Job summary
We are seeking an experienced, highly skilled, and forward-thinking Paediatric Physiotherapist to join our Paediatric Physiotherapy Team for a 9 month fixed term post. The role would suit an experienced Band 6 or existing Band 7 Physiotherapist interested in expanding their skills and knowledge in neurodevelopment with a particular focus on the cardio- respiratory population.

The post holder will work as an integral and active part of the Paediatric Physiotherapy team in the provision of a patient-centred inpatient service that includes a caseload of children with CHD and complex respiratory conditions across PICU, HDU and the wards as well as in ECMO follow up clinic.

Main duties of the job
In this role you will work alongside the multidisciplinary team including OT, consultants, therapy assistants and the wider physiotherapy team . You wil lead on the development and aligmnent of the neurodevelopmental physiotherapy service along side the Clinical Specialists in Paediatric Respiratory Physiotherapy- PICU and the wider paediatric physiotherapy rehabilitation team. You will provide developmental assessment and input to patients across the hospital from PICU to the ward as well as supporting education and development of the wider MDT's. Teamwork and excellent communication skills are vital to the role, you will also be supported by the fantastic wider Paediatric multidisciplinary team.

About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals joined Guy's and St Thomas' in February 2021 and is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. Weprovide treatment for people with heart and lung disease, including rare and complex conditions, offering some of the most sophisticated treatment that is available anywhere in the world.

Our integrated approach to caring for patients from before birth, through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood and old age has been replicated around the world and has gained Royal Brompton and Harefield an international reputation as a leader in heart and lung diagnosis, treatment and research.

We are working in partnership with King's Health Partners, to deliver our vision of creating a new centre of excellence, which will be the global leader in the research into and treatment of heart and lung disease, in patients from pre-birth to old age.

Job responsibilities
Due to the strong commitment to evidence-based practice throughout the Trust, CPD and study leave will be well supported, and involvement in audit, research and policy development is encouraged and facilitated.

To be responsible in a leadership role alongside the PICU clinical specialist in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the neuordevelopmental physiotherapy service provided, in particular to children who have CHD and complex cardiorespiratory conditions.

Manage a caseload of patients with highly complex needs, using evidence-based and client-centred principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions. Provide this service with a caseload of complex cases as an autonomous practitioner, demonstrating high-level problem solving and clinical reasoning skills, and independence in judgement.

To support the clinical lead in providing leadership for senior and junior staff, through regular supervision and annual appraisal. Contribute to the maintenance and development of the paediatric physiotherapy service. To support the Clinical Lead to ensure the continuing professional development and overall performance of all physiotherapy staff in paediatrics and as a potential member of a range of Trust quality/process improvement project groups.

To use validated and appropriate outcome measures and set individualised patient goals.

Supervise, educate and assess the performance of physiotherapy students; this would be to a graduate standard and involve working with Universities to ensure standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by degree level qualification.

Supervise, educate and assess the performance of junior physiotherapy staff to ensure theoretical and clinical knowledge meets departmental standards.

Supervise, educate and assess the performanace of the multitherapy assistant to support their development and ensure their clinical knowledge meets departmental standards.

Undertake evidence-based audit, formulate guidelines and research projects to further own and department clinical practice within each rotation.

Person Specification
Knowledge/ Qualifications
Essential

• Equivalent or equal to a degree in Physiotherapy
• Health and Care Professional council registration

Desirable

• Member of CSP
• Member of another special interest group

Experience
Essential

• Considerable post graduate experience in a variety of paediatric areas.
• Significant neurodevelopmental experience
• Significant paediatric cardiorespiratory experience.
• Evidence of CPD
• Understanding of cardiorespiratory physiology and pathophysiology specific to post

Desirable

• Relevant validated clinical courses accredited as equivalent to masters level
• Relevant clinical courses in paediatrics

Skills
Essential

• Core skills in paediatric physiotherapy
• Ability to assess and treat complex patients in the paediatric critical care environment
• Ability to pass on skills/knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Able to work actively within a multidisciplinary team
• Excellent organisational and leadership skills including supervision of staff and students.
• Experience of QI, service improvement or audit
• Knowledge of safeguarding and governance experience.

Desirable

• Lecturing Skills
• Participation in research
• Presented at a conference

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage working in stressful environments e.g. with sick children or emotional carers.
• Commitment to personal and team development

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).