Clinical Specialist - Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy

at  Northumbria Healthcare NHCT Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Northumbria Wheelchair Services is embarking on a new change and we are looking to recruit an innovative leader to our growing team. This is an exciting time for us as we have introduced a new structure within the service and are recruiting therapists also.
Delivering care to residents across the Northumberland and North Tyneside area, our service is located in recently purpose-built accommodation with excellent staff and patient facilities on the Northumbria manufacturing hub site in Seaton Delaval, Whitley Bay. If you are a wheelchair therapist looking for career development and would like the opportunity to play a leadership part in this forward thinking team then this may be for you.
Due to external promotion we now have a full time vacancy for a Clinical Specialist Wheelchair Therapist to work and lead a team of Wheelchair Therapists and Technical Instructors.
Your primary job role will be to lead the clinical team whilst carrying out complex assessments and provide therapy interventions to our patients both in their own homes and in clinic settings.
It is an essential requirement of the role that the post holder has a valid driving license and is either a car owner and able to use the car for work purposes, or has a Trust personal lease vehicle which may be used for the role. However, the Trust would consider making reasonable adjustments to the role, if necessary, to enable a disabled person to undertake the role
To provide a comprehensive service in the specialised area.
To provide clinical expertise at an advanced level in the assessment, diagnosis and management of highly complex clients.
To provide specialist input to strategic planning, development, audit and evaluation of clinical services, protocols and policies within the specialised area.
To work across with other lead specialist clinicians for the identified area, providing highly specialised advice and programmes of care.
To ensure service provision in the specialised area is prioritised and service delivery is made effectively within resource constraints.
To practice within the multidisciplinary team, providing specialist assessments, diagnosis and treatment using advanced clinical reasoning skills.
To manage a caseload of clients (often varied and with highly complex needs), using evidence based clinical reasoning to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions.
To provide leadership and clinical education for senior, junior and support staff, through supervision and day-to-day support.
To plan and implement training at a uni-disciplinary and multi professional level in order to enhance services within the specialism and ensure effective clinical practice
Oversee personal wheelchair budgets providing guidance and advice to staff and patient
We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, in addition to our state-of-the-art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. We also care for people in their homes and provide services from facilities in local communities such as health centres. We give people greater choice and control over their care to help them to live independently at home and avoid hospital admission where appropriate. High quality patient care is at the heart of everything we do and we strive to ensure every single patient and service user has an exceptional experience with us. We have one of the most extensive patient experience programmes of any trust in England.
To be the lead specialist Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist, working as an autonomous practitioner providing a high standard of Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy, undertaking assessments, diagnosis and therapy to an independent and highly complex caseload of clients within the specialty area.
To analyse the results of the client assessments diagnosing the cause of problems, consider a range of options, formulate professional judgements, develop and implement strategies, which are appropriate for the client and others involved in their lives.
To plan and prioritise client caseloads. To coordinate multidisciplinary activities e.g. daily team handovers, education sessions.
Fitting wheelchairs, postural support and associated equipment with a high degree of accuracy and expertise
Frequent use of highly developed physical therapeutic handling skills, requiring dexterity, co-ordination and sensory skills to conduct Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy assessments and treatment. This may be undertaken in restrictive conditions e.g. client’s homes.
To coordinate day to day activity of more junior staff
To be responsible for the clinical practice, competency and training of the staff within the specialist area, actively supporting staff in the delivery of clinical effectiveness and evidence-based practice through personal development and appraisal
To provide effective guidance, supervision and appraisal for staff.
Required to undertake research/and/or audit projects relevant to wheelchair services and/or service area and disseminate findings at a local and national level.
To lead in the continual evaluation of practice within the specialty through regular patient surveys and audit of activity, clinical outcomes and standards

Please refer the Job description for details