Specialty Physiotherapist - Acute and Emergency Medicine

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Banbury; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A large NHS teaching trust is looking for a dynamic Physiotherapist to provide high-quality care in Acute and Emergency Medicine. You will assess patient needs and implement rehabilitation interventions to support recovery. This role includes working collaboratively within a team to ensure effective therapy services for patients. Candidates must have a Diploma or degree in Physiotherapy and HCPC registration, alongside experience in an acute setting.

Qualifications

• Must have experience in Acute and General Medicine settings.
• Completion of junior rotations in core areas is required.
• Experience with discharge planning and MDT working is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Deliver early therapy intervention post-operatively.
• Assess patients and formulate rehabilitation plans.
• Represent physiotherapy in multidisciplinary meetings.

Skills

Assessment and treatment of respiratory conditions

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Education

Diploma or degree in Physiotherapy

HCPC registration

Job description

Overview

We are looking for a dynamic and enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join our team of Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Therapy Assistants who provide high quality therapy intervention to patients across Emergency, Acute General Medicine, Trauma and High Care Unit. You will identify and undertake a comprehensive assessment of need at the point of hospital admission and deliver rehabilitation interventions to maximise recovery.

Key responsibilities

• Delivery of early therapy intervention post operatively and/or during the first 24 hours of hospital admission.
• Assessment, intervention and treatment of patients with Respiratory Physiotherapy amenable conditions.
• Implementation of programmes that minimise sedentary behaviour during the hospital stay.
• Support prevention and early resolution/management of delirium and other cognitive spectrum disorders through physical and cognitively stimulating activities.
• Collaborate with local health and social care providers to minimise institutionalisation through a 'home first' approach to discharge.
• Support and contribute to a 7 day service where appropriate.

Main duties

The post holder will provide high quality, safe and effective Physiotherapy services to patients across Acute and Emergency Medicine, including Trauma and High Care. With support of the wider MDT, you will work collaboratively with patients and their carers to assess, goal plan and treat patients in the Emergency Department and/or following admission to hospital. You will maximise patients' independence and quality of life, aiming for early intervention, active recovery and discharge. You will also provide assessment and intervention to patients with Respiratory Physiotherapy amenable conditions. There are opportunities to be involved in supervising junior members of staff and student education. Education, training and development are supported, and active participation in quality improvement, clinical audit and research projects is encouraged.

Communication and multidisciplinary teamwork

• Consistently deploy effective communication and engagement skills enabling effective working relationships with all members of the multi-professional team.
• Communicate with patients and their carers/family members, including sensitive management of complex or contentious issues.
• Overcome barriers to effective communication by deploying mitigating strategies.
• Engage with external agencies and providers to enhance patient care continuity and outcomes.
• Write complex reports describing patients' clinical status to aid ongoing care and management.
• Represent physiotherapy and/or patients at multidisciplinary team meetings to ensure coordinated care.

Clinical responsibilities

• Act within professional and legal responsibilities for own clinical practice.
• Carry out comprehensive assessments for patients within acute and emergency medicine and formulate treatment and rehabilitation plans with patient and carers/family.
• Interpret and analyse clinical information to form accurate physiotherapy diagnoses; seek guidance from senior physiotherapists when required.
• Assess and provide intervention for respiratory conditions across all clinical areas.
• Formulate and deliver treatment, rehabilitation and discharge plans based on clinical skills, evidence-based practice and patient preferences.
• Assess individuals and plan care with patients who have respiratory needs.
• Evaluate progress against goals and adjust plans accordingly.
• Determine mental capacity for informed consent and work within legal frameworks where capacity is lacking.
• Coordinate intervention across multiple disciplines when needed.
• Maintain accurate records in electronic systems and adhere to professional standards.
• Assess and mitigate risk to patients and staff using agreed frameworks and manual handling policies.
• Demonstrate ability to perform physiotherapy assessments and interventions including manual therapy and therapeutic handling.
• Demonstrate dexterity and palpatory skills for assessment and manual treatment.
• Represent physiotherapy in multidisciplinary meetings to ensure coordinated care.
• Contribute to a seven-day service.

Leadership, supervision and development

• Be responsible for the competent use and maintenance of rehabilitation equipment and support others in its safe use.
• Assist in supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior staff and assistants.
• Undertake delegated tasks and deputise for team leads when required.
• Plan and organise own time, patient caseload, meetings and training; adjust plans according to staffing levels and other factors.
• Assist in planning junior staff, students and assistant timetables and deputise for senior staff in organisational duties; contribute to the team’s training and post-registration education programme.
• Contribute to education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers as appropriate.
• Supervise undergraduate student physiotherapists and support practice-based learning.
• Maintain ongoing professional development and a portfolio to evidence this.
• Keep up-to-date with national and local clinical standards and apply best practice in acute and general medicine and rehabilitation.
• Participate in quality improvement and clinical audit projects and implement evidenced-based practice through CPD.

Qualifications and requirements

• Diploma or degree in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Experience in an Acute and General Medicine setting
• Completion of junior rotations post registration in core areas (including respiratory/medicine, neurology/rehabilitation, MSK/Orthopaedics)
• Experience of MDT working
• Experience of discharge planning including liaison with a wide variety of health and social care providers

Desirable criteria

• Experience supervising junior staff and students
• Participation in respiratory weekend and/or on-call rotas
• You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a large NHS teaching trust providing a wide range of clinical services with a focus on Delivering Compassionate Excellence and values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence.