Complementary Therapist

at  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Christie Teenage and Young Adult service as an Integrative Therapist for Teenagers & Young Adults with Cancer. We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join an incredible team dedicated to providing outstanding care to patients within the Teenage and Young Adult Service.
With the ongoing development of the Teenage and Young Adult service are looking for a supportive and valued therapist to support the team into the next stage of developing the service.
To lead and manage a dynamic therapy service within the Palatine Treatment and be responsible for TYA patients.
To work alongside staff as a role model and mentor. To ensure that the caring culture expected of professional staff is being consistently maintained and upheld.
To be identifiable as the therapy leader within the TYA service, and provide the guidance and direction required to empower the team to deliver the best standards of care for patients.
Working with the Medical team, CNS & other MDT members to optimise care planning for patients, and ensure a consistent approach to high standard compassionate care.
To demonstrate initiative and vision to continue to move the TYA Integrative Therapy service forward, and implement local and national service changes / developments.
To demonstrate expert clinical knowledge and expertise at all times.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.

Management
To support the day-to-day management of the Complementary Health & Wellbeing (CH&W) within the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Services at the Christie.
Support Deputy Clinical Lead in prioritisation of CH&W clinical activities
Contribute to development of the strategic direction of the service, supporting the formulation of bids for service enhancement
To help monitor ordering of consumables and supplies for the CH&W department within areas of responsibility
To assist in ensuring complaints are managed within trust procedures and that any resulting recommendations are implemented.
To help oversee the recording of TYA CH & W departmental activities
To help ensure all health and safety requirements are met
Leadership
Provide a high clinical profile, leading by example and having both an advisory and clinical input into care pathways of TYA patients, this includes attending the Psycho Social MDT and the TYA Medical MDT.
Act as a role model for standards of care, behaviour and professionalism, consistent with Trust guidelines.
Assist in ensuring appropriate use of resources in order to meet needs of service users within areas of responsibility under support & leadership of CH&W Deputy Clinical Lead and TYA Lead Nurse.
Help identify gaps in provision of TYA CH&W services and work with the Deputy Clinical Lead and TYA Lead Nurse to implement changes required to improve provision
Help identify gaps in provision of TYA CH & W services and work with the Deputy Clinical Lead to implement changes required to improve provision
Assist in the recruitment of staff as appropriate to requirement of services.
Act as an advocate for patients, carers, services and organisation
Assist in facilitating change and resolution of conflict as required with support of Deputy Clinical Lead and TYA Lead Nurse
Assist Deputy Clinical Lead and TYA Lead Nurse in the development and evaluation of policies / guidelines / protocols for clinical practice, including support in updating and monitoring of policies / guidelines / protocols specific to areas of expertise.
Assist Deputy Clinical Lead and TYA Lead Nurse in analysing relevant National policies, within areas of expertise, including advice on impact for services. Support the implementation of changes and evaluation of processes in partnership with the Trust.
Attend relevant Trust meetings contributing to developing / implementing local / national strategies.
Assist in ensuring that child protection and vulnerable adult legislation is adhered to within own practice and service.
Contribute to the clinical governance process, including adverse incident reporting / investigation and the management of complaints, as appropriate.
Assist in collection and collation of data as required in areas of expertise, to inform internal and external professional and operational bodies, as this is a pilot and will require review funding annually.
Assist in the undertaking of risk assessments and risk management within areas of responsibility and provide specialist advice to other professionals on specialty relevant aspects of risk assessment and risk management
Clinical practice
Maintain own professional registration and practice through CPD.
Maintain professional portfolio to demonstrate competency in line with Trust competency framework.
Undertake skills appropriate to role, ensuring clinical competencies are maintained in accordance with the Trust framework for advanced practice.
Continually review and evaluate own role and clinical practice informing the annual review process.
Plan and manage own workload
Be involved in peer review of own practice and that of others
Provide assessment of clients based on the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources.
Plan and implement programmes of care for service users, with re-evaluation of treatment plans as appropriate.
Inform and consent for the implementation of care plans with service users
Provide specialist knowledge, advice and support to service users.
Adjust and refine treatment / therapy / care plan, as appropriate to progress of service users, taking into account complex clinical factors.
Triage / refer service users to other professionals as appropriate to treatment goals
Incorporate specialist practice, in line with the framework of the Trust.
Provide advice, guidance and consultation to other staff contributing directly to formulation of service user’s care plan as appropriate.
Attend multidisciplinary meetings within areas of responsibility in order to provide advice to clinicians regarding provision of CH&W for TYA patients and carers, as appropriate.
Communicate effectively with all professionals involved in the service user’s care as appropriate for speciality, including members of the MDT, general practitioners, community nurses, etc., to maximise the quality of service delivered.
Refer service users to primary, secondary or alternative tertiary care for therapeutic support following transfer or discharge where appropriate
Deploy effective communication strategies to ensure that information and knowledge is imparted sensitively according to the needs of service users, staff and students in training.
Relate complex communication processes to individual situations
Promote a positive relationship with all stakeholders within services.
Prepare accurate and concise reports both verbally and written.
Keep relevant records and submit reports in a professionally acceptable manner.
Maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation on individual service users in line with local and national standards and Trust policy on confidentiality
Education & Staff Development
Assist in the development and delivery of specific and relevant specialist TYA teaching programmes for all disciplines and grades of staff, client group and carers within the Trust in relation to areas of expertise.
Assist in reviewing and evaluation of teaching programmes and development of new programmes in relation to areas of expertise when a need is identified
Identify own development needs within personal development plan.
Assist in development of educational leaflets in relevant formats, for staff and patients relating to service and patient pathway.
Assist with ensuring personal, peer support and clinical supervision needs being met.
Act as mentor/preceptor and resource person for staff, as appropriate to the role.
Assist with provision of clinical placement & supervision in order to support development of individuals and practice as appropriate to the role.
Ensure clinical environment is conducive to supporting the education and learning of staff and students.
Provide educational and training opportunities to pre-registration students to satisfy the relevant elements of their learning agreement as appropriate to the role.
Provide an environment that encourages client centred involvement where clients are facilitated to ask for help, advice and education
Research & Service Development
Assist in evaluation of clinical practice through audit of service within areas of responsibility.
Maintain active engagement with current developments in field of practice and utilise to support evidence-based practice in individual work and work with team members.
Assist in undertaking research as appropriate within the TYA areas of responsibility
Support the development of potential research proposals with the multidisciplinary team specific to specialities, within TYA areas of responsibility
Provide educational and training opportunities to pre-registration students to satisfy the relevant elements of their learning agreement as appropriate to the role.
Assist in implementation of research findings appropriate to practice, within areas of responsibility
Promote the shared objectives of the multidisciplinary teams by working closely to ensure that best practice is achieved, within areas of responsibility