression. Management To work with the Outpatient Principal Physiotherapist in developing the strategic and operational management of the physiotherapy service To plan and prioritise own workload both clerical and managerial (e.g.
specialist meetings) including responding to urgent referrals and unpredictable workload and assist others in the Outpatient department with theirs. This will require prolonged concentration in an unpredictable environment. To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner when imparting bad news regarding rehabilitation potential e.g. chronic disease To be involved in developing and implementing department policies and the annual performance plan Maintain links across site with the Spinal Clinical Specialist in the WPH and HWD Physiotherapy team around service development and any changes needed in line with new evidence.
To participate in the Trusts appraisal scheme both as appraisee and as an appraiser To line manage and monitor the standards of staff including objective setting, appraisals, training and supervision and if required performance and capability concerns. To be involved in the induction of new staff in the Outpatient Department. To be responsible for students on clinical placement and maintain good links with the universities. To maintain and provide accurate and timely electronic data and ensure other staff in the team do likewise.
To respond to changes within the Trust and CCGs which impacts on the delivery of patient care by the physiotherapy service To initiate and lead projects in developing the service in response to demand which will impact beyond the physiotherapy department. Communication To maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the clinical field and to share and disseminate knowledge with colleagues working within the Trust. To communicate effectively and advise other disciplines both internally and externally to ensure a multi-disciplinary approach to care both verbally and by providing clinic letters/discharge reports To arrange follow-up outpatient physiotherapy or onward referral for continuing patient care as required to ensure a seamless service is maintained To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news To ensure timely and effective communication with the outpatient lead and all staff on all professional matters. To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines To attend and be an active participant in speciality, peer group and department staff meetings To be able to motivate others through effective communication skills and to be able to gain co-operation where appropriate for treatment where there may be significant barriers to understanding such as cognitive impairment, memory loss.
To use interpreters when required to ensure effective communication occurs with patients who are hard of hearing or do not speak/understand enough English for the purposes of consent and co-operation for treatment. To deal with complaints/incidents immediately, escalating to the Outpatient physiotherapy lead when required and reporting incidents via InPhase system. Education To contribute to the training and development plan within the outpatient Department for all support staff. To be involved in the training and supervision of professional staff and students on placement to the Outpatient Department To be responsible for and actively record your own continued Professional Development.
To identify areas of learning through the appraisal process identifying learning opportunities relevant to personal development in line with trust objectives. To be proactive with regard to learning from others. To keep abreast of all new developments which includes relevant study days and visits to specialist units and to ensure that staff within the team do likewise. To be actively involved in the appropriate clinical interest groups and maintain good links with musculoskeletal physiotherapy colleagues both locally and nationally.
To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training and be available for training other healthcare professionals on study days particularly for spinal pathologies. To work with orthopaedic colleagues and Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners to develop own practice and service in accordance with new guidelines and evidence. To contribute to the education of multi-disciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate. Research/Audit/Quality To be aware of current research relevant to the speciality In line with Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance, to participate in and initiate clinical audit and the evaluation of clinical effectiveness To ensure that all research, audit and quality initiatives are communicated fully with the speciality team and is included in the departments annual report To take the lead on any clinical audits relating to patients with spinal pathology

Please refer the Job description for details