Job Description

We are looking for a motivated and experienced Highly Specialist Physiotherapist to join our dynamic Community Specialist Palliative Care Team , which includes Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, and Clinical Nurse Specialists. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking, compassionate team delivering outstanding care to patients across the Wirral.



In this pivotal role, you will provide expert physiotherapy assessment, intervention, and care planning for patients with advanced, life-limiting conditions--supporting them to remain in their preferred place of care, typically in their own homes. Our specialist palliative care approach ensures that patient needs, goals, and preferences are always central.

What we're looking for:

An experienced Physiotherapist, ideally with specialist skills or strong interest in palliative care.



A confident communicator with excellent organisational and leadership skills.



A collaborative, compassionate team player who thrives in a multidisciplinary setting.



Someone who can balance complex caseloads and competing priorities with professionalism and empathy.



A physiotherapist deeply aligned with the values and purpose of Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust .



If you're ready to bring your expertise and passion to a team that values innovation, compassion, and excellence in care, we'd love to hear from you.



Join us--and help us deliver the right care, in the right place, every time.



We are looking for a highly motivated individual with a minimum of 5 years previous experience of working as an autonomous practitioner in the community/palliative/specialist palliative care setting. The right candidate needs to be organised and able to prioritise and be proficient in their role, so they can manage their own caseload of patients. Ability to be involved in training of other staff. In addition, to having excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as excellent leadership skills, the ability to be proactive and able to motivate others.



In the role the successful candidate will be responsible and be professionally accountable for all aspects of clinical work for patients and referring onwards as needed to other Health / Social Care Professionals, care workers and/or departmental specialists by following agreed pathways.



Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust has been rated as Good by CQC (Dec 2023) with some outstanding areas.



As an aspiring outstanding Trust we have numerous policies and procedures in place which provide standard organisational ways of working, in line with organisational objectives, relevant legislation and requirements. Policies allow for continuity and consistency within the Trust. Employees must abide by and adhere to all Wirral Community NHS Trust's policies, at all times.



Please see job description for full list of roles and responsibilities



Clinical Duties



The post holder will provide high standards of competent and effective clinical care with evidence based, measurable outcomes and can deliver this care as an autonomous practitioner.



To be responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of Highly Specialist physiotherapy rehab intervention to patients who are palliative, living with life limiting diseases. To be able to demonstrate clinical reasoning at a Highly Specialist level including differential diagnosis of complex presentations. Be involved in daily management of complex palliative patients and planning own workload/visit allocation Provide care in a range of settings within Wirral to include community, patient homes, nursing and residential homes and possibly day care centre and third sector organisations. Active involvement in the development and provision of structured and specialised on-going Rehabilitation programmes with patients, relatives and carers and nursing and residential home staff. Liaise at a Highly Specialist level with Consultants, G.P.'s, Nurses, other Health / Social Care Professionals, Nursing Home and hospital staff to discuss, plan and implement multi-disciplinary care plans for individual patients with a complex range of needs. To be aware of evidence- based practice, local and national guidelines and to support the development and implementation as local policy and practice to demonstrate this knowledge in the management of complex cases. Make appropriate, timely secondary referrals to other Health / Social care Professionals, services and agencies to meet the individual needs of the complex patient. To have individual responsibility and be professionally accountable for all aspects of clinical work for patients, delegating as necessary and referring onwards as needed to other Health / Social Care Professionals, care workers and/or departmental specialists by following agreed pathways. Provide education advice to patients, relatives and carers and other professionals as necessary. The post holder will attend meetings with other Health / Social Care Professionals, their teams and other groups to discuss update and implement new pathways policies and procedures across agencies as necessary. To have appropriate hand eye co-ordination. Maintain high levels of concentration during patient contact time To be competent in the assessment, demonstration and fitting of equipment where necessary to improve clinical outcomes and independence, both within the nursing/residential home or patients own home environment. To have the capability to move and handle and find solutions for patients with complex moving and handling needs of complex neurology, wheelchair users or confined to bed, possibly in confined spaces. Actively participate in MDT meetings and to take delegated responsibility for actions from those meetings including policy, clinical or service development commensurate with the skills of a specialist practitioner. To support the service in its responsibility for the maintenance, security, rotation and ordering of stock. Adhere to department and Trust Standard Operating Procedures, protocols, policies and guidelines. Build and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships with colleagues, patients, GP's and other health / social care professionals, working effectively as a member of the multidisciplinary team and always promoting the service/department. To actively contribute to the development of the service, and to the identification and implementation of quality improvements and initiatives. Provide supervision and support the development of junior staff through mentorship to staff and students and be responsible for the completion of summative assessment. Carry out treatments, which include kneeling, crouching, bending, lifting, moving weights and equipment, maintaining static / awkward postures for short periods of time, several times a day, daily.

Communication and Administration



Excellent communication / interpersonal skills with individuals and groups of patients may be required to provide complex or sensitive information. Be able to communicate clearly with a variety of health and social care professionals. Ability to influence and use assertiveness skills effectively to deal with contentious situations. To accept responsibility for establishing and maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships within the work environment with patients, colleagues G.Ps, Health Visitors, Community Nurses, Nursing Home staff etc and work effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team particularly around complex cases. To gain informed consent in accordance with Trust policy. To maintain high quality and accurate records of all patient consultations, telephone consultations and related work carried out at each clinical session. To prepare high quality clinical reports demonstrating objective assessment and measured outcomes To accurately report consultation activity using Trust data capture systems. To attend and actively contribute to departmental meetings. Liaise with and return telephone calls to other members of the team and to write to G.P.'s and hospital consultants regarding patient management and discharge summary. To ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained through employment with the Trust is kept confidential according to Trust record keeping policy and Caldicott guidelines. Give service presentations and training to GP's, other healthcare professionals and outside agencies using appropriate aids (power point etc.). * Fully conversant with Microsoft and other computer application.