Orthotist

An opportunity has presented itself for an enthusiastic individual to work within the Podiatry and Orthotic Department. The post holder will join a growing team to provide orthotic clinical care to patients in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB).

The successful candiate will join the Orthotic Team as an Orthotist to work across CTM alongside the Clinical Lead for Orthotics and the commissioned provision. They will be an integral member of the orthotic team providing outpatient and inpatient care and contribute to ongoing service development, audit and quality improvement. The Orthotic Service provides outpatient and inpatient provision across Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB working with closely with podiatrists working in the Acute and MSK sub speciality.

The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this post; Welsh and/or English speakers are equally welcome to apply.

The post holder will ensure a patient centred approach whilst working within professional guidelines to ensure clinical effectiveness for optimal care pathways.

They will hold a broad clinical caseload across hospital sites within the UHB. The caseload will include both outpatients and inpatients and may also include domiciliary visits to patients own homes, residential and nursing homes across the localities.

The post holder will have clinically autonomous input in the management of clinical cases, working within multi-disciplinary teams (MDT’s) in relation to the assessment and provision of orthoses.

They will be responsible for the assessment, formulation and implementation of individual treatment plans to facilitate patient goals and monitoring outcomes as required. They will use clinical reasoning skills and knowledge of evidenced based practice to treat a range of patient groups.

The post holder will be responsible for accurate record keeping in line with HCPC standards, professional standards and CTMUHB policy.

The post holder will supervise support staff as necessary, take an active part in supervision of students and provide professional support for peers and colleagues outside of the orthotic team.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is part of the NHS Wales family. Our Health Board provides primary, secondary and community health and wellbeing services to around 450,000 people living in three County Boroughs: Bridgend Merthyr Tydfil, and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

**We live by our core values**:
We listen, learn and improve

We treat everyone with respect

We all work together as one team

We are a proud local employer; around 80% of our 15000 workforce live within our region, making our staff not only our lifeblood of our organisation but of the diverse communities that we serve.

**The post holder will**:

- Be responsible for the safe provision of orthotic devices in a manner which ensures best value for money whilst meeting the patient’s needs.
- Be familiar with the All Wales contract, in place to achieve best value nationally and consider contract items as first line of treatment.
- Ensure risks are minimised and documented appropriately.
- Undertake autonomous clinical examination and assessment of patients providing specialist bespoke orthotic devices.
- Prescribe orthotic devices specifying: design, components, materials and fabrication methods for bespoke orthoses.
- Evaluate the completed device on the patient to ensure desired quality of body device-interface, functional alignment, comfort, cosmetic appearance and mechanical safety and integrity.
- Perform adjustments with hand tools and machinery in line with the original product design and in a way which maintains the quality.
- Communicate with technicians remotely to request adjustments not possible in clinic, ensuring that the adjustment is made in a timely and effective way to avoid delay to the patient.

Demonstrate a highly developed physical skills set with the hand, eye and sensory coordination required to be safe practitioner in situations which are restricted through patients injuries, anatomical positioning and health condition or impairment.
Gain consent to clinical assessment and delivery of clinical intervention and appropriately record at each appointment.
- Use clinical outcome measures and PROMS as appropriate to demonstrate the effectiveness of orthotic intervention.
- Evaluate follow up timescales to meet patient needs with respect to individual treatment plan, discharging patients at the conclusion of an episode of care in line with department guidelines.
- Facilitate timely onward referral to appropriate health care professionals in order that optimal patient care is achieved and maintained.
- Have recognition of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists Guidelines for Best Practice and make clinical decisions based on evidenced practice.
- Report any adverse incidents relating to the provision of orthoses in line with CTMUHB policy.
- Maintain patient safety and engage in national reporting and monitoring procedur