Job Overview
The Community Team for Adults with a Learning Disability (CTALD) team has 6 specialist Learning Disability (LD) pathways within the service; Psychiatry, Psychology, Speech and Language (SLT), Nursing, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The team provides experience and expertise in meeting the needs of and providing a service to residents of Milton Keynes to those diagnosed with a learning disability.
The post-holder will be a skilled and competent worker who works in a non-aversive, person centred and therapeutic way. The post holder will be part of a multi-disciplinary team, delivering a high quality, innovative service to people with a learning disability and complex needs. Their main task will be in the assessment and treatment of Service Users who have complex, chronic presentations aiming to provide a high quality, evidence-based care.
The LD Physiotherapy Service promotes participation and functional activity through focused and goal led interventions, promoting individual rights, independence, choice and inclusion. Physiotherapy is provided in the most appropriate setting for the services user i.e. home, day centre, schools, leisure centres, work placements or respite units.
Main duties of the job
- To provide specialist community physiotherapy service for adult with learning disabilities with a wide variety of complex physical needs in Milton Keynes and undertake multi agency work to ensure seamless health care delivery.
- To undertake comprehensive assessment of Service Users, including those with complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills.
- To undertake comprehensive assessment of complex health and social care needs including risk management.
- To provide support and training to families, carers and external agencies.
Working for our organisation
There’s a place for you at CNWL.
We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.
Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.
With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- To provide specialist Physiotherapy input for adults with a learning disability where access to generic physiotherapy treatment is not appropriate for them.
- To undertake comprehensive assessment of Service Users, including those with complex presentation, using investigative and analytical skills
- To undertake comprehensive assessment of complex health and social care needs including risk managemen
- To interpret clinical and non-clinical facts to form accurate diagnosis and prognoses in a wide range of complex individuals
- To prioritise factors involved in a service users presenting condition through clinical reasoning, based on specialist knowledge of current professional opinion, syndromes, prognoses and other physical, social and mental health issues.
- To formulate individualised management and goal led treatment plans, utilising clinical reasoning and a wide range of treatment options, recommending best course of intervention and to develop appropriate discharge plans.
- To monitor, review, progress individualised therapy programmes
- To be responsible for the assessment of Physiotherapy equipment such as walking aids and other rehabilitative equipment used and to teach service users, carers and support staff in appropriate and safe use of this equipment.
- To demonstrate highly developed dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory senses in assessing and providing specialised treatment to clients.
- To be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring a high standard of clinical care and to act as a competent Physiotherapist in line with the grade of this post
- To accept responsibility for a caseload and to manage this efficiently with regard to clinical priorities and use of time.
- To obtain Service User consent with a demonstrable understanding of MCA and management in best interests.
- To assess and treat service users in a variety of settings including day services, homes (Including supported living and residential), Special Needs Schools and leisure facilities
- To be competent with and promoting 24-hour postural management and to recommend appropriate equipment.
- To be competent in the management of respiratory conditions associated with syndromes and neuromuscular disorders. Including management of dysphagia
- To carry out basic wheelchair assessments and make appropriate referrals to the wheelchair service for specialist seating. This includes re-evaluation of prescription and adjustments to meet the changing needs of the service user
- To implement treatments in more specialised settings such as Hydrotherapy and Rebound Therapy sessions.
- To support safe access to health promotion activities, including training support staff to support service users in undertaking these activities
- To support in coordinating transition of physiotherapy care form paediatric services to adult services.
- To be actively involved in the running of groups
- To provide spontaneous and planned advice, education and training, to service users, carers and families on specialised areas, e.g. postural drainage and respiratory care, use of mobility equipment, moving and handling, 24-hour positioning, physical management etc. to ensure consistent approach to care.
- To prepare service user treatment areas and equipment in compliance with health and safety guidelines and standards.
- To always comply with CNWL Trust Manual Handling Policy and local Therapeutic Handling guidance.
- To maintain accurate clinical notes and records in line with CSP and CNWL Trust guidelines on information systems.
- To maintain high standards of clinical care as defined by the CSP and CNWL
- To attend client /service user review meetings and provide verbal and written reports and to contribute to specialist assessments such as CHC.
- To support service users and their carers to attend health care appointments when appropriate to advocate best treatment options on their behalf.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- BSc(Hons)/Diploma in Physiotherapy
- Membership of Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
- Maintains a portfolio of CPD in line with CSP standards
- Willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills required to carry out duties including extended role activities
Desirable criteria
- Involvement in CSP special interest group, e.g. Association of Chartered Physiotherapist for People with Learning Disabilities (ACPPLD)
- Qualification in Rebound / Hydrotherapy.
- Clinical supervisors’ qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Demonstrate a range of clinical skills/ therapeutic interventions commensurate to banding including musculoskeletal, neurology & respiratory care.
- Experience of working autonomously and inter-professionally / MDT working.
- Experience of working in a multi-cultural context and being aware of equality and diversity needs.
- Involvement in service development, improvement, and innovation.
- Experience delivering specific focused in-service training to the wider MDT and therapy staff.
- Mentor student physiotherapists. Plan their placement and support their learning needs throughout. Evaluate their learning and receive and provide feedback.
- Demonstrate clinical skills commensurate to banding. Inclusive of assessment using a variety of assessment tools, evidence-based interventions and outcome measures.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills – ability to manage time and independent workload.
- Demonstrate sound clinical reasoning & problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and liaison skills.
- Hold a current driving licence valid in the UK, access to a car with business insurance.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of delivering evidence based-group activities for service users with complex and diverse needs in a community setting.
- Clinical supervisors’ qualification
- Qualification in Rebound / Hydrotherapy.
- Experience of working with Learning Disabilities/ Paediatrics/ Mental Health clients with a profound, multiple or complex needs including physical, cognitive, sensory impairments and behaviours that challenge.
- Experience of delivering evidence based-group activities for service users with complex and diverse needs in a community setting.
- Experience in a variety of communication strategies e.g. Makaton.
- Working knowledge of associated syndromes linked to Learning Disabilities.
- Knowledge of legal and ethical principles in learning disability practice for choice, consent and client autonomy, Mental Capacity Act (MCA 2005), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and Safeguarding.
- Demonstrates an understanding and ability to evaluate using audit, research and outcome measures
