Job summary
To provide a high standard physiotherapy service to the acute stroke and neurology clinical areas. This involves providing a seven day service to stroke and neuromedicine.

To assist the Team Leaders in planning, coordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to patients within the team, on a day-to-day basis.

To assess and treat own caseload of patients, who may have complex presentations and to maintain own records as an autonomous practitioner.

To deputise for the Team Leaders when necessary.

To adopt a flexible approach and be open to working across the stroke pathway should clinical need necessitate this.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job
To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse neurological presentations with complex physical, cognitive and language impairments, to formulate an impairment list and develop/deliver an individualised treatment programme.

To hold responsibility for own case load and be responsible for a defined area of the service or a particular patient type, working autonomously. Senior support and supervision takes the form of regular 1:1 meetings, joint working clinically and regular appraisal. Access to advice and support from specialist physiotherapists is available if required, clinical work is not routinely evaluated.

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

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

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job responsibilities
Clinical

• To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care.
• To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient treatment records in line with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) standards and local/Trust policy. To communicate appropriately with other disciplines (this might include meetings, report and letter writing)
• To undertake a comprehensive assessment of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques to provide an accurate clinical impression of their condition.
• Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills e.g. specialist neurological or respiratory techniques, therapeutic handling, patient education, and other alternative options.
• To take delegated responsibility from the Band 7 physiotherapist for managing patients with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans for patients with these conditions.
• Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive management plans.
• Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent, which must be documented and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To comply with local confidentiality policies, child protection and vulnerable adult procedures.
• Use an extensive range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers; to motivate, gain co-operation, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating. For example, patients may be aphasic, depressed, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis, or realistic expectations of Physiotherapy intervention.
• Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.
• To manage clinical risk within own patient caseload and to report incidents and near miss

Person Specification
Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Demonstrable Post graduate experience in core rotations: Neurology or Neurosurgery, Acute Respiratory, Orthopaedics/MSK
• Demonstrable experience of teaching
• Proven evidence of contribution to clinical education / supervision of less experienced staff, students or assistants
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

• Previous demonstrable experience of working on a stroke unit or neurology ward
• Demonstrable experience working in Stroke rehabilitation or within the stroke pathway
• Clinical educator
• Demonstrable audit experience
• Proven evidence of service improvement

Qualifications
Essential

• Degree (BSc Hons Physiotherapy) or equivalent.
• HCPC registration
• Attendance at additional relevant professional courses

Desirable

• MSc relevant to the area
• Leadership qualification

Aptitude and abilities
Essential

• Professional manner
• Demonstrates effective and adaptable communication skills including written and verbal
• Proven evidence of using initiative.
• Clear and concise speech/communication
• Ability to prioritise workload
• Ability to recognise own limitations and act on them
• Problem solver
• Proven evidence of personal leadership
• Demonstrates an ability to respond effectively to complex, emotional or challenging situations

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of deputising for senior
• Proven evidence of Service Improvement

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.