Physiotherapy Professional Lead, Learning Disabilities Service

Are you an outstanding Learning Disability Physiotherapist looking for new challenges in your career?

We are looking for a Physiotherapist Professional Lead to join our new Specialist Community Learning Disability Service.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team as we introduce a new clinical model, offering standard and enhanced pathways provided in community settings, close to people's homes.

The service transformation has been co-designed and co-produced with stakeholders both inside and outside of the organisation alongside expert by experience, carers, and service users.

You will work alongside patients, their families, carers, and other Sheffield services using innovative, evidence-based techniques and a diverse range of skills to have a long-term, meaningful impact on the lives of people with a learning disability.

You will provide professional clinical leadership for Learning Disability physiotherapists and work collaboratively with the MDT which includes Physiotherapy, Specialist Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychiatry, and a referral team. Being a visible leader is vital within this role.

This is a great job for a dedicated professional and a real opportunity to make your mark and grow people and services whilst being hugely passionate about physiotherapy. We welcome applications from AHPs with lived experience.

1. To provide specialist Physiotherapy professional leadership in the planning and delivery of Physiotherapy within Learning Disabilities across the different service areas.
2. To provide clinical leadership and management to a designated staff group as required by the service including recruitment, supervision, and development of these staff within the multidisciplinary context.
3. To manage a small caseload of clients and provide specialist clinical intervention and person-centred treatment for people with complex needs.
4. To lead the physiotherapy team to provide a full assessment of needs, treatment, and management of adults with a learning disability, including equipment and postural needs in community settings.
5. To demonstrate appropriate physical skills in the handling, positioning, and treatment of people with complex needs.
6. To provide/hold clinical specialism and provide leadership in line with current standards of practice for Physiotherapy in Specialist Learning Disability.
7. To provide clinical leadership and supervision across the Community Learning Disability Team for Physiotherapy staff, assistant, and AHP support workers.
8. To advise, support, and provide training to carers and relevant professionals regarding the care and management of the client's Physiotherapy needs.
9. To work with other Professional Leads to develop and review processes and systems to support high-quality practice for adults with a Learning Disability.
10. To be responsible for specialist Physiotherapy professional leadership in the planning and delivery of Physiotherapy within Learning Disabilities prioritising clinical needs to provide an effective service.
11. To be responsible for the planning and delivery of care pathways as required by the learning disabilities service.
12. To accept clinical responsibility for a designated caseload with complex presentations, prioritising need and taking on a coordinating role within the team, where relevant.
13. To undertake a comprehensive Physiotherapy assessment of clients using investigative and analytical skills to formulate individualised treatment plans.
14. To plan and implement client-centred individual and/or group interventions using clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment methods to achieve therapeutic goals.
15. To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment for clients with multiple needs in order to measure progress and ensure effectiveness of intervention.
16. To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework with clients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
17. To work with clients, carers, and relatives who may have distressing social/clinical circumstances.
18. To support Physiotherapy staff in the Learning Disabilities service in the development and implementation of evidence-based practice in Physiotherapy.
19. To provide specialist professional advice to junior Physiotherapy staff and MDT locally and across organisations.
20. Be responsible for the development and implementation of highly specialist programmes of care to adults accessing Learning Disability services.
21. Offer highly specialist expert opinions and therapeutic interventions where often opinions differ or little information is available.
22. Ensure that the range of equipment is suited to a range of needs and is updated in accordance with the changing needs of the service and with technological advances.
23. To contribute to the Trust or Learning Disability Service on-call rota as required.
24. To demonstrate skills in communicating complex sensitive and contentious information to clients and carers as appropriate.
25. To promote awareness of the role of Physiotherapy within the team, locally and nationally negotiating priorities where appropriate.
26. To contribute to the development of the strategic direction of Physiotherapy provision within Community Learning Disabilities.

Please see the Job Description for full details.