Oncology physiotherapist

Job: Senior oncology physiotherapist (UK ONLY)

Hours: 1-2 days part-time, self-employed freelance position with possibility of employment for the right candidate)

Reporting to: Director/Head of Integrative Cancer Care and Practice Manager

Place of work: Hybrid – some remote days but must be able to travel regularly to Twyford and Cookham, Berkshire (at least two days a week)

Essential - unrestricted right to work in the UK with HCPC registration and physiotherapy experience specifically within the oncology setting

Background

Synthesis Clinic is a specialist-led practice where the very best of contemporary, cutting-edge precision medicine and precision health is interwoven with evidence-based nutrition, lifestyle, prehabilitation/rehabilitation, psycho-emotional wellbeing, and complementary therapies.

Founded by Dr Nina Fuller-Shavel, our clinic offers an award-winning personalised approach to women’s health and integrative cancer care, which champions empowerment with expertise and empathy at its core.

Job Summary:

To work within the CSP guidelines for good practice and provide a comprehensive physiotherapy service within the integrative oncology team. To support the management of specialist cancer rehabilitation and lymphoedema treatment.

Principal Areas of Responsibility:

Professional/ Clinical

·     To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspect of own work, including the management of patients in your care.

·     Undertake comprehensive assessments of oncology patients. Use advanced clinical reasoning skills in the formulation of treatment plans to manage patients’ symptoms and support their rehabilitation in both the inpatient and outpatient settings.

·     Formulate accurate prognoses, recommend best course of intervention and develop comprehensive discharge plans.

·     To be able to utilise highly developed therapeutic handling skills to support the symptom management and rehabilitation of patients. We are ideally looking for a candidate trained in lymphoedema management, cancer prehabilitation and rehabilitation and scar therapy alongside general physiotherapy skills.

·     To be able to assess the impact of presenting condition on all aspects of patient’s life (i.e. activities of daily living, community participation, vocation etc.) and to determine appropriate management plans, including onward referral as appropriate.

·     Able to create and implement rehabilitation programmes with patients, families and carers including education, compensatory and restorative strategies.

·     To utilise skills outside of the scope of physiotherapy to determine clinical diagnoses and formulate holistic treatment plans in collaboration with the wider integrative oncology MDT.

·     Assess patient 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.

·     To keep accurate, legible records of patient care in line with service guidelines

·     To communicate effectively both verbally and non-verbally with patients and their carers to maximise rehabilitation potential. This includes working with patients who have complex communication problems such as dysphasia, memory problems, hearing/visual problems and cognitive problems.

·     Work effectively with those patients whose first language is not English and take into consideration diversity issues in particular differing cultural awareness.

·   Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

·     Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required.

·    Manage clinical risk within own patient caseload.

·  Work within clinical guidelines and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy guidelines and to have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate.

·  To use clinical knowledge and expertise to assist in the identification of service gaps or development needs and be proactive in carrying out training for the department.

·  To communicate and liaise with other members of the health care team with regarding patients’ treatment planning and promote interaction between the multidisciplinary team.

·  To correctly charge patients for all treatments and equipment issued.

· Attend MDT meetings, case conferences and clinical reviews as appropriate, and produce physiotherapy reports as required.

· To promote open and friendly communication throughout the clinic

·  To act as an educational resource i.e. give presentations, advice, written communication for other individuals, professionals or agencies requiring support and information on behalf of Synthesis Clinic as discussed with leadership/management.

Management

·     Plan the effective daily management of a caseload of patients including responding to urgent referrals

·     Objectively assess caseload and provide clear, constructive feedback to the wider integrative oncology team in a manner most likely to maintain and improve performance.

·     To be able to prioritise clinical work and balance other professional activities in accordance with the practice requirements.

·     Represent the physiotherapy service and / or individual patients in the multidisciplinary service. This will include discussion of patient progress and involvement in care planning.

·     To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment, aids and appliances used by patients.

·   To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner including but not limited to terminal care.

·     To work with the multidisciplinary team to provide an efficient and effective service, and to be involved in the proposal/development and implementation of clinic policies.

·     To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information as required in consultation with senior staff and for business management meetings.

·     To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the practice manager immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken in line with clinic Health and Safety policies.

Research and Development

·     To be responsible for the maintenance and development of own competency to practice and professional registration, taking responsibility for ensuring own continuing professional development by attendance at postgraduate training courses (the clinic may fund additional training as approved by the director). Actively support the learning needs of peers and the wider multiprofessional team.

·     To be responsible for the evaluation and measurement of own practice through the use and implementation of appropriate outcome measures, audit, patient and referrer surveys and other evidence-based quality improvement initiatives.

·     To participate in the appraisal scheme as an appraisee. To be responsible for identifying, implementing and achieving development needs and recommended actions for performance review and development plan.

·     To maintain and monitor own professional standards in accordance with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and HCPC standards.

·     To attend and actively participate in staff meetings and in-service training.

·     To attend, where possible, post graduate lectures and courses and to share this knowledge with peers.

·     To undertake clinical audit and research as agreed with the Practice Manager and Director

·     To attend the mandatory courses as determined by Synthesis Clinic

·   To educate and develop awareness of physiotherapy services and interventions during any outreach activities conducted by Synthesis Clinic.

General

·     To comply with all policies and procedures of the Synthesis Clinic

·     To undertake any other relevant duties as required by the Practice Manager

·     To ensure that that the physiotherapy service develops in line with clinic developments

·     To participate in the general care and function of the integrative oncology team

·     Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and employees are expected to safeguarding people by recognising and responding when an adult or child might be at risk from abuse but also recognising their own limits and asking for help and escalate concerns when necessary.

·     Escalating safety concerns and by doing so acting as effective advocates for those who use our services.