An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 fixed term contract in the stroke team at Lewisham Hospital. The acute stroke unit is one of the largest in the UK and offers clinical and service development opportunities for the postholder alongside an established multidisciplinary team. T he successful applicant will provide clinical leadership to the s troke physiotherapy team, as well as delivering the assessment and treatment of complex patients within this specialist area.
The role has clinical and leadership responsibilities including:
To lead a high quality, effective and efficient stroke physiotherapy service within inpatient physiotherapy services
To utilise highly specialised physiotherapy knowledge and skills to manage own autonomous caseload , as well as having overs ight for the therapy provision of rotational staff .
To lead and manage team to ensure all acute stroke rehabilitation patients in Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust receive appropriate assessment , diagnosis, treatment and holistic managem ent .
To work collaboratively with in an integrated multi-disciplinary team , including liaison with other parts of the stroke pathway e.g. local early supported discharge services.
To work with support from a clinical specialist physiotherapist in Stroke , developing strategic objectives and contributing to ongoing service review.
Job Summary
1 To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.
2 To perform highly specialist physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse neurological presentations and complex physical and psychological conditions; to provide a provisional therapeutic diagnosis and develop and deliver an individualised holistic treatment programme.
3 To take responsibility for own caseload, being responsible for a defined area of the service, providing support to more junior members of your team. To receive and deliver f ormal supervision , which is comprised of regular in-service training, appraisal, clinical reasoning sessions, documentation and caseload reviews including observation of clinical assessment / treatment or related discussion.
4 To lead the team and participate in evidence-based audit/research activity to further the team’s clinical practice. To make recommendations to the clinical specialist physiotherapist and lead in-patient therapist for any changes to practice by the team.
5. T o supervise senior and junior physi otherapists, physiotherapy assistants and physiotherapy students in the clinical setting.
6. To collaborate with other members of the multidisciplinary team and across the stroke pathway, contributing to service evaluation, process review, strategic resource planning and innovation.
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream
1 CLINICAL
1.1 To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of your own work, including the management of patients in your care.
1.2 To undertake a comprehensive, and holistic, assessment of patients including those with complex presentations / multi-pathologies.
1.3 To use manual and other assessment techniques and clinical reasoning skills to provide an accurate diagnosis of patients' conditions and identify their problems at both impairment and functional levels .
1.4 To assess patients' understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack the capacity to consent to treatment.
1.5 To use clinical assessment and reasoning skills combined with a specialist knowledge and clinical experience of patho -physiology, evidence-based practice and treatment strategies to provide an effective treatment plan and goals in collaboration with the patient.
1.6 To measure and evaluate patients' progress, re-assess and alter treatment p rogrammes as required .
1.7 To formulate accurate prognoses and liaise with the multi-disciplinary team regarding discharge planning, where necessary, to ensure safe, timely and effective discharge from hospital, or following an outpatient episode of care. To use clinical expertise to inform reasoned discussions with patients and family regarding treatment approaches , intensity, pathways and advice.
1.8 To be responsible for the safe and competent use of gym, electrotherapy, manual handling and respiratory equipment, as well as the use of other aids and appliances by patients in your working area, ensuring that any Band 5 &6 Physiotherapists and assistant staff attain competency prior to use.
1.9 To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to communicate effectively with patients during assessment and treatment. To communicate appropriately at all times with all individuals in a respectful manner.
1.10 To use active listening and optimum communication skills to discuss patients’ concerns, worries and prognoses with them and their families, for example patients who have progressive, degenerative or terminal illnesses and those with newly acquired disabilities.
1.11 To be an active member of the respiratory on - call & weekend rota.
1.12 To provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multi-disciplinary team regarding patients' respiratory conditions, when working on the acute wards.
1.13 To supe rvise and delegate to assistant staff and Band 5 &6 Physiotherapists.
1.14 To work within Trust, departmental and CSP guidelines, ensuring a good working knowledge of national and local standards.
1.15 To maintain an up to date knowledge of relevant evidence and national guidelines, int erpreting and applying these appropriately across the service.
1.16 To contribute to data collection, including the SSNAP data collection and review.
2 MANAGEMENT
2.1 To maintain an accurate and evaluative record keeping system in accordance with the Trust and departmental policies, and which can be used for audit and legal purposes.
2.2 To be responsible for organising, prioritising and planning your own caseload to meet service needs and patient priorities, adjusting plans as situations arise.
2.3 To identify and manage clinical risk within your own patient caseload and clinical area.
2.4 To comply with all Trust policies and procedures, and the Health & Safety at Work Act, and the Data Protection Act . To report on complaints, accidents and clinical incidents to the immediate senior as soon as possible.
2.5 To be familiar with and comply with local fire procedures.
2.6 To be familiar with all Trust and Therapy emergency and precautionary procedures, on site , and to respond as necessary – eg. hydrotherapy, emergency resuscitation, infection control etc.
2.7 To ensure that all equipment defects are reported to the relevant Manager immediately , and that appropriate action is then taken.
2.8 To advise and demonstrate to carers, nursing and other staff on the safe manual handling, positioning and moving of patients.
2.9 To provide training on the use of equipment and management of conditions for carers, nursing and other staff when necessary.
2.10 To be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of students, junior staff and assistants on a day to day basis.
2.11 To make appropriate referrals to other health professionals following assessment / identification of need.
2.12 To participate in the managerial matters of the unit and department as required, and to attend staff meetings.
2.13 To participate in the induction programme for all new staff where appropriate .
2.14 To undertake additional duties as may be deemed necessary, as requested by the In-patient team lead physiotherapist .
2.15 To evaluate and monitor the effective of the stroke physiotherapy service in collaboration with the stroke clinical specia li st physiotherapist.
2.16 To contribute to leadership and management initia ti ve s across the wider therapy department e.g recruitment, staff feedback, training, presentation assessments etc.
3 EDUCATION AND TRAINING
3.1 To participate in the individual per formance review (appraisal) scheme and be responsible for complying with your agreed personal development plan to meet set goals.
3.2 To be responsible for mainta ining your competence to practic e and State Registration through C.P.D. activities and maintaining a portfolio which reflects personal development.
3.3 To supervise junior & senior physiotherapists and assistants, being actively involved in their supervision and appraisal, reporting performance issues to the in-patient l ead physiotherapist .
3.4 To participate in , develop and deliver in-service education programmes within neurology rotations and for the wider department as appropriate .
3.5 To participate in mandatory and statutory training, having an awareness of and complying with Trust and departmental procedures.
3.6 To attend Trust in-house training sessions / programmes and external courses as appropriate .
3.7 To contribute to the education of t herapy a ssistants when necessary.
3.8 To be responsible for the clinical education of student physiotherapists, teaching them to graduate level on physiotherapeutic skills and knowledge within the core clinical areas, reporting performance issues to a relevant person.
4 COMMUNICATION
4.1 To participate in staff meetings, ward rounds, seminars/case conferences, multi- disciplinary team meetings and other meetings of the specific unit and Therapy department as required , providing a clinical opinion about specific patients.
4.2 To maintain close links with the Therapy Manager and In-Patient Lead Physiotherapist, as well as maintaining close working relationships with other disciplines within the hospital to ensure optimal patient care and management.
4.3 To ensure close links of communication / liaison with the Therapy Manager , senior staff, schools of physiotherapy and all other disciplines involved in patient care, both in the hospital and in the community, and to promote good working relationships.
4.4 To provide comprehensive discharge summaries and patient reports when r equested .
4.5 To participate in IT training and be able to use therapy computer software , including supporting new electronic health record systems .
4.6 To encourage health promotion within the Hospital and Community by example and advice to individual patients.
4.7 To deal with any verbal and telephone complaints from patients, relatives or carers, ensuring necessary documentation . To report on any such complaints to the in-patient lead physiotherapist as soon as possible.
5 RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND AUDIT
5.1 To supervise senior and junior members of staff to undertake a relevant evidence based project within your rotation, where possible developing improvements to clinical practice
5.2 To be involved, with the clinical team, in clinical / organisational audits, ensuring quality standards of service are maintained .
5.3 To be aware of current research and best evidence relevant to the clinical speciality, and incorporate it into your treatment.
5.4 To participate in appropriate work related research / evaluation projects based on evidence, to assist with the development of the service within the clinical team.
5.5 To work with members of the team to identify needs and develop the service and policies.
G ENERAL
1 To work within Trust, departmental and CSP guidelines, ensuring a good working knowledge of national and local standards.
2 To participate in the managerial matters of the unit and department as required, and to attend staff meetings.
3 To manage clinical risk within your own patient caseload and clinical area.
4 To participate actively in, and contribute to, the in-service education programmes of both the clinical specialty and the Therapy Department
5 To ensure that the agreed quality standards of service are maintained , and work with the Therapy Manager in this area .
6 To participate in appropriate work related audit / research / evaluation projects based on evidence, assisting with the development of the service.
