Frailty Therapist

NHS; Weymouth; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking enthusiastic Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists for the Weymouth and Portland Frailty Service. This role involves home visits and assessments for frail patients, offering a chance to work within an integrated team to enhance patient care and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience in rehabilitation and goal setting.
• Excellent communication with patients and families.
• Confidence in managing complex patient visits.

Responsibilities

• Conduct home visits for therapy assessments.
• Develop care or rehabilitation programs.
• Manage own caseload and support data collection.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Clinical observation skills

Rehabilitation skills

Goal setting skills

Experience in end-of-life care

Knowledge of SystmOne

Confidence in lone visits

Therapy competencies

Job description

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our well-established Weymouth and Portland Frailty Service. Applications are welcome from either Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists. The pay rate reflects the development opportunity this role offers.

We are one of the first sites in Dorset to develop our Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT), with the Frailty Service being a key component.

This role involves home visits to frail, often complex patients living in Weymouth and Portland. Some patients will be seen in a clinic setting for comprehensive geriatric assessments, while others will require detailed holistic assessments with a therapy focus in their own homes.

The role involves working with patients registered at any GP Surgery in Weymouth and Portland. Clinical support will be provided by the Frailty Team GPs and Therapists. There are close links with ICRT, and as the INT develops, opportunities for closer collaboration will increase. A thorough induction will be provided.

Interviews are planned for the week commencing 9th June 2025.

Main duties of the job

The Weymouth & Portland practices have an established Frailty team, expanding since April 2015, providing proactive holistic care for complex, frail, care home, or housebound patients. The team also established an Ageing Well Clinic in 2022. The team includes GPs, Frailty Practitioners (Nurses, Advanced Clinical Practitioners, Paramedics, Occupational Therapists), supported by a Care Coordinator and Healthcare Assistants. The focus is on ongoing case finding using risk profiling and population health management.

The main aims are to:

• Deliver EHCH (Enhanced Health in Care Homes)
• Provide proactive assessments based on Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in patients' homes
• Make timely referrals to the multi-professional team to improve wellbeing, reduce falls, deterioration, and hospital admissions
• Develop Personalised Care and Support Plans tailored to patient priorities
• Proactively identify patients needing holistic assessments
• Support Ageing Well initiatives to reduce or reverse frailty progression
• Assess re-referred patients with frailty decline
• Ensure effective teamwork for appropriate patient care

About us

Two Harbours Healthcare is a not-for-profit organisation led by local General Practices in Weymouth and Portland. Our goal is to collaborate closely, share expertise, and provide NHS services.

Job responsibilities

Housebound Patients:

• Be an integral part of the WECS team, including GPs, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, HCA, OT, Paramedic, ACPs, Physiotherapists, and Healthcare Assistants
• Conduct home visits for therapy assessments, including baseline assessments (e.g., continence, skin, nutrition, care needs)
• Develop care or rehabilitation programs to promote independence and wellbeing
• Contribute to the development and standards of therapy practice within the team
• Refer patients to Frailty Healthcare Assistants for additional assessments as needed
• Follow up after assessments until issues are addressed
• Make referrals to the wider MDT and third sector when appropriate
• Develop and communicate therapy management plans within the team
• Ensure discharged patients know how to re-refer if needed
• Manage own caseload, schedule reviews, and support data collection
• Contribute to Personalised Care and Support Plans using Dorset Care Plan

Ageing Well Clinic:

• Deliver assessment components in outpatient/community settings, forming part of a CGA
• Focus on patient goals, independence, and activity
• Understand the Ageing Well Clinic specifications

For all patients:

• Contribute to Dorset Care Plan
• Utilise clinical skills (e.g., venepuncture, BP, weight)
• Develop towards Advance Care Planning discussions (training dependent)

Other duties:

• Attend MDT meetings as requested
• Maintain work email and mobile availability
• Interpret data to identify patients for holistic review
• Keep detailed, contemporaneous notes

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

• Excellent communication skills with patients and families
• Clinical observation skills
• Rehabilitation, goal setting, and equipment provision skills
• Experience in end-of-life care and mental/physical health
• Prioritisation skills
• Knowledge of SystmOne
• Confidence in lone visits to complex patients
• Therapy competencies including venepuncture (training available)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post requires a DBS check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975 (Exceptions Order).

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Flexible options available: Full-time, Part-time, Job share