Rotational Orthopaedic Physiotherapist

Job summary

A fantastic opportunity has arisen within our large, friendly and hard working team of Physiotherapists; we are seeking a like-minded, enthusiastic, well-motivated individual to join the Trauma and Orthopaedic team at Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust, a busy district general hospital on the South Coast.

This post rotates through trauma, elective, the specialist femoral fracture unit and Amputee Rehabilitation at the Portsmouth Enablement Centre (PEC) at St Mary's Hospital. We pride ourselves on our close working relationships with all of our MDT members and you will join a well led and cohesive team.

Across the Trauma service you will see a variety of patients including head injuries, spinal fractures, spinal cord injuries and polytrauma. Specialist support and joint working opportunities are provided by our Acute Neurological Physiotherapy team, Orthotics service and our links with the Wessex Trauma Network for complex trauma pathways.

Our Elective Orthopaedic Service has recently launched our new short-stay arthroplasty pathway, optimising patients preoperatively through our highly regarded joint school programme, facilitating early mobilisation from day 0 and the launch of our post-operative 2 week knee clinic.

The post holder is expected to be part of the weekend late shift Orthopaedic rota and the respiratory on-call rota. On-call training and competencies are provided by a core group of respiratory physiotherapists via a well established training programme.

Main duties of the job

Senior Rotational Physiotherapist within Orthopaedics and PEC, rotating through Trauma, Elective, Femoral Fracture Unit and the Patient Enablement Centre (PEC). Rotation length 9 months - 1 year. To be a key driver and facilitator of discharge within the Orthopaedic setting, linking with community services to provide support. Commitment to late shifts (12noon-8pm), weekend working rotas and respiratory out of hours on-call. To perform advance physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse range of presentations. To provide clinical reasoning, and develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme. To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of the service working without direct supervision. Supervision will take the form of regular formal training and clinical reasoning sessions, peer review and case conferences. Access to advice and support from a specialist physiotherapist if required. To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner. Participate in CPD and other departmental activities. Supervise junior qualified staff, associate practitioners, technicians and students. Take responsibility for students - supervise, educate and assess the performance of physiotherapy students; this wold be to a graduate standard and involve working with universities to ensure the standard of practice and teaching meets the standards set by the degree level qualification.

About us

Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of patients in your care. To undertake a comprehensive assessment of a variety of patients including those with diverse or complex presentations and co-existing pathologies; use advanced clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of their condition. Formulate and deliver an individual physiotherapy treatment programme based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment skills manual physiotherapy techniques and handling skills, patient and carer education, and other alternative options. To identify appropriate discharge pathways for patients taking into account considerations of patient wishes, MDT views using a Home First approach where appropriate. To identify health and social care problems requiring assessment /intervention from other agencies, and with the consent of the patient action those referrals. To take delegated responsibility from the senior physiotherapist team leader for managing patients and be responsible for providing specialist physiotherapy assessment and treatment plans. Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend best course of intervention, developing comprehensive care plans in conjunction with the patient, carer and the multiprofessional team. 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 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. This will include patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating as a consequence of a neurological deficit or other co-existing pathologies. For example, patients may have expressive or receptive language difficulties, have cognitive impairment, depression, deaf, blind or who may be unable to accept diagnosis. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if required. Manage clinical risk within own patient case load. Work within local and national guidelines. Monitor own and others quality of practice as appropriate (according to Chartered Society of Physiotherapy standards of practice). If working in a domicillary setting, manage work as a lone practitioner (with telephone support from a specialist physiotherapist if required). This is in adherence to Trust and service home working policies. When working on the emergency duty on-call rota, provide advice to medical and nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team regarding patients respiratory and chest functions/conditions. Undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill patients with respiratory problems, who may have a complex presentation (when working on the out of hours / on-call rota). Maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner. Participate in a weekend working rota.

Management

Plan the effective daily management of a caseload of patients including responding to urgent referrals and occasionally unpredictable work patterns.

To be able to prioritise clinical work. To balance other patient related and professional activities in accordance with the departmental requirements.

Be responsible for the supervision and co-ordination of Band 5 staff, physiotherapy support staff and students on a daily basis, their clinical practice and record keeping.

Represent the physiotherapy service and / or individual patients at the multi-disciplinary team board meetings, to ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multi-disciplinary approach, integrating physiotherapy intervention into the rehabilitaion programme. This will include discussion of patient progress and involvement in discharge and transfer of care planning.

To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment, gym equipment and patient appliances and aids used by patients; ensure that Band 5 , 4 or 3 staff attain competency prior to use.

To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to your line manager and the physiotherapy manager immediately to ensure that appropriate action may be taken in line with Trust Health and Safety Policies.

Deputise for team leader in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the team, allocating and organising the work of Band 5, 4 ,3 or 2 staff to meet service priorities on a daily basis.

To be able to manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathic manner in caring patients and dealing with their carers.

To work with the physiotherapy team to provide an efficient and effective service. To be involved in the proposal, development and implementation of departmental policies and the annual business plan.

To maintain and provide accurate and timely statistical information as required in consultation with senior staff.

To participate in the Trust appraisal scheme.

Communication

To communicate effectively with other members of the multi professional team or to whom the patients care is transferred to ensure a consistent multidisciplinary approach to care. To liaise with other therapists throughout the continuum of care, as necessary with regard to patient care To be able to communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff including imparting unwelcome news. To ensure timely and effective communication to the physiotherapy managers and senior staff on all professional matters. To maintain an accurate record keeping system in line with CSP standards and local guidelines. To attend any ward rounds, meetings, case conferences (as appropriate) in order to ensure appropriate and timely management of patients through to transfer of care/discharge. To attend and be an active participant in specialty, peer group and departmental staff meetings.

Education

To be responsible for the training of students on clinical placement and band 5, 4, 3 or 2 staff within the clinical area. To be responsible for and actively record your own personal development. To keep abreast of all new developments which includes attending relevant study days and visits to specialist units in consultation with the physiotherapy team. Organise and implement physiotherapy and multiprofessional training sessions when required in the relevant department To disseminate knowledge to physiotherapy staff through in-service training and be available for training other healthcare professionals as required. To participate in the IST and post registration education

Research/Audit

To participate in appropriate work related research/evaluation projects and to be aware of current research relevant to the specialty. To undertake and present a relevant evidence based project (as part of appraisal). To participate in clinical audit and evaluate your own clinical effectiveness in line with the Trusts commitment to Clinical Governance. Ensure any ideas to improve quality of patient care are investigated through the physiotherapy service channels.

Effort

To carry out assessments/treatments of neurological/elderly/respiratory conditions, with frequent moderate physical effort on a daily basis. To comply with the Trust Manual Handling Policy and local therapeutic handling guidance (at all times). To deal sensitively with patients who have high levels of anxiety and aggression caused by pain, dementia or limited mobility. The job involves frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular (daily basis) bodily fluids including sputum, vomit, urine, and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression. There is frequent exposure to distressing circumstances death, loss of limbs and palliative care. Lone working during on-call service, assessing and managing risk. To provide regular support to more junior staff members who may have been exposed to emotional and stressful situations. The job involves managing high caseloads, unpredictable work patterns and frequent sustained concentration caring for unstable patients or emergency situations.

Other

Maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, participate in appropriate training activities and encourage and support staff development and training. Always keep requirements in mind and seek out to improve, including achieving customer service performance targets. Adhere to Trust policies and procedures, Health and Safety at Work, Equal Opportunities, and No Smoking. Act in such a way that at all times, the health and well-being of children and vulnerable adults is safeguarded. Familiarisation with and adherence to the Safeguarding Policies of the Trust is an essential requirement for all employees. In addition, all staff are expected to complete essential/mandatory training in this area. Respect the confidentiality of all matters that they may learn relating to their employment and other members of staff. All staff are expected to respect and conform to the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, including the responsibility to ensure that personal data is accurate and kept up to date. Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Health Care Professions Council Registration BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, or equivalent Member Chartered Society Physiotherapy

Experience

Essential

Relevant post registration experience as a physiotherapist (18months +) Evidence of student or physiotherapy assistant supervision Evidence of working in a tesm Evidence of CPD documented

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

Understand the legal responsibilities of the profession Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate Effective written and oral communication Understand clinical governance and its implications for services. Include experience of quality issues and audit Ability to recognise when to seek advice Ability to keep accurate and legible patient notes Competent IT skills Presentation skills Knowledge of audit Ability to work as part of a close knit team Self-motivated, self-starter, able to organise a large and varied work programme Numerate Literate in English Being flexible and adaptable at work in order to meet competing priorities Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and with emotional or aggressive patients and carers

---