Job Description

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced paediatric physiotherapist to join our therapy team. King's Paediatric Liver Centre is a national hub providing a highly specialised service to children with liver problems. This is the largest service of its type in the world and continues to grow.



We assess and treat children with a wide range of conditions including neonatal (newborn) liver diseases (including biliary atresia), chronic liver disease and acute liver failure.



The post holder will specialise in paediatric liver disease and will work within both inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as reviewing patients in virtual/telephone clinics and via email. The post holder will work with children from infancy through to adolescents in the transition service.



This job is a relatively new post and the postholder joins an existing physiotherapy team with specialities including Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive care, Neurology, Oncology, Cystic Fibrosis and Trauma and Orthopaedics.



If you have a strong background in paediatric physiotherapy and are keen to explore this specialist area we would love to hear from you. Paediatric liver experience is not essential, as training and support will be provided as needed.



To ensure the provision of a high quality, evidence-based, physiotherapy service to paediatric patients with Liver Disease under the care of Child Health at King's College Hospital.



To deliver physiotherapy for paediatric patients with Liver Disease in both an inpatient and outpatient clinic setting



To provide a regional and national physiotherapy service as part of the supra-regional paediatric liver unit at King's College Hospital.



To provide specialist physiotherapy support to colleagues in shared care hospitals within the UK and Europe.



To use highly specialist physiotherapy knowledge and skills to manage own complex caseload, as an autonomous practitioner.



To lead and manage own team and to supervise, teach and develop staff and students to meet individual and service needs.



To deputise for the Physiotherapy Clinical Lead when necessary



To take part in the on call/weekend rota.



King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.



We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.



King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.



Staff may be required to work across multiple sites dependent on the needs of the service. This includes both static and rotational posts



This post requires a flexible approach to working and may require the post holder to work as part of a seven day rota working pattern as necessary



Patient Care



To be responsible for the efficient, effective and safe management of all patients referred to their service.



To receive referrals, undertake full assessment and independently plan individual, specialised, evidence-based, treatment programmes for patients appropriately depending on the physiotherapist's diagnosis, using clinical reasoning and a variety of highly specialist skills.



To carry a designated clinical caseload including highly complex and diverse patient groups and prioritise that work efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using highly specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.



To provide individual patient equipment as required, such as, walking aids, splints and supports. To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.



To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, and of the team, including management of clinical risk, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with national and trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.



To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of the physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.



To advise, guide and teach Assistant, Band 5 and Band 6 physiotherapy staff, in assessment and management of patients with a wide range of paediatric neurological conditions and related problems.



To develop new working practices and local guidelines and keep abreast of new techniques in relation to the management of the patients in this specialty particularly in line with any national guidance.



To lead on production of clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence-based, implemented and audited.



To provide guidance and advice to other professions and bodies involved in the provision of paediatric liver services and to the patients and their carers.



To be an active member of the on-call, weekend duty rotas, and extended hours as required, and cover of statutory and public holidays including working as a lone physiotherapy practitioner at night.



To deliver physiotherapy in different locations, according to the requirements of the post e.g inpatient wards; outpatient clinics. To work in some situations, as a lone practitioner.



This post requires a flexible approach to working, and requires the post holder to be an active member of the weekend duty rotas, and cover of statutory and public holidays.