Specialised Physiotherapist Community Stroke TeamNHS

Job summary

Essentials for this role:

• Car driver, valid UK drivers licence and able to use car for patient visits in the community
• Worked with stroke patients and have knowledge of how to deliver stroke rehabilitation. Applications will not be considered without these knowledge and skills.

Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team

The Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team (N-CST) has delivered a robust Integrated Community Stroke Service model (ICSS), as per the national guidelines, for over a decade. N-CST continues to see patients within 48 hours of discharge home, for rehabilitation assessment and intensive goal-based rehabilitation. The patients time with the team is needs based and patients can access any of the other services they require, regardless of time post stroke. Rehabilitation is completed by a stroke specialist MDT, that includes Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Nurses, Rehabilitation Practitioners, Rehabilitation Assistants and Admin staff. The team also has face to face exercise groups and six-month reviews.

Main duties of the job

Responsible for providing and co-ordinating physiotherapy assessment and treatment for a caseload of stroke patients in the NGH Community Stroke Team

Responsible with the MDT for managing and co-ordinating treatment, care and rehabilitation for patients on the caseload in conjunction with the patient, family and carers within the patient's own home or place of care

Supervise, appraise and develop band 5 physiotherapists, band 4 and 3 staff and student physiotherapists in the team

Support band 7 and 8 staff in managing and planning the stroke rehabilitation services, deputising for Physiotherapy team lead as required.

To take a role in the specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients who may have complex presentation, to determine the physiotherapeutic interventions indicated to provide the best outcome for the individual using evidence-based practice and establish clinical reasoning and knowledge where recommendations may not agree.

To utilise and further develop specialised skills for stroke, including therapeutic handling (e.g. ability to move complex patients from bed to chair).

To identify organisational changes within NGH and external influences which will effect NGH stroke services and act accordingly.

To record information that has been personally generated following assessment and treatments.

Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide patient care and participate in risk assessment, maintenance and training.

Job description

To work as a specialist autonomous practitioner

To identify, select and implement, with the patient and their carers, the most appropriate intervention options which balance the complex interaction of risk, safety, patient choice, independence, areas of conflict and availability for services.

To apply a high level of understanding of the effect of stroke and provide training and advice on lifestyle changes and adaptations to the patients physical and social environment.

To share records and information with patients, carers and MDT and store securely in an accessible location.

To generate handouts/information booklets/exercise programmes for supplying to patients, carers and MDT using electronic/IT and software.

To utilise a knowledge of the full range of disability equipment and adaptations available to the patient group.

To advise other less qualified physiotherapists, rehabilitation assistants, carers and MDT in the selection of appropriate aids/methods of treatment to promote patient care and independence.

To participate in and where indicated, initiate multidisciplinary/multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure co-ordination of patient care. This will include the review of patient progress and discharge planning and close working relationships with other health and care sectors.

To generate reports/discharge documents, including referral letters/cards on request in a variety of formats, using IT on a timely basis.

To refer patients for assessment and treatment by other agencies e.g. other therapies, orthotics as appropriate

To take a role in the specialist assessment and treatment of stroke patients who may have complex presentation, to determine the physiotherapeutic interventions indicated to provide the best outcome for the individual using evidence-based practice and establish clinical reasoning and knowledge where recommendations may not agree.

To utilise and further develop specialised skills for stroke, including therapeutic handling (e.g. ability to move complex patients from bed to chair).

To undertake environmental and manual handling risk assessments in the community/rehabilitation environment and advise as appropriate

To use clinical reasoning skills frequently with no access to other colleagues.

To provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies to promote understanding of the aims of therapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme

To take into account the psychological, social and leisure needs as well as medical aspects of the patients situation considering the functional impact of stroke on everyday life.

To run the stroke specific exercise group in times of team lead absence 7-Day working on a roster basis. Liaise with team lead to maintain appropriate 7 day clinical cover. The post holder must have the ability to travel across Northamptonshire Physical effort required daily

To review and reflect on own practice and performance through the effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal, using reflection and analysis to inform practice and identify training needs.

To work within Trust Core Competencies and objectives and Chartered Society of Physiotherapy/ HCPC guidelines and to have a working knowledge of national and local standards and policies, and monitor own and less qualified others quality of practice as appropriate.

Manage complaints as a first point of contact for the Trust. To assist the Physiotherapy team lead to supervise and coordinate the staffing of the team ensuring adequate staffing levels and skill mix are maintained.

To provide support, teaching, supervision and problem-solving to more junior physiotherapists and rehab assistants within the team as well as to physiotherapists in other specialities and all therapists, carers and staff within the MDT.

To carry out appraisals, IPRs and learning contracts for appropriate members of speciality team as delegated by Physiotherapy Team Lead.

To regularly and effectively communicate with band 7 team lead.

To communicate sensitively and effectively in all situations and with all people.

To identify and employ suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g. altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia and fear or inability to accept diagnosis and implications.

To engage the patient and relatives and carers where appropriate, in the planning and agreement of a treatment programme to maximise rehabilitation potential.

To educate patients/relatives/carers regarding the nature of the condition/prognosis and the aims of therapy intervention and long term management in the home.

To ensure all more junior team members maintain timely written records including realistic goal setting and activity data in accordance with professional and Trust standards.

To undertake ongoing measurement and evaluation including audit, uni professional and team outcome measurement and integration of evidence based practice and research into clinical practice.

To assist team lead to provide education on all aspects of physiotherapy care to other members of the MDT to further their professional development and improve patient care.

To use information such as Clinical Governance, NICE and other stroke guidelines and evidence of best practice to assist team lead in producing working guidelines, competencies and objectives to develop the service.

To identify organisational changes within NGH and external influences which will effect NGH stroke services and act accordingly.

To record information that has been personally generated following assessment and treatments.

Maintain and monitor standards on health and safety, consent, note keeping, clinical governance, continuous professional development on both a personal and departmental level. Complete all work necessary to maintain registration and encourage others to do so.

Build safe working knowledge of all equipment used to provide patient care and participate in risk assessment, maintenance and training.

To participate in the operational planning and implementation of policy and service development within stroke, leading on delegated projects, in liaison with the team lead.

Other Information:

The postholder may be required to carry out other relevant duties as required.

The postholder will adhere to the duties specified under the Staff Responsibilities of the NHS Constitution in their day to day work and behaviours.

The postholder will be expected to aspire to the Values of the Trust in their day to day work and behaviours in order to support the Trust in achieving its Vision.

The postholder will adhere to, at all times, any Professional, NHS Code of Conducts and legislation relevant for their area of work.

The postholder will make themselves familiar with, and adhere to, at all times, the policies and procedures of the Trust, and their area of work.

The postholder will be expected to work to any Corporate/Division/Directorate/Department objectives and standards in order to provide an acceptable level of service.

The postholder will be expected to undertake training, including mandatory and role specific training, relevant to their role and ensure it is renewed as required.

About us

Please submit your application as soon as possible, as we reserve the right to close adverts once sufficient applications have been received.

We recognise that AI tools can support application writing; however, candidates are asked to keep their use to a minimum. Responses should reflect your own experience, skills and knowledge, as over-reliance on AI-generated content may result in generic answers that do not accurately represent your abilities.

University Hospitals of Northamptonshire (UHN) brings together Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust. As a group, we are committed to improving services for our communities through collaboration, modernising care delivery and striving for excellence. Working together enables us to share expertise, strengthen services and create greater opportunities, and there may be a requirement to work across sites depending on service needs.

Our Excellence Values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Integrity and Courage. UHN welcomes applications from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive working environment. We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Gold Award under the Employer Recognition Scheme. Candidates who identify as members of the Armed Forces community and meet the essential criteria will be guaranteed an interview.