Clinical Specialist Therapist in Urgent Care

at  Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Professional/Clinical To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload of patients and ensure a high standard of clinical care for the patients under your management and those of more junior staff, using resources effectively to manage competing priorities and demands across the team and wider service. To undertake comprehensive specialist therapy assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills and with a holistic approach. To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to recommend and implement the best course of intervention and determine safety for discharge. To demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning skills and knowledge with documented process.
To monitor, evaluate, and modify treatments and interventions with measured progress and ensuring effectiveness of therapy input. To gain informed consent prior to treatment and have the ability to work within the legal framework with patients to provide appropriate intervention and care to patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment or to make specific decisions in a manner which supports their best interests, and to recognise and take appropriate action in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) when the need arises. Delivery of evidence-based care which is both individualised and personalised through holistic needs assessment, planning and evaluation of care, and treatment to patients who will frequently have complex presentations requiring specialist occupational therapy. Ensure the goals and objectives of interventions are clearly developed in conjunction with the patient and where appropriate carers, through clinical reasoning and where appropriate these can be assessed using recognised outcome tools.
Communicate complex patient related information effectively to ensure collaborative working with other members of the multi-disciplinary team across health, social care and voluntary sectors to ensure the delivery of co-ordinated patient focused care. To provide highly specialised spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers and other professionals to promote an understanding of the aims of occupational therapy and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care. To use highly specialist occupational therapy or physiotherapy skills in the delivery of clinical care to assist with meeting the Trusts priorities and objectives. Develop new skills in response to emerging knowledge and techniques.
Work across professional boundaries using creative reasoning and problem solving Use creative reasoning, experience and vision to advance care Demonstrate high level clinical technical and audit skills through breadth and depth of knowledge Demonstrate continuous evaluation of practice and make changes where appropriate Initiate and maintain contacts with local and national clinical interest groups appropriate to the clinical area, sharing and disseminating knowledge with colleagues. To provide independent specialist occupational therapy or physiotherapy advice to colleagues working within the MDT team, as well as other clinical areas when appropriate. Undertake risk assessment and manage and document risk. Advise senior and junior staff in appropriate therapeutic management of patients in relation to risk.
Be professionally accountable for standards of practice within the clinical team to the Therapy Clinical lead. Quality and Service Development Identify local, National and professional drives for change, keeping abreast of current development and legislation in the specialist area the team cover. Monitor the day-to-day pressures on time and resources and have a solution focussed approach to ensure quality is maintained during periods of unplanned / unexpected pressure. Ensure staff are skilled to provide the most appropriate and focussed care and management for the teams patient group.
To be actively involved, working with the Therapy Clinical Lead and other Therapy Clinical Specialists within the team to analyse appropriate data and statistics providing monthly reports to the Head of Therapies to support effective performance management reporting. Ensure the quality and service improvements link with the Trust aims as part of the overall clinical strategy Management and Leadership To be a lead specialist OT/Physiotherapist resource using highly developed clinical skills, theoretical knowledge and relevant practical experience and to be able to supervise, assess and mentor the team to assure good clinical practice within the team. Responsible for the effective case-load management of a complex caseload individually and within team and allocation of work to senior and junior staff, support staff and students. This will require an overview and re-allocation of workload daily due to changing priorities, in order to support delivery of key quality and performance targets.
Lead on the development of a clinical network within designated clinical area/pathway supporting delivery of best practice and relevant clinical guidelines. Support the development of a continuous improvement culture through actively adopting the Trusts Practice Improvement Methodology in the redesign of clinical care pathways. Ensure that the entire team is focused in the same direction and understands the scope of the team and individual role Act as a role model demonstrating high standards of care and providing clinical leadership to others Act as a role model for excellent advanced communication skills and expertise Provide clinical leadership at team level to ensure the delivery of high quality, cost-effective care Embed patient and public involvement within the sphere of practice Lead and actively participate in multi-professional meetings acting as patient advocate and representing therapy views Lead on the implementation and monitoring of adherence to relevant clinical guidelines Responsible for the clinical supervision of junior therapy staff, to ensure there is effective assessment, care planning and review of agreed goals/outcomes, promoting multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary working at all times. Work with the Therapy Clinical lead on the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.
To undertake delegated responsibilities to support the Therapy Clinical lead in day-to-day service operation, evaluation and development. Personal and Professional Development Take personal responsibility for life-long learning and personal development and actively engage with all learning and development opportunities Maintain your own development portfolio Maintain professional registration with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) through competency to meet HCPC and RCOT or CSP standards Participate in your own annual development review and supervision, undertaking post registration training related to area of work as required. In line with the Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance, to participate in clinical audit and evaluate your own clinical effectiveness. Administrative/Communication Communicate complex and sensitive information independently and autonomously to patients, carers and staff.
This will include communicating diagnoses, gaining consent, and breaking bad or unwelcome news. Independently use a wide range of verbal and non-verbal tools to communicate effectively with patients in order to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g. patients who have dysphasia, visual or hearing impairment, behaviour difficulties.
Frequently, competently and autonomously manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner both with patients, the team members and colleagues. Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements and ensure team is compliant with documentation. Co-ordinate and produce reports as required within your area of clinical expertise. Motivate and empower team & others through experience and post graduate training to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
Resolve verbal complaints and be well versed with the Trusts formal complaints procedure. To be a lead and role model in team communication by being approachable and able to manage change, conflict and challenges with clear, fair communication skills Education To lead on developing Therapy skill training packages for junior therapists and other members of the MDT Provide specialist education and training to other professionals involved in patient care Take responsibility for student learning as required. To ensure Therapy team members are competent to meet Trusts mandatory training requirements. Research and Audit To work with other therapy clinical specialists and Therapy Clinical lead to undertake measurement and evaluation of the clinical specialist rehabilitation teamwork and current practices using; evidence-based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with other clinical specialists or managers.
To lead and participate in appropriate work-related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the specialty. Evaluate the effectiveness of the service through clinical audit providing reports to demonstrate improvements are implemented and re-audited. Collate and record qualitative and quantitative data to provide evidence of outcomes and quality through audi

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