Highly Specialist Physiotherapist in Spasticity

• TheHighly SpecialistPhysiotherapist/Occupational therapistinSpasticitydelivers an enhanced level of practice andclinical leadership withinthedefined areas of thepathway.
• The postwillincludeworking within a multidisciplinaryteam of Neurologists, rehabilitation medicine physicians and physiotherapists assessing and managing patientswithmixed and complex presentations.
• The post holder willdeliver ultrasound guided botulinum toxin injectionsto manage spasticity, working within the scope of practiceand competenceof the individual, either as anon-medicalprescriber orutilisingappropriate useof patient group directions.
• They willsupport theMDT in thedeliveryof thespasticityservice including management of referrals, participation in multi-disciplinary team clinics, and making onwards referrals whenrequired.
• Work as an autonomous, highly skilled clinician, to provide a specialised service of physiotherapy including assessment, treatment, advice and education for patients, carers/familiesand staffwithin the spasticityoutpatient clinics.
• Provideappropriate trainingand education to other Health care professionals,includingphysiotherapists and students. To be an expert resource within the Physiotherapy service forthisspecialistpatient group.
• To work with and deputise for the Pathway Lead Physiotherapist asappropriate.

• To ensure the provision of effective and efficient therapy management to the patientswithin thespecialty.
• Toutiliseenhanced andextended scope skillsand be professionally and legally accountable for ahighly specialisedcaseload.
• Decide priorities for own work area, balancing other patient related and professional demands.
• To ensure safe and legal medicinemanagement, in lineindividual competence,trustpatient group direction and non-medical prescribing policies
• Towork to Trust,Professional BodyandHealth & Care Professions Council (HCPC)professional, legaland regulatorystandards.
• Maintain anup-to-dateworking knowledgeof relevant nationalclinical and regulatorystandards to which quality of practice should bemonitored.
• To useappropriate assessmenttools,monitorprogress and measure the outcomes of treatment for individual patientswithin the service.
• To formulate individualised clinical management programmes, utilising a wide range of treatment skills and options to plan ahighly-specialisedprogramme of care.
• To evaluate andmodifytreatment plans according to patient needs, discharging them whenappropriate. Seek advice from others when necessary and work without direct supervision.
• Toidentifyand employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients where there may be barriers to understanding or the inability to accept diagnosis.
• To provide spontaneous and planned expert advice, teaching and instruction to patients, relatives, carers, other disciplines, and agencies. To promote understanding of the aims of physiotherapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.
• To be a lead member of themultidisciplinary team and to attend caseconferencesandensureaccuratedocumentation of the outcome of these meetings within the physiotherapy records.
• Keepaccurateandup to date records of treatment and interventions in line with legal and departmental policy.
• To work flexibly across the physiotherapy teams toassistinmaintainingphysiotherapy covertoensure a continuation of service.
• To undertake mandatory training,in accordance withTrust Policy.
• Ensure the Health and Safety of patients,carersand staff during therapy, managing clinical risk byidentifyingany potential problems and resolving these prior to, during or after treatment.
• To fullyparticipateinanypattern of workingthatisrequiredtomeet the needs ofthe service in the future.
• All Clinical staff are accountable and responsible for their own clinical competence and should limit their actions to those for which they aredeemedcompetent in line with guidance from their professional bodies.

• To educate patients/relatives/carersregardingthe nature of thecondition,andthe aims of physiotherapy interventions,as part of an overall management plan.
• Toberesponsibleformaintainingown competency topracticethroughcontinuing professional developmentopportunities.
• Toparticipatein peer review asappropriate.
• To take an active role inappropriate researchinitiatives.
• Incollaboration with the Pathway Leads,initiateimplementation of new working practices.
• Incollaboration with the Pathway Leads, to prepare, co-ordinate,participate, and contribute to the delivery of a specific in-service training programmes for staff in the designated pathway
• To undertake supervision and performanceassessment ofphysiotherapists,therapy support workers,andphysiotherapy students.
• Toparticipatein mandatory/statutory training as required by the Trust and national standards.
• It is desirable that the postholder has completed or is working towards the Non-Medical Prescribing qualification.

Essential

• HCPC registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist
• Post Grad Training & Education in Neurodisability including spasticity, dystonia and intrathecal baclofen

Desirable

• Completed or working towards US guided injection therapy competencies or MSc injection therapy module
• Completed or working towards non-medical prescribing qualification

Essential

• Significant experience at a senior level in the management of neuro-disability including spasticity.
• Experience in supporting clinical governance initiatives
• Experience in delivering service change and improvement initiatives
• Extensive experience in organising, writing and delivering in-service training programmes.
• Extensive experience of supervising less experienced and non-registered staff, including participation in personal development reviews.

Essential

• Able to communicate highly complex and sensitive information in written, verbal and presentational form to patients, staff and senior managers within the Trust and across other organisations
• Able to identify and recognise when to seek advice and support concerning clinical, managerial, professional and organisational issues.
• Knowledge of common neurological conditions and pathologies seen within a spasticity services including the medical management of such conditions.
• Skilled in leading, motivating and influencing a team
• Highly developed problem-solving and reasoning skills in complex clinical and organisational situations
• Highly skilled and competent in using a range of therapeutic approaches and techniques
• Able to identify your own and staff training needs.
• Well-developed counselling and advocacy skills to support staff, patients and carers.

Essential

• Knowledge of Clinical Governance and its application
• Extensive knowledge of a variety of Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy concepts, approaches and current best practice in this specialist area of practice.