Frailty Specialist Therapist, Band 7

at  Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to join our Frailty Assessment Team as a band 7 Frailty Specialist Therapist in a substantive position. The role involves leading the provision of therapy and working with the Frailty Multidisciplinary team providing a rapid assessment of older adults, initiating services where required to safely avoid unnecessary hospitalisation and deconditioning. The role involves contributing to a comprehensive geriatric assessment to those individuals attending the Emergency Department (s) Frailty Assessment Unit and Frailty Direct Attend to achieve a positive outcome for the patients. The successful candidate would need to work within this fast paced environment, making autonomous decisions in order to make swift decisions regarding admission avoidance, taking a positive risk taking approach.
To provide a high level of autonomy, but within agreed guidelines, you will use recognised models of practice to complete evidence-based assessments, interventions and outcome measures to underpin all practice.
Provide leadership, supervision, education and support to Frailty therapy team as well as being a specialist resource of knowledge for health care professionals. The candidate would have excellent communication skills and liaise with the multidisciplinary team including the consultants, patient relatives and primary care partners. The post holder would need to demonstrate a flexible approach as the demands of the role may change depending on the demands of the service.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest employer in the county and with over 8,000 staff, we are one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK. We offer a generous annual leave allowance, excellent bank rates, access to the excellent NHS Pension Scheme, discounts for local shops, restaurants and services, access to our health and well-being hub, access to our two on-site nurseries, flexible working options, discounted public transport, reward and recognition schemes, exercise and activity classes and membership to our popular hospital choir.

The Frailty Team are always motivated, resilient, strong and strive to deliver best care for everyone every time. We are encouraging of staff development and foster a positive culture.

• To case manage the attendance and admission avoidance for frail individuals
• To demonstrate highly specialised clinical skills of assessing, treating and discharging of frail older adults.
• To seamlessly transfer patient care to community partners in a timely manner, contributing to appropriate patient flow pathways. Including the timely assessment and provision of equipment to facilitate discharge.
• Respond to agreed escalation procedures during times of extreme capacity demands in the health and care services in Gloucestershire.
• To work within an OT/PT blended approach, while being aware of own professional boundaries.
• To work as an autonomous practitioner.
• To take a lead role in supervision and development of qualified therapists, support workers and students within the Frailty team.
• To contribute to the Trust Governance agenda, including the delivery of safe, high-quality care.
• To be competent in risk assessments and managing risk autonomously, supporting other team members with their decision making in the Emergency Departments and the Same day Emergency Care setting/Frailty Unit.
• To have an excellent knowledge of resources available outside of the Acute Trust
• Be a visible and accessible presence throughout the service acting as a role model to other care professionals to support them in managing complex interventions using a variety of approaches to decision making, providing support and supervision.
• To communicate effectively with patients and carers, potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information in order to provide patient centred care. Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties/disabilities.
• To maintain clear, accurate, concise and contemporaneous patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures.

Please refer the Job description for details