About this role
Job summary
Are you a recently qualified physiotherapist with a passion for holistic care?
We have a career opportunity for someone who is keen to work in a diverse specialist area. You will combine your physiotherapeutic skills with the desire to learn and develop the expertise to work with those experiencing Severe Mental Illness (SMI).
Our work is both challenging and rewarding with every day presenting different opportunities. You will be supported by an established team of specialist clinicians to deliver evidence based, person centred care, where you'll be central to service users' recovery journeys.
You'll be working with individuals with SMI so we need to see clearly from your application that you have a good understanding of what this may involve. It would also be helpful to hear how your NHS placements have influenced your interest to work in this field.
This post is primarily based on our inpatient wards at Fountain Way, however, there may be some potential for service expansion into the community over time.
Main duties of the job
To provide effective physiotherapeutic assessment and intervention and evaluation relating to physical and mental health and working with both individuals and groups in a variety of settings.
To ensure that client treatment is constantly reviewed and adapted to changing needs
To work both autonomously and as part of the wider multidisciplinary team.
To maintain strict confidentiality and respect the individual rights of clients at all times.
To take an active part in clients' Support Conversations and Personal Wellbeing Plans (PWP).To advise on matters relating to physiotherapy, practical management and health promotion.
To contribute to the risk assessment process as part of the PWP.
To be responsible for identifying issues regarding the safeguarding of others who may be at risk, and reporting all such concerns in accordance with Trust safeguarding procedures.
About us
We are the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
We aim to provide High Quality, Compassionate Care everywhere, every day. This means our services will be safe, clinically effective and provide a positive all round experience for our patients, families and carers. And we believe passionately in treating everyone with kindness, respect and empathy.
Key to this is providing a supportive and safe environment for our 4,000 staff where we all feel welcome and able to do the best we can for those we support. Our staff and teams work incredibly hard delivering services across more than 90 locations, covering 2,200miles, to more than 1.8million people.At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
To provide effective physiotherapy interventions. Learning how to identify and assess problems relating to physical and mental disorders requiring physiotherapy, working with both individuals and groups in a variety of settings.
To ensure that client treatment is constantly reviewed, and adapted to their changing needs.To maintain strict confidentiality and respect the individual rights of clients at all times.
To take an active part in Personalised Wellbeing Planning (PWP).To advise on matters relating to physiotherapy, practical management and health promotion.
To contribute to the risk assessment process as part of the PWP.
To be responsible for identifying issues regarding the safeguarding of others who may be at risk, and reporting all such concerns in accordance with Trust safeguarding procedures.
To observe the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to be aware of risks to patients and self, taking all precautionary safety measures required.
Personal
To work within the national standards of physiotherapy and the professional code of conduct.
To work in a collaborative and co-operative manner with other professionals and nonprofessionals working with the clients, demonstrating good communication skills.
To comply with the terms of the contract of employment and the Trusts statement of values and beliefs.
To maintain registration with the Health and Care Professional Council, and comply with the relevant code of conduct and standards of professional practice.
To fully participate in management, clinical and professional supervision sessions relevant to the role, as required by the Trust.
To fully participate in annual review and appraisal reviews.
To maintain up to date knowledge and competency in the skills required to perform safely and effectively in the role.
To undertake relevant training (including statutory and mandatory training) and be responsible for personal development in line with Trust requirements.
To have very well established motivational skills to engage those with severe and enduring mental health issues.
Demonstrate a broad range of physiotherapy interventions, using safe and appropriate techniques.
To be able to build therapeutic relationships with those acutely mentally unwell, using well developed communication skills and overcoming barriers to communication such as cognitive ability, altered perception and language.
To provide support to service users at times of extreme emotional distress; this may involve being aware of traumatic histories and events.
Administration
To undertake administrative tasks in relation to own work and as requested.
To maintain accurate and comprehensive service user records using RIO, in accordance with Trust and Professional record keeping standards.
Recording patients activity and statistical data using information technology.
To maintain strict confidentiality and respect the individual rights of clients at all times.
To be able to plan own workload with independent diary management, including managing both inpatient and community commitments.
To carry administrative functions associated with the role.
To maintain accurate caseload lists.
To discharge service users at the end of a period of care.
Training and Development
To participate in physiotherapy and inter-disciplinary training, keeping professionally up to date and ensuring own professional development and maintaining a Portfolio.
To ensure engage in regular support and supervision from senior physiotherapists and attend relevant professional meetings.
To participate in the induction of new staff and support students, as well as those less experienced, in the clinical area.
To ensure attendance at mandatory training and have a continuing professional development plan in line with the Trust appraisal policy.
To be aware of, and work to all relevant Trust policies and procedures, including infection control, lone working, AWOL and GDPR.
Communications and Working Relationships
To develop skills to work autonomously within a multi-disciplinary team developing skills in exchange of clinical information between relevant parties.
To communicate with service users, team and carers in a way which recognises difference and ensures that people feel included and that their individual communication needs are met.
To liaise with other professionals and non-professionals working with the clients.
To demonstrate good communication skills.
To communicate effectively with service users with mental health conditions, overcoming barriers to understanding by effective listening and observation and adapting communication accordingly.
To attend clinical team meetings, providing structured and objective information on service user progress as required and contributing to the clinical decision making process.
To communicate sensitive clinical information with service users, carers, other healthcare professionals and outside agencies where persuasion, reassurance or cooperation is required.
To promote and educate on other areas of physical wellbeing including smoking cessation, weight management and healthy lifestyles and habits.
To work with other members of the MDT to provide joint sessions, and identify and make appropriate referrals to other relevant professions such as, Occupational therapy Dietetics and Nutrition.
To decide when to escalate issues to senior staff (e.g. new, emerging or changing risks or red flags) and take appropriate action to non-routine situations.
To be responsible for maintaining appropriate boundaries with service users and within your scope of practice.
To work alongside other professionals to ensure clients are able to carry out interventions as designated in their PWP.
To provide support and teaching to other health professionals around the role of physiotherapy and its benefits to service users.
To maintain links with other junior staff.
Practice development
To contribute towards and support with the implementation of agreed action plans and clinical audits, within the clinical governance framework and the relevant standards that are required and monitored within the team.
To contribute towards service development and provision through identifying new opportunities, and creating appropriate partnerships.
To contribute towards the development of standard policies and processes related to the Physiotherapy service.
To contribute towards continual safety and quality improvement activities as part of a team and implementing agreed action plans.
To continue to develop links with outside partners, creating appropriate pathways for information sharing
Resources
To ensure any equipment is in safe working order, reporting any faults.
Other duties
To observe the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act and to be aware of risk to patients and self, taking all precautionary safety measures required.
Most challenging part of this role
Working with and motivating a patient group to be exposed to distressed, anxious or aggressive service users and carers.
To deal with emotional situations with a client group who may have barriers to understanding and whose mental health problems can be challenging and emotionally draining for staff.
Maintaining links with other physiotherapists in a geographically widespread trust.
Maintaining the profile of a small discipline, the benefits of which are often poorly understood.
Person Specification
Essential and Desirable Essential
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy Degree HCPC Registration Core student placements within the NHS Clear and demonstrable interest in Mental Health
Desirable
Experience of working in the NHS as a Physiotherapy Assistant or Junior Physiotherapist Experience of working with people with a mental health condition
Other Requirements Essential
Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times. Independently mobile across geographical area.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check 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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust
Address Fountain Way
Wilton Road
Salisbury
SP2 7FA
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.awp.nhs.uk/about-us/working-for-us/ (Opens in a new tab)