Senior Physiotherapist

We are seeking expressions of interest from experienced Physiotherapists looking to develop specialist skills in palliative and end of life care within a supportive, innovative interdisciplinary team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join an evolving service that gives clinicians time to care, build meaningful therapeutic relationships and deliver personalised care focused on what matters most to patients and those important to them.

Specialist knowledge or experience in moving and handling

Expertise in respiratory clinical practice

Clinical Lead or advanced specialist physiotherapy experience

A passion for innovation and interdisciplinary working

A desire to shape community-based palliative and end of life care

Working with a skilled interdisciplinary team, you will develop specialist physiotherapy expertise, contribute to service development and help deliver outstanding outcomes for patients and families.

We are looking for

an experienced and compassionate Physiotherapist to join the Kirkwood

Integrated Community Services team. This role offers the opportunity to provide

specialist physiotherapy to people with progressive life-limiting illness

across the in-patient unit and community settings, while contributing to

service development within a third-sector organisation.

The role of the postholder

is to provide specialist physiotherapy services on the in-patient unit and in

the community through one-to-one and group interventions for people with life-limiting

illness, working autonomously and in partnership with the wider IDT.

You will

contribute to the development of services that promote function and the overall

wellbeing of patients and carers, set and review patient-centred goals, optimise

quality of life and co-produce services in response to patient need.

manage an allocated caseload, undertaking comprehensive holistic

physiotherapy assessment, evidence-based clinical reasoning and timely

intervention for patients with complex progressive life-limiting illness,

recognising the limits of personal competence and seeking advice or referring

onwards when required.

Assess and

address mobility, transfers, balance, falls risk, rehabilitation potential,

fatigue, breathlessness, pain-related movement, positioning, exercise and

functional maintenance, including respiratory interventions and manual

handling advice within the postholders competence. Tailor assessment and

treatment to each patients physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs,

adapting the approach as conditions and contexts change.

Work in a person-centred

and inclusive way, adapting communication and care to individual needs,

disability, culture and health literacy. Promote independence, autonomy, quality

of life and sense of self by involving the patient, carer, family and

inter-disciplinary team in treatment planning and review.

Use appropriate

outcome measures to set and regularly review patient-centred goals, evaluate

treatment effectiveness and determine whether interventions should continue,

change or cease. Provide advice regarding symptom management and patient care

to the IDT and external colleagues and support safe, coordinated discharge

planning where appropriate.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers and

relatives, demonstrating compassion and empathy when providing advice,

education and support. Obtain and record valid consent, apply relevant mental

capacity and best-interest processes, and recognise, report and escalate

safeguarding concerns in accordance with legislation and organisational

policy.

Provide advice, education and training to patients,

carers and the inter-disciplinary team regarding the safe use of recommended

aids and equipment to promote patients independence in activities of daily

living.

Participate in IDT meetings, professional and family

meetings offering specialist input and advice and act as an advocate for the

patient.

Undertake visits to patients homes and make

recommendations for equipment, adaptations and support.

Be mobile across Kirklees, with access to their own

vehicle, to undertake home visits and complete functional assessments of

patients in their home environment, seeking support from the Physiotherapy

Lead when required.

Work closely with equipment services, community

therapists and external agencies in the provision of necessary equipment and

adaptations to maximise patients independence, comfort and safety on

discharge, with an emphasis on quality of life.

Assess

for and prescribe appropriate specialist equipment for use on the in-patient

setting.

Provide specialist clinical advice and support to the

IDT and external agencies.

Ensure that patient documentation is completed

accurately and contemporaneously using SystmOne and paper records, in

accordance with professional standards, hospice policy and legal

requirements. Maintain confidentiality, information security and data quality,

and share information securely and appropriately.

Support and, where appropriate, delegate activities

to therapy assistants, junior staff, students and volunteers, ensuring that

tasks are appropriate to their competence, that suitable instruction and

supervision are provided, and that the postholder remains accountable for

reviewing delegated care and outcomes.

Provide cover for the therapy service and prioritise

physiotherapy interventions in the absence of the Physiotherapy Lead.

Support the KICS team and actively contribute to the achievement of

service development initiatives.

operational awareness of service priorities, capacity, demand and available

resources, escalating emerging pressures, risks and barriers to the KICS Team

Leader in a timely manner.

Contribute to

day-to-day operational and forward planning of the physiotherapy service,

including prioritisation of referrals, workload management, continuity of

care and effective deployment of resources in response to changing patient

and service needs.

Collaborate with

the therapy team to undertake audit of physiotherapy provision in order to

maintain high standards within the service and evaluate outcomes.

Participate in policy and guideline development relevant to therapy

provision.

Maintain current HCPC registration, practise in

accordance with HCPC standards and relevant professional guidance, and

maintain a professional portfolio in accordance with HCPC recommendations and

the competency framework for the role.

If you are an experienced Physiotherapist seeking your next challenge, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape specialist community palliative and end of life care, where physiotherapists are empowered to make a difference every day.

For further information or an informal discussion, please contact Elspeth McGloughlin: Lisa Wright@thekirkwood.org.uk

Closing date: Wednesday 7th October

Expected Interview date: Tuesday 13th October.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Desirable: - Knowledge and understanding of third sector working

Experience

Desirable: - Experience working within specialist palliative care

Qualifications

Essential: - A full, clean UK driving license with regular access to a vehicle for; - work purposes.; - Degree or diploma in Physiotherapy.; - HCPC registration.

Desirable: - Member of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.