Specialist Physiotherapist

at  Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

The postholder will Act as a specialist physiotherapist within the respiratory and post covid service and contribute to evolving and embedding best practice into the clinical area Manage own specialist physiotherapy caseload in both chronic respiratory disease and long Covid. Carry out specialist assessment and rehabilitation of patients with both respiratory disease and long covid syndrome. This will include implementing, evaluating and modifying individual treatment programmes. Possess a working knowledge of the community oxygen assessment service and complete ambulatory oxygen assessments if required Develop effective links with other community and specialist respiratory services including General Practitioners, Practice Nurses and Respiratory Physicians, mental health services, and Community Pharmacists; To provide specialist advice where needed and refer to other agencies as required.
Develop effective links with other local and national long covid services in collaboration with the long covid service clinical coordinator. This will assist in shaping the future delivery of services within Calderdale. To develop effective links with other community agencies providing support for patient with long covid to include General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, community rehabilitation teams and other agencies involved in the pathway of care for patients with long covid. To provide specialist advice where needed and refer to other agencies as required.
Take part in the education and training of Physiotherapists and qualified and non-qualified healthcare / social services / education staff including medical staff. Support the Clinical Lead in the day to day running of the pulmonary rehabilitation team including support staff. Support and advise within the wider MDT in both respiratory and post covid on the delivery of the service. At times when required by the clinical lead, to manage patients at home with an exacerbation of COPD who would previously have needed hospital in-patient management and may be on the respiratory virtual ward.
Implement strategies and initiate a treatment plan for managing patients with complex respiratory needs in the community settings. To liaise with the respiratory nurses, to ensure avoidance of admission/readmission and to ensure a swift return to an improved level of independence. Demonstrate effective communication to the existing community and specialist palliative care services for people with respiratory disease requiring care at the end of their lives. To work within the community respiratory service, developing effective clinical interventions within the speciality of respiratory in order to contribute to clinical practice in line with the current evidence base.
Manage autonomously a clinical workload of patients / clients at a specialist level, assessing and treating patients and maintaining clinical Have specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment skills in the areas listed but not limited to: Acute and Chronic Respiratory management Post critical care rehabilitation long covid assessment and rehabilitation. postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome Pulmonary rehabilitation Assessment of the home environment Ambulatory Oxygen assessment Care planning Act, within Calderdale community and hospital services, as a resource and provide advice for Physiotherapists, other professionals and colleagues within the MDT about the assessment, treatment, management and care of patients with both respiratory and long covid conditions. Work collaboratively with health and social care community and acute Work with other members of the MDT to ensure effective care pathways and follow up of patients within the post covid service. Proactively and appropriately facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of patients between care settings.
Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner within the MDT, being able to debate the blurring of boundaries across professions and where competent take on aspects of blurred boundary working, where appropriate. Participate in the supervision process with staff and students as required. Ensure a high standard of patient care is provided including implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken. To be a manual handling key trainer where required Professional Duties Work autonomously within Trust policies and professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up to date records.
Comply with and, along with the clinical lead, contribute to the development and implementation of protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific. To give feedback on policies when required which may impact on the management and care of patients within the service. Participate in governance initiatives on a regular basis, measuring and evaluating individual and the physiotherapy teams clinical practice, e.g. CPD, clinical effectiveness, research and development, clinical audit and service activity data.
Ensure specialised treatments offered to patients / clients are based on the best available clinical evidence by keeping up to date with current literature, implementing research tools and liaising with other practitioners, both within and outside the service, in order to develop and maintain best practice. Be responsible for the issue and safe use of equipment used in your area of work and to adhere to the appropriate service policies. Along with the Clinical Lead/Advanced practitioner/Matron generate and contribute to the collection, analysis and dissemination of data as required for the service, both manually and computerised. Lead, develop and actively undertake clinical audit as requested.
Assist the Clinical Lead to manage the performance of the physiotherapy, MDT and assistant staff by having a delegated role in supervision. Organise and participate in in-service training programmes, under direction, ensuring appropriate training is delivered. Undertake appropriate development opportunities as identified at yearly personal development reviews and through personal development plans. To incorporate acquired knowledge into working practice as appropriate, following discussion with Clinical Lead / Team Leader.
To disseminate information from training effectively throughout the team, the service and MDT as appropriate. Participate in the CT&R supervision process and peer review and maintain an up to date CPD portfolio including evidence of experiential learning, reflective practice and any relevant training or experience. This should demonstrate responsibility for maintaining own competency to practice. Participate in the Trust Personal Development Review process taking responsibility to comply with an agreed personal development plan.
Give specialist advice, teaching and training to patients / clients, carers, volunteers and other health, educational and social care professionals, as appropriate to ensure provision of good patient care. Ensure they work in accordance with all Trust policies and procedures. Ensure they attend induction and regular update training on risk management policies and procedures. Ensure they identify through risk assessment, any risks they feel exist within their department or in the community during the delivery of their service.
Ensure they provide incident reports and supporting documentation for any unexpected event or incident they are involved in. To work with the Team Leader, assisting them in the management of complaints and incidents. Managerial Duties Provide advice / information to the Clinical Lead/Team Leader/long covid co-ordinator to help in the planning and development of the service. In conjunction with the Team Leader /Clinical Lead, ensure adequate staff cover within the team by agreeing annual leave, study leave, and report sickness absence to the Team Leader.
Assist the Team Leader in achieving the service objectives. Actively participate in the professional development programme of the Physiotherapy service. Assist the Clinical Lead in the monitoring of professional, clinical and departmental standards and assist implementation of change as appropriate. Comply with the national, professional, Trust and service policies and procedures and to be involved in the reviewing and updating process as appropriate.
Maintain confidentiality of all patient identifiable information in line with Trust policies relating to the Data Protection Act. Initiate discussions with the Team Leader about any circumstances that could prevent the post holder or other staff fulfilling the requirements of the job description To assist the clinical lead in the pulmonary rehabilitation accreditation process. Financial Duties Support the General Manager and Team Leader in helping identify ways in which we can best utilise staffing resources and financial resources within Pulmonary Rehabilitation and the greater respiratory service. Ensure maintenance of Professional Registration.
Undertake all such reasonable other duties as may be required as part of the role

Please refer the Job description for details