Rehabilitation Specialist

Position Overview

Are you passionate about enhancing the lives of individuals recovering from strokes? This is a remarkable opportunity for a dedicated, organized, and enthusiastic Rehabilitation Specialist to become part of our community stroke service within the South Warwickshire locality team.

In this role, you will collaborate with a diverse team of healthcare professionals, including Speech and Language Specialists, Physiotherapists, Dietitians, and Psychologists. The successful candidate will engage in assessment and rehabilitation across two primary care pathways: Active Rehabilitation and Neuro Management. This multifaceted position offers the chance to refine specialized clinical skills in the field of stroke recovery.

We seek a Rehabilitation Specialist with substantial expertise in evaluating and treating stroke patients to join our supportive multidisciplinary team. A genuine passion for working with individuals, exceptional communication abilities, adaptability, effective time management, and strong organizational skills are essential for this role. The ability to travel independently is also a requirement.

You will benefit from ongoing support through performance reviews, supervision, team meetings, and access to in-house training opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

- Deliver high-quality service and oversee junior Rehabilitation staff within the specialty.

- Manage a designated caseload of patients within the service specialty area.

- Assist senior staff in the designated specialty to implement and uphold recognized professional standards, therapy pathways, and best practices.

About Our Organization

Join a Trust recognized for excellence. South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust has received outstanding ratings following our latest inspections, and we are expanding our team to enhance our services further.

We provide a wide range of services across Warwickshire and beyond, including hospitals and community services. We are a forward-thinking organization with ambitious goals to improve quality, integrate pathways, and achieve high productivity levels.

Our core values emphasize our commitment to providing safe, effective, and compassionate care. Throughout the recruitment process, candidates will be encouraged to reflect on how they embody these values in their work.

Responsibilities and Expectations

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

- Provide a high standard of Rehabilitation intervention and maintain service delivery through flexible, effective, and efficient prioritization based on specialized clinical judgment.

- Apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act to obtain consent for interventions for patients with capacity or make best interest decisions for those who lack capacity.

- Collaborate with clients and caregivers to identify and establish client-centered, specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely (SMART) goals using specialized assessment information and complete designated outcome measures.

- Select and utilize standardized and non-standardized assessment tools relevant to Rehabilitation.

- Plan, implement, and review patient-centered individual and/or group assessments and interventions using meaningful graded activities based on specialized knowledge of best practices and clinical reasoning.

- Analyze complex clinical, social, and environmental factors to recommend the most effective course of intervention and develop/review treatment and discharge plans.

- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of relevant external agencies' eligibility criteria and Trust policies to effectively refer patients to these services.

- Ensure safe and competent use of all daily living equipment, as documented in the individual Medical Devices Log, and ensure junior staff and clients attain competency prior to use.

- Adhere to relevant legislation and comply with the Professional Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Standards for Rehabilitation, ensuring junior staff are aware of these standards.

Performance Metrics

- Comply with Health and Safety guidelines, maintain a safe environment, and ensure that junior and support staff are aware of their obligations.

- Maintain accurate verbal, non-verbal, written, and electronic patient records, reports, and activity data, ensuring compliance with professional and Trust record-keeping standards.

- Contribute to Key Performance Indicator targets and ensure they are recorded for the designated specialty area in line with Trust policies and service protocols.

- Prescribe and order daily living equipment in accordance with Integrated Community Equipment Service policies and budgetary limits.

- Identify stock and non-stock items to maintain departmental resources and assist in annual stock assessments in line with service procedures and Trust financial instructions.

- Engage in research opportunities, critically evaluate current research, and apply findings to practice at a local level.

- Assist in implementing Rehabilitation objectives aligned with Divisional and Trust goals.

- Participate in the recruitment, selection, and retention of staff.

Communication and Collaboration

- Develop effective therapeutic relationships through a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills.

- Serve as an accredited fieldwork educator and support fieldwork placements for Rehabilitation students.

- Provide training and teaching opportunities for staff and students from various disciplines.

- Contribute to the induction of new Rehabilitation staff and students.

- Identify training needs for junior and support staff through performance reviews and contribute to the development of the Rehabilitation training plan.

- Notify senior staff of absences when necessary and provide day-to-day operational management in their absence.

- Offer Rehabilitation expertise at local and regional meetings to enhance service delivery.

- Respect the equality, dignity, and diversity of individuals, ensuring services are sensitive to these needs.

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Rehabilitation Therapy
• State Registration with Health Care Professions Council
• Postgraduate experience/training in clinical specialty
• Accredited Fieldwork Educator

Desirable

• Management training
• Membership in a Professional body (COT)

Experience

Essential

• Sound clinical experience/training within the area of specialty
• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience supervising junior staff
• Experience supervising students on placement
• Experience providing clinical education to junior staff and students
• Experience with Health and Safety legislation/risk assessments

Desirable

• Experience in clinical audit and/or leading a clinical project

Skills

Essential

• Specialist knowledge and application of Rehabilitation assessments and interventions relevant to specialty
• Comprehensive clinical experience and knowledge of Rehabilitation models of practice and outcome measures
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workload
• Ability to work autonomously and manage an independent caseload of complex cases
• Ability to analyze and respond to complex information and professional/ethical issues
• Ability to comprehend and work within Trust policies and procedures, including data protection, equal opportunities, and health and safety
• Detailed knowledge of relevant legislation and national priorities
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Sound understanding of the Rehabilitation role and service needs
• Detailed knowledge of clinical governance and its application
• Ability to monitor and evaluate performance and initiate changes to work practices
• Presentation and training skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to build effective working relationships within a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work collaboratively as a team member
• Understanding of professional conduct
• Ability to work flexibly to meet service demands
• Ability to implement change
• Ability to organize and manage self and others
• Ability to handle difficult and distressing clinical situations

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Willingness to work in various locations
• Prepared to work during weekends
• Independent means of transport
• Evidence of continuous professional development and commitment to personal growth
• Physically capable of performing the duties of the position