Job Description

We are looking for an experienced physiotherapist to take up a specialist role as a rotational Band 6 Paediatric Physiotherapist in our supportive team . This role is in an integrated care organisation, based in community, working in Islington Additional Needs & Disability Service. The post holder will be responsible for the day to day delivery of physiotherapy to children with a variety of additional needs who live or attend school in Islington. Depending on experience and service needs the post holder will work across our main therapy teams which include:



Mainstream Schools Team



Early Years Development team



Special Schools Team (based at Richard Cloudesley Schools)



Paediatric Musculoskeletal Team ( 0-18)



Many of our services are based out of the Northern Health Centre in Islington which is a local children's services hub. In addition we work with local schools, nurseries and in family homes. We also incorporate remote / agile working into our service, depending on specific needs of the team & caseload.



We actively support continued professional development in our team and prioritise learning across all areas, working with our partners in other local paediatric services. We support innovative practice, service improvement & research.



The post holder will demonstrate a good standard of clinical practice as a Paediatric Physiotherapist and will be expected to work effectively and flexibly within an interdisciplinary framework.



To accept clinical responsibility for own caseload and prioritise appropriately and be able to work without direct supervision.



To undertake a comprehensive assessment of paediatric patients including those with diverse or complex presentations/multi pathologies.



Following assessment, to deliver the appropriate physiotherapy intervention with colleagues within the multi-agency team who have the appropriate skill to ensure optimal management of the patient.



To see CYP in a variety of locations, special schools, clinics, at home, gym, nurseries etc.



Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes regularly as required.



To prioritise factors involved in a child's presenting condition through good clinical reasoning based on knowledge of current professional opinion, child's prognosis and other physical and mental health issues.



To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and tools to ensure that the child and their parent/guardian understands the relevant individual education and advice.



To work within the standards and guidelines laid down by the Children's Physiotherapy Service, the Trust, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the Health Professionals Council (HPC), the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP)



To work closely with Education in the Statementing and Annual Review process.



To ensure that documentation is accurate and meets the standards legally required by the CSP and the Trust.



Whittington Health serves a richly diverse population and works hard to ensure that all our services are fair and equally accessible to everyone. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the way we look after our staff. We aim to employ a workforce which is as representative as possible of this population, so we are open to the value of differences in age, disability, gender, marital status, pregnancy and maternity, race, sexual orientation, and religion or belief. The Trust believes that as a public sector organisation we have an obligation to have recruitment, training, promotion and other formal employment policies and procedures that are sensitive to these differences. We think that by doing so, we are better able to treat our patients as well as being a better place to work.

Clinical:

To ensure the delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service, and integrate physiotherapy treatment into the treatment programme. This will include discussion of patient care, patient progress and involvement in discharge planning.



To assess and manage clinical risk concerning the treatment of clients in own caseload and ensure that other staff comply e.g. Manual Handling risk assessment and Trust lone working Policy.



Provide cover across the department during episodes of staff shortage or heavy workload to ensure service delivery.



To work within the standards and guidelines laid down by the Children's Physiotherapy Service, the Trust, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), the Health Professionals Council (HPC), the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) and other relevant clinical interest groups and the Children's act.



To communicate with other Services both within and outside the Borough e.g.



Education



Social Services



Voluntary Services



Wheelchair Services



Tertiary Service e.g. GOS



To work closely with Education in the Statementing and Annual Review process.



To be involved in the referral process to Secondary or Tertiary Services when deemed clinically appropriate in consultation with senior staff.



To be involved in the transition stage to adult services in Islington and other boroughs as necessary.



To provide copies of all correspondences to the parent/guardian.



To provide a discharge report to the referring source and the parent/guardian.



To ensure that documentation is accurate and meets the standards legally required by the CSP and the Trust.



To assist senior staff in providing supervision to local Children's physiotherapy staff.

Professional:

To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities by keeping abreast of any new trends and developments, and incorporate them as necessary into your work. To undertake reflective practice and maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development.



To be aware of current opinion on the provision of care for Paediatric conditions through:



Individual supervision



Reading of physiotherapy related literature



Reading of National guidelines and standards



Attendance at peer support groups, in-services training (IST) and courses



Involvement in the appraisal scheme



Reflection



To assist senior staff to help local staff to keep up to date on current opinion on the provision of care for Paediatric conditions through:



Individual supervision



Reading of physiotherapy related literature



Reading of National guidelines and standards



Attendance at peer support groups, IST and courses



Involvement in the appraisal scheme



Reflection



Membership of Special Interest Groups (SIG)



Attendance at accredited/recognised courses.



To undertake the measurement and evaluation of your work and current practices through the use of Evidence Based Practice projects, audit, clinical guidelines and outcome measures, either individually or with your manager. Make recommendations for change and audit the outcome.



To aid in the process to ensure provision of care from the service is based on current opinion for Paediatric conditions.



To be aware of the Departments of Health, Education, NHS and CSP guidelines relevant to the Children's Physiotherapy Service.



To initiate appropriate evaluation audit projects within the Paediatric field.



To assist in the development of the Models of Care provision for the Children's Physiotherapy Service.



To comply with all mandatory training.

Organisational:

In the absence of senior staff assist with the day-to-day running of local Children's Physiotherapy service provision.



To be responsible for organising and planning own clinical caseload to meet service and patient priorities. Readjusting plans as situations change/arise.



To manage own diary in respect of the priorities e.g. caseload, IST, supervision and meetings.



To order equipment / orthoses in consultation with senior staff and to be physically able to install specialist physiotherapy equipment in clients' homes/schools, applying safe manual handling when doing so in restricted spaces.



To ensure that all equipment defects, accidents and complaints are reported to the Service Manager and that the appropriate action is taken, by those concerned.



To comply with all Whittington Health policies and procedures and the Health and Safety at Work Act, and ensure that all staff are aware of these and do likewise.

Effort:

To carry out child management with strong PHYSICAL effort involving:



Repetitive movements



Static postures



Sustained awkward postures



Moving of equipment e.g. standing frames, special seating, hoists



Working in restricted spaces



Use of all forms of public transport on a daily basis.



Applying techniques requiring dexterity, sensory co-ordination, precision and patience.



To comply with Whittington Health Manual Handling policies.



Please see the and the Persons Specification for further details about the job role.