If you have a keen interest in holistic care and want to make a difference to the lives of those living with obesity, we have the opportunity for an enthusiastic physiotherapist to join the Health Living Team!
Key Responsibilities
* Carry out assessment of patients as an autonomous practitioner, including those with complex obesity presentations, and determine appropriate theory-driven treatment plans using evidence-based practice and a wide range of treatment skills including behavioural change techniques.
* Provide expert delivery of healthy weight programmes to groups living with obesity, ensuring they are underpinned by behaviour change theory.
* Interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnoses across a wide range of conditions, with occasional guidance from a specialist physiotherapist.
* Formulate accurate prognoses and recommend the best course of intervention.
* Continuously reassess patients to progress treatments effectively and coordinate interventions, engaging and making partnerships with other sectors to ensure long‑term maintenance support, which may include other healthcare professionals, community groups and volunteers.
* Manage clinical risk within your caseload at all times.
* Demonstrate physical ability to carry out physiotherapy assessment and interventions, including manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling.
* Manage potentially stressful, upsetting or emotional situations in an empathetic manner.
* Support junior staff when indicated in the management of challenging patients.
* Provide community‑based healthy weight group programmes, sometimes as a lone practitioner, within the Trust guidance.
* Supervise and coordinate junior staff, students and assistants on a daily basis.
* Take responsibility for the operational management of the designated team in the absence of the team leader or as required.
* Flexibly plan and organise your own time, patient caseload, meetings, training and adjust plans as required according to staff.
* Respond to unpredictable work patterns and frequent interruptions.
* Assist in planning of juniors, students and assistants’ timetables and deputise for the team leader in organisational duties.
* Ensure smooth organisation of patient group work including gym classes.
* Maintain competent use and maintenance reporting of all equipment used on each rotation and ensure that junior staff and assistants attain competency prior to use.
* Motivate and persuade others through effective communication skills, using verbal and non‑verbal skills, written and electronic information where needed.
* Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, carers and other staff, addressing barriers to communication such as non‑English speaking patients, use of interpreters, excess noise or lack of privacy.
* Maintain close links, communication and liaison between all staff and people involved in patient care, student education, research or policy development.
* Maintain an accurate and evaluative record‑keeping system, including electronic patient referrals, and supervise junior and student physiotherapists’ record‑keeping according to departmental standards.
* Supervise, teach and appraise junior staff, students, assistants and other health professionals.
* Regularly liaise with academic institutions regarding undergraduate student physiotherapists.
* Keep abreast of new developments applicable to specific physiotherapy treatments and attend in‑service training programs and other outside courses and lectures.
* Contribute to the education of multidisciplinary groups, patients, families and carers.
* Be proactive in learning from other physiotherapy staff and other MDT staff within the Trust.
* Actively record personal professional development and maintain a CPD portfolio.
* Assist in organising and participating in the in‑service and post‑registration education programme within the specialist clinical area.
* Participate in the department’s ongoing audit and appropriate work‑related research and evaluation projects.
* Present evidence‑based projects to the obesity team, physiotherapy department and wider multidisciplinary team.
* Maintain a good working knowledge of national and local standards and monitor quality as appropriate.
Qualifications and Knowledge
* Sound knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity.
* Up‑to‑date knowledge of latest evidence‑based practice and new research.
* Understanding of Clinical Governance and its implications for physiotherapy services, including experience of quality issues and audit.
* Innovative and driven approach to service development and quality improvement.
* Provision of training and personal development opportunities.
* Experience in mentoring and supervising junior staff and students.
* Excellent organisation, prioritisation and delegation skills.
Compliance and Professional Responsibilities
* Maintain confidentiality, data protection and freedom of information obligations in accordance with the Data Protection Act and FOI Act.
* Follow Trust policies and procedures, including Health and Safety at Work, Infection Control, Risk Management and Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults.
* Attend mandatory training and comply with HCAI reduction measures, PPE use, hand decontamination and sharps disposal.
* Report risks and incidents promptly and use risk assessments.
* Adhere to the Trust’s smoking policy and any other relevant policies.
Equal Opportunities
Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.
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