Physiotherapist (Respiratory)

1. Undertake a team leader role in planning, co-ordinating, delivering and evaluating the Physiotherapy Service provided to critically ill patients and other medical and surgical patients across the hospital.2. Deputise for Clinical Lead Therapist as required.3. Perform advanced assessment of patients including those with highly complex presentations and from this formulate a diagnosis and treatment plan which is carried out as an autonomous practitioner.4. Be responsible for own caseload and be responsible for a defined area of service or a particular patient type, working without direct supervision (Supervision takes the form of regular formal training, clinicalreasoning sessions and peer review.)5. Working collaboratively with the Clinical Lead Therapist to take a lead role in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of senior, junior, technical instructors, therapy assistants, physiotherapy students and othermembers of the multi-disciplinary team.6. Initiates and participates in evidence based projects and be responsible for implementing changes within your designated team setting and monitoring standards of practice.7. Participate in the emergency duty on call service and unsocial hours rotas as required by the clinical needs of the service.

To maintain own continuous professional development (CPD) and incorporate new trends and developments into practice. To be an active member of in-service training programmes. To attend and contribute as appropriate at staff meetings, tutorials, training sessions, courses, other CPD activities and to undertake reflective practice.

To maintain comprehensive and accurate assessment and treatment records in line with legal, professional, Trust and departmental policies and guidelines.

To train, supervise and performance manage other physiotherapists, technical instructors, assistants and students (this will include the use of formal appraisal documentation).

To provide leadership and peer support to physiotherapists and support workers within the paediatric physiotherapy team.

To demonstrate and apply a sound understanding of Clinical Governance and Risk Management, and encourage others to do likewise.

To have an active role in the planning, development, coordination, delivery and evaluation of the critical care and respiratory medicine physiotherapy service.

To provide support to the clinical team leader in the daily operational management for the physiotherapy team.

To act as a mentor for physiotherapy colleagues, providing clinical and professional support on a regular basis.

To delegate to, supervise and monitor senior and staff grade physiotherapists, students and support workers.

To manage priorities for the Critical Care and Respiratory medicine physiotherapy team, balancing patient related and professional/managerial demands within available resources; ensuring that these remain service led.

To deputise for senior staff /Clinical Lead as required.

To ensure that physiotherapy equipment is suitable for the needs of the patient and facilities/environment are maintained in safe order.

To collect data and statistics for reporting purposes.

To carry out designated departmental/service responsibilities.

To be aware of Health and Safety legislation and to comply with policies relating to the work area, including risk assessment and the prompt recording and reporting of incidents and near misses. To take necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of yourself and others.

To have an active role in developing, reviewing and updating departmental policies, procedures and guidelines relating to physiotherapy management of critical care patients.

To have an active role in the recruitment of new staff.

To comply with Trust and departmental policies, procedures and standards. To be involved in reviewing and updating departmental policies and procedures as required.

To carry out assessment and treatment using manual and therapeutic handling techniques which require moderate to high physical effort and intense concentration and vigilance for the vast majority of each working day.

To be interrupted frequently throughout the day to deal with bleeps, requests for assistance/advice from other staff, administrative enquiries and urgent referrals.

To comply with the trust manual handling policy at all times.

To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to, for example, pain, fear, dementia or failed expectations.

To be able to convey sympathetically unwelcome news regarding functional progress and diagnosis to patients and carers.

To travel between sites and patients homes as required using own, hospital or public transport and to take responsibility for the safety of patients, therapists and assistants while on these visits.

To use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients and carers and to ensure understanding of condition. Patients/carers may require clarification of clinical decisions or investigations, potential outcomes and the implications for the patient/family. This may include highly sensitive/emotive information.

To use skills of persuasion, motivation, explanation, and empathy to encourage patients to undertake their treatment programme and optimise rehabilitation potential and/or quality of life. Barriers to effective communication may regularly be evident, e.g.: altered perception, age, dysphasia, pain, psychological/emotional status.

To use specific skills to communicate with patients who, for example, depend on sign languages, communication boards etc.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital--along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven't heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Qualifications

Essential: - Degree; - Evidence of ongoing CPD/relevant post grad courses

Desirable: - Post Grad Degree; - Member of specialist interest group

Experience

Management

Essential: - Evidence of management and/or supervision of staff

Desirable: - Management/leadership course