Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy Team at Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust. We have a permanent vacancy for a specialist physiotherapist (Rotational).

This post will begin in the Developmental Coordination Disorders Team at Ryegate Children's Centre, working with children and young people with DCD, motor coordination difficulties and those who are neurodiverse. This is an excellent opportunity to work with a highly specialised team and develop a broad range of skills and expertise in relation to the DCD/neurodiverse population.

You will be a compassionate, accountable individual who treats all colleagues, patients and service users with respect and seeks to deliver excellence in their role. You will share the Trust values and be committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Main duties of the job

To provide a specialised and high standard of physiotherapy care as a member of the physiotherapy team and multi-professional teams within each rotation. To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessments of children presenting with a wide range of conditions and problems. To provide a diagnosis of the problem related to physiotherapy To develop and deliver an individualised treatment programme for each child. To independently manage a personal caseload of children within a defined area of the service or a particular client group, working without direct supervision. To access the advice, training and support from senior physiotherapists available but also undertake aspects of clinical duties as a developing autonomous practitioner

About us

Sheffield Children's is one of three independent, specialist paediatric hospitals in the country, providing dedicated healthcare for children and young people across community, mental health and acute specialist settings.

We have three overarching aims that set the direction for the Trust in our vision "to create a healthier future for children and young people."

Outstanding patient care Brilliant place to work Leader in children's health

Our commitment to rewarding colleagues is demonstrated through our brilliant reward and benefits offer including; generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme and access to salary sacrifice schemes such as cycle to work and lease cars.

We are committed to supporting colleagues from different heritages and lifestyles while at work. This is supported through the offer we have in place for flexible working and the three equality network groups we have in place. Colleagues are encouraged to join these groups and request flexible working.

Job description

Job responsibilities

CLINICAL

To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of own work, including the management of children in your care. To undertake advanced clinical assessments of children and use clinical reasoning skills and manual assessment techniques to provide an accurate diagnosis of the specific problems related to physiotherapy intervention. To design and deliver an individualised treatment programme based on sound knowledge of evidenced based practice and treatment options using clinical assessment, reasoning skills and knowledge of treatment options. To take delegated responsibility from the Advanced physiotherapist for managing a caseload of children with particular conditions and be responsible for providing specialist assessment and treatment plans. To recommend best course of intervention, taking into account such factors as the prognosis, age of child, family / carers circumstances, environmental factors etc. To develop comprehensive discharge / transfer plans as appropriate. To gain valid informed consent and work within a legal framework for patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment. To use a range of age appropriate verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with children and their family / carers and others involved with the child's care in order to progress treatment / interventions effectively To evaluate the child's progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes as appropriate. To manage clinical risk within own case load. To work within Trust and CSPs clinical guidelines, have a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor own and others quality of practice as required. When working in the community, work as a lone practitioner with the appropriate clinical and risk management support from senior colleagues. To be an active member of the respiratory evening and weekend on call rota. When working on the on call rota, undertake the assessment and treatment of acutely ill children with respiratory problems, who may have a complex presentation and maintain associated records as an autonomous practitioner. To work some or part of the weekend as and when services develop to incorporate 6 or 7 day working To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with local and CSP standards of practice. To represent the physiotherapy service or individual children at various multi-disciplinary meetings, to ensure the delivery of an integrated approach to treatment. This will involve discussion of the child's progress, aims and objectives, treatment planning plus discharge / transfer arrangements as appropriate. To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment including electrotherapy, gym equipment, aids and appliances and ensure that assistants / students / children / carers using such equipment attain competency through training To be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment including electrotherapy, gym equipment, aids and appliances and ensure that assistants / students / children / carers using such equipment attain competency through training

PROFESSIONAL

To undertake risk assessments on a daily basis, for example; work space, equipment, patients and self, using judgement skills to make the necessary adjustments in line with health and safety regulations To comply with the Health and Safety at work regulations and all other health, safety and security standards in accordance with Trust policies. To treat as confidential all information obtained during the course of duties undertaken. To participate in the appraisal scheme, be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through CPD activities and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development. To attend and participate in the Trust mandatory training plus departmental in-service training. To adhere to departmental and Trust policies and procedures. To teach, assess and contribute to the performance assessment and appraisal of assistant therapy staff. To maintain and develop current knowledge of evidenced based practice in the areas of each rotation, developing specialist knowledge of particular condition and patient types. To participate in the departments staff appraisal programme as an appraisee and be responsible for complying with your agreed objectives and supervision contract. To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of evidenced based practice projects, audit and outcome measures, either individually or with more senior colleagues. To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in formal learning, supervision sessions, peer review / support and external courses. To undertake, as directed the collection of QSM activity data for service management and other data for use in audit or research. To manage and undertake audit and research into specific areas of clinical practice and service delivery using a range of methodologies as part of multi-disciplinary audit / research and departmental initiatives. To be actively involved in professional clinical groups such as the journal club, action learning set, CSP clinical interest groups and other professional development activities. To provide clinical education and training to physiotherapy students to graduate level. To provide support, guidance and training to assistant therapy staff, assessing and evaluating competence.

ORGANISATIONAL

To be responsible for the supervision and delegation of appropriate tasks to more junior staff, assistants and students. To ensure that your own practice and that of any staff / students under your supervision meets the required professional standards and CSP rules of professional conduct. To deputise for the Advanced Physiotherapist in their absence, taking responsibility for operational management of the area to meet service priorities on a daily basis. To be responsible for organising and planning own caseload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change / arise. To contribute to the development, implementation and promotion of departmental and Trust policies and procedures. To ensure effective use of time, resources and organisational skills in order to promote an organised and efficient working environment.

Inclusive Recruitment & Selection

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and accurate data capture is an important part of that to ensure we are supportive and representative. Our aim is to ensure that all applicants can see themselves in the available categories on our application form, but we recognise that some of our data capture fields are not inclusive. We have flagged this with our system provider to ask for change.

We offer encouragement and active support to applicants with additional needs, including those from ethnic minorities, with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. If you wish to adjust any aspect of the recruitment process or wish to find out more about our recruitment & selection processes, please get in touch with our Recruitment Manager:

We are continually reviewing our recruitment & selection process to support the long-term aim of Sheffield Childrens being a champion of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion. If you have any ideas for improvement, please get in touch with Catherine Gilbert at

Trust Values

The Trust is committed to providing great quality patient care and keep children, young people and families at the heart of what we do by following our CARE values:

Compassion leading by kindness and showing empathy, understanding and respect Accountability striving to do the right thing and owning responsibility Respect value differences, tackling inequality and fostering a culture of inclusion Excellence delivering a high-quality standard of care Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

HPHC registration. Diploma / Degree in Physiotherapy. Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent, relevant postgraduate courses and in-service training. Portfolio evidence of reflective practice.

Desirable

Membership of the CSP. Membership of APCP

Experience

Essential

Variety of significant and relevant experience including respiratory care and knowledge of a broad variety of conditions. Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Experience of working with children either professionally or socially

Desirable

Significant paediatric caseload experience in an acute or community setting and including acute respiratory rotation Student / assistant supervision. Involvement in audit, research or service evaluation. Recent experience of (within 5 years) working within on call services Paediatric on call experience

Knowledge

Essential

Understanding of the legal responsibilities of the profession. Knowledge of clinical governance and it's implications for services. Understanding of family / team dynamics and how to develop working relationships with all involved in the child's care. Understanding of the impact of disability / hospitalisation on children and their families Understanding of data protection, confidentiality and health and safety requirements in meeting the needs of the child and family.

Desirable

Knowledge of consent issues specific to paediatrics. Simple research methodology.

Skills and Attributes

Essential

Competent skills Ability to present information, written and verbal in a clear and logical manner. Ability to organise, prioritise and delegate appropriately. Ability to keep accurate and legible clinical records. Ability to cope working in a stressful environment and within emotional or challenging situations. Problem solving approach Ability to communicate effectively and work well within a multi-professional team.

Desirable

Ability to organise internal / external courses.

Attributes

Essential

High level of interpersonal skills. Physically able to perform the duties of the job which includes manual handling. Reliable, punctual, flexible. Access to a car for commuting between homes and sites around the city, and delivering small pieces of therapy equipment. Evidence of car insurance for this activity.

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