Job summary
Why might this job interest you? We have an exciting opportunity for a Specialist Physiotherapist in West Hertfordshire NHS Trust to join the Inpatient Therapy Department at Watford General Hospital. You will be responsible for providing specialised assessment and treatment to patients with complex physical and psychological needs, undertaking advanced physiotherapeutic assessments, developing diagnoses and delivering individualised treatment programmes. You will also be responsible for providing expert advice, guidance and information to patients, carers, relatives and other professionals, while supporting a coordinated approach to patient care through effective communication with medical and nursing staff, social workers and the wider multidisciplinary team.

Main duties of the job
As a Specialist Physiotherapist, you will be responsible for managing your own caseload and a defined area of the service or specific patient group, working autonomously without direct supervision. You will be responsible for undertaking all aspects of your clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner and maintaining your professional development through regular clinical supervision, formal training, clinical reasoning sessions, peer review, case conferences and reflective practice. You will also be responsible for supervising, educating and assessing junior physiotherapists, assistants, technical instructors and clerical staff, as well as supporting physiotherapy students to develop their clinical skills and knowledge to graduate standard. You will work collaboratively with universities to ensure student teaching and clinical practice meet the required degree-level standards.

About us
Here at NHS Professionals, we run England's largest NHS staff bank and are experts at putting people in places to care. Every year we help thousands of dedicated and highly skilled NHS workers enjoy better career opportunities, more flexible shifts, and a healthier work-life balance across our partnered Trusts.

Career Progression access to Learning & Development opportunities, so that you can take on new roles and challenges

Work-life Balance flexible shifts, committed shifts, wellbeing resources and build paid annual leave

Opportunity & Access over 50 partner NHS Trusts to give you the flexibility of choice to work how and where you want

Job responsibilities
Responsibilities of this job role

• To undertake evidence-based audit and research activities to enhance personal and team clinical practice, identifying opportunities for improvement and making recommendations to the Clinical Lead or Service Manager. You will also support the implementation of agreed changes and contribute to the development of relevant service protocols.
• To participate in the 7-day working roster, including evening, weekend and bank holiday emergency on-call duties as required. You will provide emergency respiratory care outside normal working hours as part of the designated on-call service.
• To provide specialist respiratory physiotherapy support during emergency on-call periods, including offering appropriate clinical advice to medical, nursing and other healthcare professionals regarding patients respiratory and chest conditions.
• To assess and manage clinical risks within your allocated workload, ensuring appropriate measures are taken to promote patient safety. You will regularly review patient outcomes and make appropriate modifications to planned interventions where required.
• To establish appropriate prognoses and agree meaningful treatment goals with patients, contributing to comprehensive discharge planning based on clinical findings and expected outcomes. You will ensure valid informed consent is obtained and work within the appropriate legal framework when patients lack capacity.
• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date patient treatment records in accordance with professional and Trust standards. You will also contribute relevant patient information at multidisciplinary meetings to support coordinated care, progress reviews and discharge planning.

Qualifications
Essential

• To be successful in applying for this role you will need:
• Physiotherapy degree or equivalent qualification.
• HCPC registration as a Physiotherapist.
• Evidence of ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
• Evidence of developed specialist physiotherapy skills.
• Experience working in an acute inpatient setting.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

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

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