Specialist Physiotherapist - NICU, Luton

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
• To undertake the comprehensive assessment of patients, including those with a complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills. To interpret clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognosis in a wide range of highly complex conditions. These include children with neurological, orthopaedic and respiratory problems.
• To have highly developed skills in the observation, handling and assessment skills for an extremely fragile patient population and to interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts, including perinatal and maternal history to assist in the formulation of accurate diagnoses and prognoses in a wide range of highly complex conditions.
• To formulate individualised management and treatment plans recommending the best course of intervention. To formulate a specialised programme of care using clinical reasoning and to utilise a wide range of treatment skills. This usually involves liaison with a wide range of professionals across the health and social services. Due to the complexity and nature of the patient's conditions, care management is often longer term and thus requires frequent re-assessment.
• To assist with reviewing, organising and participate in the neurodevelopmental follow up clinic with Neonatal consultants to assess children at 9 months and 2 years.
• To assist with reviewing, organising and participate in the physiotherapy follow up outpatient clinics

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• HCPC registration
• Evidence of CPD maintained in a portfolio including attendance at recent postgraduate courses/in-service trainings relevant to the clinical field.
• Post graduate qualifications/evidence of post graduate learning relevant to the clinical field

Desirable criteria

• APCP membership
• Bayley scales of infant and toddler development assessment.
• Neonatal Assessment course eg Prechtl assessment of general movements, Lacey assessment of preterm infant (LAPI)
• Clinical educators training

Communication Skills

Essential criteria

• Relevant IT skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and non-verbal communication
• Ability to disseminate complex information to others
• Ability to pass on skills/ knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Be able to communicate where there may be barriers to understanding

Desirable criteria

• Experience of video assessments and Microsoft teams meetings.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Substantive post graduate experience including work at Specialist level and paediatrics
• Experience of multidisciplinary working
• Experience of follow up of preterm and high risk babies and/or working on a neonatal unit
• Experience working within NHS
• Experience at Band 6 level within an acute trust
• Demonstrable ability to manage highly complex patients independently
• Experience of performance management and staff appraisal
• Experience of clinical audit and service evaluation
• Experience of initiating, managing and evaluating change

Desirable criteria

• Experience at Band 7 level
• Development of protocols and guidelines
• Experience of neonatal assessment tools

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Specialist knowledge of physiotherapy related to working within the neonatal intensive care environment and neonatal neurodevelopmental follow up.
• Ability to relate theory to practice
• Ability to pass on skills/ knowledge to others within formal and informal environments
• Specialist knowledge of broad range of illnesses, injuries and conditions relevant to the speciality
• Specialist knowledge of a broad range of physiotherapy assessment and treatment techniques relating to the speciality.
• Up to date knowledge of relevant national clinical guidelines, recommendations, protocols or publications relevant to the speciality

Desirable criteria

• Awareness of the wider local and national agenda around neonatal physiotherapy and NHS developments
• Knowledge of service improvement techniques e.g. Lean techniques, change management

Skills

Essential criteria

• Highly specialised observation and treatment skills relevant to the assessment of neonates and infants developmental needs
• Excellent time management, delegation and prioritisation skills
• Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
• Ability to adapt to change
• Ability to travel across site
• Ability to work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
• Committed to personal and team development
• Ability to demonstrate personal and professional integrity and present a profession image of the team/profession

Desirable criteria

• Data collection&analysis skills
• Service improvement skills

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.

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