Job overview
Are you a physiotherapist looking to develop your skills within the Paediatric setting and lead the team working in Special Schools and Units?
The Hounslow Paediatric Physiotherapy team is seeking an experienced Band 7 Physiotherapists in order to help support staff working in Special Schools and Units, to ensure the continuation of service development, creation and implementation of clinical care pathways and to support the development of more Junior Physiotherapists within the team.
The children’s physiotherapy service is an integral part of the Children’s Physiotherapy Team which, in turn, is part of the Children’s Therapy Service, which includes Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
Our team provides a comprehensive service profile to a varied and diverse population within the community, including schools and clinics. Our team specialises in the treatment and management of children who have neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular and childhood musculoskeletal conditions. Our aim is to enable these children to reach their full potential for movement and participation.
The Children’s Physiotherapy team as a whole provides a specialist service for children and adolescents in the London Borough of Hounslow.
Main duties of the job
The caseload consists of children with a range of complex physical and developmental disabilities, challenging behaviours, severe learning disabilities and musculo-skeletal conditions
This role focuses on Special Schools and Units however, you will have the opportunity to work in other streams, in line with service needs and priorities.
We adopt a number of specialist clinical approaches in order to support our clients including Bobath, Posture Management pathways and the assessment and provision of specialist orthotics, as well as using a number of well recognised assessment tools including: Movement ABC, BOT 2, Peabody, GMFCS, GMFM, Mymop, Chailey, The Oxford Assessment of Disability.
You will ensure development of junior therapists and the implementation best practice standards, providing leadership, guidance and oversight to the “streams of care” provided by our team. This includes: Under 5’s Neurodevelopmental, Over 5’s Neurodevelopmental, Special Schools and Musculoskeletal including early year’s issues such as talipes, Erbs palsies and torticollis.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Graduate Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
2. Registered with Health Professions Council
3. Evidence of relevant in depth postgraduate study or qualification at a level equivalent to a Masters where it exists e.g. Bobath Course
4. Advanced knowledge and understanding of different treatment philosophies
Desirable criteria
5. Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
6. Membership of relevant Clinical Interest Group / Special Interest Group
Experience
Essential criteria
7. A good level of post graduate experience including at least 2 years in Paediatrics
8. Significant experience of developing others through CPD / PDP/ clinical supervision
9. Significant experience of working as part of a physiotherapy team and/or multi-disciplinary team
Knowledge
Essential criteria
10. In depth knowledge of community paediatrics
11. To be familiar with the Children’s Act, SEND, NSF and Child Protection policy, and other relevant legislation relating to the care of children and their families
Skills
Essential criteria
12. Excellent organisational skills
13. Excellent supervision skills
14. Ability to facilitate learning in others
15. Drive and enthusiasm for clinical excellence using EBP and clinical networks
16. Ability to manage own time and caseload
17. Ability to work as a team member
18. Excellent written and spoken communication
19. Good level of computer skills e.g. word, excel
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
20. Committed to personal development
21. Ability to take initiative and work autonomously
22. Highly motivated
23. Flexible and able to cope with change
24. Sensitive to the needs of others
Other Requirements
Essential criteria
25. Clearance from DBS at enhanced level
26. Clearance from Occupational Health Department
27. Able to work harmoniously with a diverse workforce and to deliver a quality service to people from different backgrounds, by including and embracing their varied needs
Desirable criteria
28. Car driver with a full driving licence