Job Description

We have a e xciting new position for an experienced physiotherapist to join the Long term conditions services in the North Lancashire area . The role will be rotational between the care home support team, Long term conditions team and C ommunity therapy team.



The Care Home Support Team support staff in registered care homes with Nursing in the North Lancashire footprint to deliver safe, high quality care for their residents.



The Long Term Conditions (LTC)Team play a significant part in caring for people, who have been assessed as having a long term condition or who are frail and whose care is more appropriately delivered at home.



All these teams work towards admission avoids and early discharge from hospital, following the Government plan to prevent, delay or divert the need for acute hospital or long-term bed-based care.



To be professionally and clinically responsible for highly specialist community physiotherapy assessment and treatment, working as an autonomous practitioner managing patients with a wide range of highly complex conditions.



Provide highly specialist advice, training and leadership to Physiotherapy staff, GP's and wider community MDT.



The post holder will assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate individualised programmes of evidence-based care providing highly specialist advice to patients, carers/relatives, and the multidisciplinary team.



We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.



FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.



WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.



All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.



Professional Leadership/Management



To assist the Matron in planning and organising the full range of the Community Physiotherapy Service activities inclusive of workload delegation and reallocation as required dependant on staff resources



In conjunction with the Matron and C linical Services Manager lead the development of Community physiotherapy services for the Care Home Support Team and Long-Term Conditions team following national and local guidance including NICE



Identify problems which effect planning and delivery of patient care and actively work towards solving them empowering others to make decisions



Maintain an area of clinical expertise, so providing a highly specialist clinical resource for the specialty or take a lead in a specific area of designated responsibility within the specialty



To communicate with carers, patients, referrers and other professions to ensure the provision of excellent patient care. This may at times require staff to overcome barriers to understanding (impaired hearing, speech or cognition) and could include the transmission of sensitive information. This requires an empathetic approach to patient care



Organise own time to enhance the well-being of patients



Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources and make decisions regarding supplies and equipment within specialist area in conjunction with Team Lead.



In conjunction with the Matron and C linical Service Manager, propose, develop and implement guidelines and policies for the specialty .



In conjunction with the Matron and C linical Service Manager, ensure patient/carer views are sought and incorporated into the development and improvement of practice.



Monitor health, safety and security of self and others and promote best practice in the ward/department and area of speciality



Evaluate service delivery, identify areas for improvement and initiate change in conjunction with Matron, C linical Service Manager, and Care group Managers



Take the lead when required to develop and influence the development of practice / services in the clinical area through the business planning process / service development and in conjunction with the Matron , C linical Service Manager and Care Group Managers



Delegate work to match capabilities and workload of team members, in discussion with the Matron .



Occasionally responds to bleep and mobile for service



Clinical Practice



Provide expert care for either a defined case load of patients or offer highly specialist service advice to patients within agreed protocols and clinical guidelines, but also has the ability to make



decisions outside these frameworks where necessary based on best practice



Work autonomously, but within professional boundaries, to accurately examine and assess patients from a physical, physiological, psychological and social perspective, and plan therapeutic care accordingly



Accept patient's referrals, assess, diagnose, treat, refer on as appropriate, plan, and instigate discharge from care, working collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure patient needs are met in relation to ongoing care needs and discharge arrangements



Perform advanced clinical skills in the assessment of patients including taking a clinical history, performing a clinical examination and evaluating the clinical information, to produce an appropriate plan for the implementation of care delivery, whilst maintaining accurate patient records



Perform therapeutic procedures and investigations related to specialty, that require dexterity, coordination and precision to perform appropriate assessment and interventions. Examples include therapeutic handling techniques manual techniques, balance and exercise prescription and falls prevention strategies such as getting up off the floor.



Provide information and advice on prescribed or non-prescription medication, on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions



Integrates appropriate non-drug based treatment methods into patient management plans.



Responsible for ensuring complete and effective documentation of all patient care acts and omissions in all relevant records including patient care records, in accordance with national record keeping; ensuring that patients are assessed on an individual basis, that care is carried out and that care plans are reviewed, evaluated and updated in accordance with the patient's clinical condition



Evaluates results of interventions, revises plan accordingly and consults or refers when needed



Ensure privacy, dignity and individual patient needs such as personal care and nutritional needs are met



Training and Development



Act as mentor/assessor in supporting and developing staff e.g. students, registered and unregistered staff, through mentorship/preceptorship and induction



Participate in the Trust Appraisal and Personal Development Review process; identify role and band specific training needs and agree the development/implementation plans for these needs with supervisor (Training identified within a PDR can only be related to this job description)



The post holder will participate in the Trust Appraisal and Personal Development Review process by contributing to the appraisal of members of the team within the specialty



Deliver education and specialist training programmes in clinical skills and knowledge. This will include booking training accommodation and preparing the teaching aids



Participate in the provision of education and assessment support to staff (including students, temporary and members of the multidisciplinary clinical teams) to ensure they are supported and supervised in a way that promotes patient well-being and staff development



Ensure personal training needs analysis for medical devices is completed



Responsible for ensuring own mandatory training is up to date



Responsible for ensuring all essential work-related training is relevant to role and band, and up to date for self and team



Be prepared to undertake further education and training in order to effectively develop the service



To have sufficient computer skills for the handling and management of computerised data



Provides anticipatory guidance and advice to promote health, reduce risk factors and prevent disease and disability



Initiates appropriate and timely consultation and referral when the problem exceeds the Physiotherapist's scope of practice or expertise



Governance



All Registered Physiotherapists of University Hospital Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust must adhere to all current Trust policies and procedures



Ensure risk management systems are adhered to and that untoward incidents are reported according to Trust Policy



In conjunction with the Matron , C linical Service Manager and Care group Managers, identify and manage risks associated with the delivery of the specialty service



Report untoward incidents and deal effectively with patients' or relatives' complaints



Participate in the investigation of complaints/litigation/adverse incidents and ensure all documentation is completed.



When required take the lead in investigation of incidents / complaints including providing detailed reports / letters to complainants.



Effectively communicate lessons learned from any incidents or complaints to the multidisciplinary team



Constructively challenge poor practice or behaviours and raise concerns, escalating as appropriate



Be open and honest when a mistake is made and provide reflection to demonstrate learning



In conjunction with the lead clinician, medical team and senior nurse specialists, participate in research, complex audit, benchmarking and equipment trials relevant to own specialty.



Disseminate good practice and knowledge by pursuing opportunities to present work at national conferences or via publications, encourage team members likewise



Participate in the production of an annual report circulating it widely and appropriately



Ensure safe clinical practice is maintained



To practice in accordance with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Rules of Professional Conduct and Health Professions Council regulations.



This job description is not exhaustive and will be reviewed and amended, with the post holder, when necessary.