Learning Disability Physiotherapist

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity torecruit a specialist Physiotherapist within our community learning disabilityteam who provide services on behalf of the NHS.

Thisis a 9-month fixed term contract (ideally commencing August 2024) to covermaternity leave.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will join ourmulti-disciplinary specialist healthcare team, which forms part of the NeurodevelopmentService (NdS). We provide a service foradults with learning disabilities living in Kingston and Richmond boroughs. Weare a committed, innovative and vibrant team comprising SALT, Nursing,Psychology (including Behaviour Analysts), Psychiatry and Dietetics.

The successful candidate will provide specialist,evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and interventions to our service usersand their carers/families/support network.

You will work within a well-established,dynamic and supportive multi-disciplinary team.We highly value and are committed to regular formal supervision andsupport.

About us

Your Healthcare CIC, is part of the NHSfamily of organisations delivering high quality and user led health and socialcare services within Kingston and Richmond. Our status as a Community InterestCompany allows us to invest any surplus back into clinical services, where itis needed most. We have all the advantages of the NHS ( AFC pay scales,pension scheme and high cost area supplement) coupled with an innovative,responsive and flexible approach to service delivery and development. Weencourage our staff members to use their freedoms to continually improveservices and themselves.

Job description

Job responsibilities

2. Job Purpose

To be a member of the specialist healthcare team, providing highly specialist clinical physiotherapy assessments and interventions for people with learning disabilities in the London Boroughs of Kingston upon Thames and Richmond.

3. Dimensions

Leadership and Management:

To support, inform and advise the Lead Physiotherapist in shaping a dynamic, forward-thinking service that provides high quality, evidence-based interventions for adults with learning disabilities. To support the Leads Team across the Neurodevelopmental services around Clinical Governance (including Audit) to inform future commissioning. To take responsibility for implementing actions relevant to physiotherapy as directed by the LeDer steering group. To work with physiotherapy and therapy colleagues in other service areas within the health sector, for example Community Neuro Rehab Team, Community Respiratory Services, Childrens, wheelchair and special seating, to develop a care pathway which is flexible and responsive to need. To contribute to leadership across Your Healthcare to facilitate stream-lined services with the aim of achieving effective need-based services. To undertake clinical audits to evaluate and improve current physiotherapy services and pathways (Mobility and Postural pathways).

Clinical:

To take responsibility for an allocated physiotherapy caseload, working autonomously and independently. To work in collaboration with other agencies to provide advice, training and consultancy in order to establish consistent good practice. To provide training and education to service users, carers and others as required. To contribute to risk assessment processes and ensure that the safety and welfare of service users, self and others are considered when planning and providing clinical intervention. To contribute to leadership within the service clinical pathways, eg Dementia, Transition, Complex Health Pathway. To prioritise and discharge referrals timely and communicate with referrers and other key individuals on a regular basis. To work with vulnerable people with highly complex needs in ways which respect their rights, choices and best interests at all times. To use person centred, evidence-based principles to assess, plan, implement and evaluate interventions and keep accurate records of work done. To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team and contribute to the effective working and development of the team and the service. To be a key contributor to the multi-disciplinary team for management of dysphagia. To participate in continuing professional development, supervision and appraisal and keep abreast of developments and changes in clinical practice in this area. To take responsibility for supervision, mentoring and support for junior colleagues and peers, both internally and externally with a particular focus on clinical supervision around postural management. To lead and support junior and peer clinicians across Neurodevelopmental Service with clinical decision making and complex case/risk management.

4. Key Result Areas

To work in accordance with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and Health Professions Council Standard s of practice and provide a high standard of physiotherapy assessment advice and intervention as part of coordinated multidisciplinary packages of input designed to meet presenting needs. To provide highly specialist assessment and intervention for people with postural needs and implementing 24-hour Postural Management plans. To case co-ordinate highly complex cases. To advocate on behalf of individual clients with due regard for cultural and linguistic differences, ensuring that their rights and choices are respected. To take a lead role in establishing mental capacity, and ensuring that clients are as involved as possible in decisions about their care. To provide accessible advice and guidance to people with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families in a person-centred way. To have a high level of expertise and experience and leadership on clinical interventions for adults with a learning disability and autistic spectrum conditions, mental health issues, dementia, profound multiple learning disabilities. To demonstrate ability to concentrate and focus in order to write complex reports, guidelines and strategies. Ability to cope with the physical effort required to work across sites, and to work with people with challenging behaviour and complex needs. To support people with learning disabilities to access mainstream health and other services ensuring effective liaison and joint working with other practitioners. To be aware of the needs of vulnerable people and report any concerns regarding standards of care, practice or safety appropriately. To maintain and continue to develop professional competencies.

Communication and working relationships

To liaise and work together with other disciplines and professionals within the neurodevelopmental disability service, at a level of clinical leadership. To liaise and work with outside agencies including childrens safeguarding services, the police, adult safeguarding services and the homeless service to contain and manage risk. To keep contemporaneous records and comply with regulations from the data protection act. To communicate effectively with clients with significant physical, cognitive and mental health impairments. To frequently communicate very complex and/or highly sensitive condition related information from assessments to clients, carers, families, members of the MDT and other professionals. To maintain sensitivity at all times to the emotional needs of clients/carers in particular when imparting potentially distressing information regarding diagnosis and or/prognosis. To work with people who have life limiting and degenerative conditions with professionalism, compassion and empathy. To demonstrate the ability to work with adults with behaviours that challenge including the development and application of appropriate management strategies

Decision making

To demonstrate clinical decision making by use of evidence-based practice and outcome measures. To plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information. To provide leadership and facilitate risk management within the highly specialist area of neurodevelopmental disabilities and complex postural management. To manage and prioritise a highly complex and demanding caseload independently; including new referrals, wait list, client reviews and discharge. To work within defined departmental and national protocols and polices, and within the professional code of conduct.

Leadership

To lead on policy development around postural management, PMLD and other areas across the Neurodevelopmental service. To develop care protocols/packages/guidance relating to Neurodevelopmental disabilities in liaison with the Lead therapist to improve client care. To support the Lead Physiotherapist and Leads Team and be committed to service development and improvement. To support the Lead Physiotherapist and Leads Team in developing effective audit and reporting systems. To lead on and develop the clinical pathways (Postural and Mobility Pathways) within the Physiotherapy service. To develop innovations in areas of risk management and clinical effectiveness. To coordinate, monitor and review the use of financial resources. To co-ordinate, lead, participate and chair multi-disciplinary meetings, reviews, departmental and any other meetings relevant to this post (including working parties and governance). To assist in planning and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate teaching/training as required. To comply with health and safety and infection control with due regard to personal, client and carer wellbeing. To demonstrate ability to cope with the demands and stress created by an extremely busy and highly complex specialist service. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy registered with HCPC Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

Membership of CSP Accredited leadership training

Experience

Essential

Working in a fully integrated multi-disciplinary team. Experience of working with people who have life limiting/degenerative conditions Experience of giving clinical supervision to a range of different levels of competence Experience of working with seating assessments and 27/7 postural management

Desirable

7 years post qualification experience Teaching in a specialist area Experience of developing policies/protocols Experience of audit and service development initiatives

Knowledge

Essential

Broad based knowledge of application of physiotherapy assessments and intervention. Understanding of the role of physiotherapy within community-based services for people with complex disabilities. Knowledge and implementation of mental capacity act with service users Understanding and application of risk assessment and risk management. Knowledge of 24/7 postural management in the community

Personal qualities

Essential

Self-motivated and enthusiastic with high professional standards Team player Excellent interpersonal skills Able to manage complex and emotionally difficult cases

Skills and abilities

Essential

Excellent written and verbal communication skills Able to independently manage a highly complex caseload Able to plan and prioritise strategically to meet service needs Good IT skills Communicates effectively and confidently with clients, carers, outside agencies and other professionals Leadership skills Conflict Resolution skills

Other factors

Desirable

Ability to work flexible across sites Ability to work out of core hours to meet service needs and reduce risk. Car driver

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