Senior Specialist Physiotherapist - Spinal Injuries

Job summary
This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced, dynamic and enthusiastic Physiotherapist to join our Spinal Injuries Therapy Service. The post holder will be employed as a Senior specialist Physiotherapist and will be the respiratory lead physiotherapist on the regional unit. There will be opportunities to advance their knowledge and experience in the respiratory and rehabilitation management of spinal injury patients.

The post holder will have the opportunity to develop specialist skills within the management of patients throughout the rehabilitation journey. The post involves working as part of the integrated MDT team, liaising with external services and families.

The James Cook University Hospital is a major trauma centre and provides a wide range of district general hospital services and specialist services such as neurosciences, renal medicine, spinal injuries, major trauma, cardiothoracic, vascular surgery and cancer services.

The post holder may be required to attend rehabilitation consultant clinics to assess patients and advise on ongoing rehabilitation needs. The post holder may be required to complete domiciliary visits to facilitate discharges and training.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based at the Golden Jubilee Regional Spinal Injury Centre at The James Cook University Hospital which has a well-established, progressive and dynamic Therapy Service that continues to develop and grow with the Trust.

The team is friendly and supportive and support for this role will be available from the therapy service lead.

This post offers development in clinical and leadership skills. We have a comprehensive training programme and our staff are encouraged and supported in their CPD through workshops and clinical supervision. There is also an expectation to actively participate in audit and research.

As a Senior Specialist Physiotherapist you will be required to supervise qualified physiotherapists and therapy assistants and be involved in the clinical education of students.

This post is suitable for Physiotherapists with significant postgraduate experience including respiratory management and an interest in neurological physiotherapy enabling them to build on their core skills developed as a physiotherapist.

About us
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust have come together to form University Hospitals Tees. As a result, post holders may be required to work across sites within both organisations.

Across University Hospitals Tees, our ambition is to be the best place to work, ensuring we have the right staff in the right roles at the right time to deliver outstanding patient care and experience.

We are committed to supporting our staff through an inclusive and supportive working environment, offering health and wellbeing initiatives, staff benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional development.

We support the 'Making Every Contact Count' approach to behaviour change in the promotion of health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification document(s) for main responsibilities of the role.

Qualifications and Training
Essential

• To hold a degree or relevant Diploma in Physiotherapy
• To be registered with the HCPC as a physiotherapist

Desirable

• ACP training /masters level qualification

Experience
Essential

• To have clinical experience at working with patients with spinal cord injuries
• To have respiratory knowledge and skills to manage complex patients
• Evidence of MDT working
• Good understanding of the structure, policies, priorities and format of the NHS.
• Ability to respond to unpredictable work patterns on a frequent basis e.g. working to deadlines, interruptions
• Ability to efficiently prioritise a complex workload/time management

Knowledge & Skills
Essential

• Basic IT skills
• To display effective communication skills, communicating complex, sensitive and contentious information to patients, carers and colleagues.
• To demonstrate analytical skills and effective clinical judgement when dealing with the Physiotherapy management of clients
• To have significant clinical experience of working with patients with spinal cord injuries

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.