Senior Orthotist

NHS; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Plymouth is seeking a senior orthotist to join their orthotics team. The role involves managing a complex caseload, mentoring junior staff, and collaborating with various clinical teams to provide effective patient care. Candidates should be HCPC registered and have experience in clinical orthotics. The position offers opportunities for professional development and is based primarily in clinic settings with community outreach responsibilities.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive working environment

Relocation assistance may be considered

Qualifications

• HCPC registered and highly experienced orthotist is required.
• Post-graduate experience in clinical orthotic practice is essential.
• Experience of effective multidisciplinary working is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex caseload with scope to specialize.
• Collaborate with technical teams to deliver patient solutions.
• Mentor orthotists, graduates, and students.

Skills

Clinical assessment skills

Problem solving for complex cases

Communication skills

Education

BSc Hons Prosthetics/Orthotics or equivalent

HCPC Registration

Postgraduate education related to specialist orthotics

Job description

With Devon's coastline and Dartmoor nearby, Plymouth offersthe perfect blend of career challenge and lifestyle. At Livewell Southwest,you'll join a progressive organisation that values innovation, collaboration,and staff wellbeing as much as patient care.

Role

We are seeking an experienced orthotist, who in the role of seniororthotist will join a small orthotics team with strong links to a widerange of hospital and community based teams.

Responsibilities

Manage a complex caseload withscope to expand into specialist areas

Mentor orthotists, graduates,and students

Collaborate with technical teamsand MDT colleagues to deliver patient solutions

Contribute to governance,evidence-based practice, and service development

Represent the service locallyand nationally

We Offer

Career development in asupportive, multidisciplinary environment

A culture that values wellbeing,growth, and innovation

Who Were Looking For

An HCPC registered highlyexperienced orthotist

Someone passionate aboutadvancing prosthetic care and outcomes

Further Information

Please find the following link to further information aboutrelocating to work for Livewell Southwest:

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under theSkilled Worker route.

Please note that we may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline.

Relocation assistance may be considered.

All applicants should be HCPC registered and preferablymembers of BAPO.

Main duties of the job

The Orthotics Service consists of a team of orthotic clinicians, technicians and support staff providing high quality care for people living within the commissioned areas of Plymouth and South West Devon with a wide range of conditions amenable to management with an orthotic solution. As well as a base in Plymouth, the service runs satellite clinics at University Hospital Plymouth, South Hams Hospital, The Plymouth Child Development Centre and local special schools.

Although predominantly clinic based, the role includes visiting both the acute and community hospitals.

The role will work within the scope of the HCPC professional code of practice and Livewell Southwest policies. Also working collaboratively and maintain key working relationships with managers, service heads and leads.

Within the role you will be expected to work with more complex patients providing holistic evidence-based care, assessing, planning, implementing the treatment requirements of the practice population.

Participate in the management of enhanced assessments including at a variety of multi-disciplinary clinics.

Promoting and supporting people in their care and treatment to help them manage their own health and wellbeing, maximise independence.

Share knowledge and skills and empower others.

Support the audit of patient outcomes.

Prevent hospital admission.

All Livewell staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job responsibilities

To provideOrthoticclinical inputacross theorganisation and to partner organisations.

Give clinical and professional advice torelevantmulti-disciplinary teams regardingappropriateorthoticprovision for patients.

To participate in the implementation of relevant carepathways within the prosthetic profession

To participate with relevant clinical competency frameworksand essential training for the orthotic service and others as required whenlinked to the profession

Accept referrals from medical and healthcare professionalsand undertake clinical assessment and examination of patients to providesuitable highly specialistorthotic clinical-technical prescriptions forpatients with a wide range of presentations including complex patients.

To contribute to discussion around and development ofclinical procedures, protocols, guidelines and policies that will supportevidence based or best practice for the orthotic profession in line withcurrent organisation policy

Use a range of measurement and data acquisition techniquesin recording all pertinent information to ensure accuracy of patientprescriptions

Specify the design, componentry, materials, fabricationmethod and suppliers of orthoses and order individual items to meet thepatients clinical needs.

Perform mechanical and technical adjustmentstoorthoses

Perform positive model and CADCAM rectifications asappropriate

Evaluate the completed device on the patient to ensure thedesired quality of body-device interface, functional alignment, comfort,cosmetic appearance and mechanical integrity and safety.

Re-evaluate the above following Service agreed timeintervals to meet patient needs or requirements of a care plan (reviewappointments).

Provide verbal, visual and written information, explanationand highly specialised clinical advice to the patient and/or carers at everystage of device provision for informed consent.

Report patient adverse incidents related to the provisionoforthosesto maintain patient safety and engage in nationalreporting and monitoring procedures for specialised medical devices.

Advise and maintain effective liaison with technical supportpersonnel including assistance with training to ensure best current technicalpractice in meeting patients needs.

Use excellent negotiation and counselling skills and othertools to ensure the effective communication of complex, sensitive and emotionalinformation and to overcome barriers to understanding. Such persons willinclude those At risk, the terminally ill, the vulnerable, those such asStroke patients, the learning disabled, the deaf and hard of hearing and thosepossessing poor communication skills. Also non-English speakers and those whospeak some English but who have a different first language.

To be accountable for the direct delivery of service byproviding holistic evidence-based practice to patients and their carers,ensuring maximum independence and quality of life in a constantly changingenvironment. To achieve positive patient outcomes in partnership withmulti-professional agencies and promoting this throughout the clinical team.

Utilise a range of specialised clinical skills appropriateto the needs of individual patients and the clinical setting in which they areseen. Exercising a high level of judgement, discretion and decision making inclinical care.

To triage and accept appropriate routine and urgentreferrals directly from other disciplines, patients, carers, and members of thepublic and / or refer to other agencies where appropriate.Ensuring allreferrals are prioritised accordingly.Whilst working within professionalguidelines to make clinical decisions without supervision.

To undertake comprehensive risk assessments of allsituations associated with the care of patients to ensure patients and thecarers safety.

Preserve confidentiality and be aware of the Data ProtectionAct, Access to Health Records and Consent for Treatment.

To line manage junior members of the team as and whenrequired, supported by the clinical lead orthotist/principal orthotist

Contribute to the learning environment within thedepartment, making suggestions about areas for development in the clinical areato enhance individual development and performance in the delivery of highstandards. Acting as a resource and assist in teaching knowledge and clinicalskills for other health care professionals/colleagues.

Act as mentor for new staff and students, including deliveryof a structured induction and training program for new members of staffalongside the service support manager and other senior clinicians. Ensure theyare fully aware of their scope within the department.

Take part in the process of clinical supervision and supportclinical supervision and reflective practice for team members.

Participate in recruitment and selection of new staff.

Provide guidance for and maintain effective workingrelationships with service managers and staff to ensure service efficiency.

Maintain accurate and comprehensive documentation in linewith legal and service requirementsas an autonomous practitioner and tocommunicate assessment and other clinic outcomes to appropriate persons in theform of reports and letters.

Maintain patient clinical records in accordance with HCPCpolicy and local guidelines.

Report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, nearmisses and untoward incidents following Trust procedure.

Support the Clinical leadorthotist/Service manager inthe recording of accurate clinical activity data for data capture required for reporting.

Ensure line management and appraisal documentation iscompleted for the team members for which they hold manager responsibility.

Carry out risk assessments and record these on theorganisations risk register.

Maintain and update risks on the risk register as required.

Ensure adherence to Livewell Southwest Policies.

To contribute to the analysis of relevant clinical incidentsacross the profession and implementing learning from outcomes.

To work with the clinical lead/senior clinicians inidentifying, assessing and managing risk across the profession/service,utilising the risk register as appropriate.

To proactively support clinical leaders with the managementand maintenance of health, safety, and security following the relevantlegislation and current organisation and service policies

Provide feedback upon relevant clinical procedures/protocols/ polices/ audit guidelines for specific aspects of own service inline with NICE guidance, best practice Guidance and professional forums andsupport implementation into practice.

To proactively support and engage in clinical serviceimprovements,suggesting new ideas, innovations and approaches to developclinical and service excellence and quality of delivery, taking into accountpatient and other service users views and opinionsto optimise the use ofresources and respond proactively to changes in service needs.

Monitor the emergence of new evidence and implement andevaluate research-based recommendations that are expected to improve patientcare in own work area.

Maintain links with other professional and voluntary bodiesto ensure maximum effectiveness of the service and patient care.

Partake in audit and research within own specialty.

To be aware of budgetary constraints when planning andcarrying out care.

Contribute to discussions around the implementation ofrobust prescription guidelines to maximise budget for all patients based onindividual needs

To ensure consideration of available budgets whenprescribing equipment and components and ensuring maintenance and repair isupheld.

Contribute to discussion around approval ofdevicesrequestedoutside of prescription guidelinesor agreed allowances

Ensure safe and efficient use of stock and equipment. Ensureequipment is checked appropriately. Report any equipment defects. Advise storesperson if low stock noted.

Exercise a duty of care in relation to the use of theorganisations equipment and resources in a cost-effective manner.

To contribute to resource governance through knowledge andappropriate prescribing decisions.

To be responsible for organising own time management on adaily basis in line with caseload demands balancing patient needs with thenon-clinical aspect of the role.

To attend various sites to carry out role, includingsatellite clinic and in-patient settings as necessary.

To participate in an annual appraisal of their work in linewith the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will bereviewed, and objectives set.In line with the annual developmentplan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or developmentrequired to fulfil their role.

To remain updated and competent and ensure that clinicalpractice is evidence based.

Maintain professional registration with the Health and CareProfessions Council.

To abide by the Statement of Conduct forProsthetists/Orthotists of the Health and Care Professions Council.

Practice in accordance with the British Association ofProsthetists and Orthotists Guidelines for Best Practice.

Participate in Clinical Supervision in accordance with theOrganisations Policy.Proactively participate in peer support andsupervision which may include for example, reflective practice, caseconferences, journal clubs, clinical discussion and supervision sessions withother members of the multidisciplinary team.

Participate and propose changes in Quality AssuranceSystems, protocols and procedures as relevant and necessary.

Ensure that Health & Safety legislation is complied withat all times, being aware of and following Organisational and Service Policiesincluding:

Health and Safety

COSHH

Infection Control

Incident andcomplaints reporting

Person Specification

Experience

• Post-graduate experience in clinical orthotic practice.
• Demonstrable exposure to a wide range of highly specialist clinical orthotic practice.
• Managing a clinical & manufacturing caseload that includes complex cases and a range of age groups and conditions
• Use of relevant outcome measures
• Experience of effective multidisciplinary working.
• Demonstrate involvement in quality issues or service improvement.
• Experience of audit/research
• Student mentoring and line management experience
• Training of clinical and technical staff.
• Service redesign or involvement in change

Qualifications

• BSc Hons Prosthetics/Orthotics or equivalent
• HCPC Registration
• Postgraduate education and/or CPD relating to specialist orthotics provision
• Membership of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists
• Postgraduate education and/or CPD relating to specialist Orthotics provision some to MSc level

Knowledge and Skills

• Highly Specialist knowledge of orthotic theory, prescription, manufacture and delivery.
• Highly Specialist Clinical assessment skills to enable clinical diagnosis and onward referral
• Expertise in problem solving for complex orthotic cases
• Detailed knowledge of medical device products and technologies relevant to clinical practice.
• Competent across a wide range of areas of orthotic clinical practice
• Ability to work under pressure and respond to change
• Ability to communicate complex information to patients and carers including children and those with learning disabilities, mental illness or psychological distress/disturbance.
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing patient information and professional knowledge effectively to all levels of healthcare professional and support staff.
• Basic engineering workshop hand and machine skills
• Fully competent in all areas of orthotic clinical practice
• Working knowledge of ISO9000 quality management system

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Full-time,Part-time,Job share,Flexible working