Specialist MSK Occupational health Physiotherapist Northampton, England
Job description
We are looking for a highly skilled MSK Physiotherapist to join our hard working and supportive Occupational health (OH) team.
The OH team provides services to 8000 internal staff with additional services provide by contact to county wide GP’s and Dentists along with local health care students.
The department is nurse led with support from an Occupational Health Consultant and Specialty Registrar. The OH team consists of 10 nurses and 6 admin with access to internal and external counselling and psychology services.
The role of the Specialist MSK Physiotherapist is to provide specialist Physio assessment for staff employed by Northampton General Hospital; using knowledge, clinical skills and providing advice to employees and employers regarding conditions and guiding on self management and or amendments that may support staff at work.
The post holder will provide MSK expertise/recommendations, back care advice and complete ergonomic assessments.
In addition to this, the successful candidate will participate in the development and maintenance of the Occupational Health (OH) Service for employees of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and other NHS clients. As well as working with the health and safety colleagues analysing trends of staff injuries and look at proactive strategies to improve training and support the health and well-being of staff at NGH.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to review the current criteria and procedures for the delivery of Physiotherapy intervention within the Occupational Health department, to ensure it meets the needs of the NHS today.
The post holder will work operationally within the Occupational health department as part of the OH multidisciplinary team.
The post holder will be professionally accountable to the Head of therapies and enablement centre. This will ensure the maintenance and development of professional skills and standards as a Physiotherapist.
Northampton General Hospital is one of the largest employers in the area and we are on an exciting journey. All our divisions are committed to doing things better, with more efficiency as we update, modernise, and advance. We have also entered a Group Model with neighbouring Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and become University Hospitals of Northamptonshire.
Our Excellence Values
Compassion
Accountability
Respect
Integrity
Courage
We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone’s full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities.
The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals.
We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative.
We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.
To provide highly specialist Physiotherapy knowledge and clinical skills; providing advice and treatment to employees and employers, creating a client focussed service in accordance with clinical governance.
To participate in the development and maintenance of the Occupational Health (OH) Service for employees of Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust and other NHS clients.
To provide MSK expertise and back care advice to trust employees and monitor and report the MSK needs for staff at NGH.
To provide specialist advice for use of equipment to provide patient care and advice on back care.
To support managers and staff by working with them to complete ergonomic assessments, provide advice and make recommendations for equipment, layout etc.
Assist in ensuring that the service is run to meet the needs of the clients.
To work autonomously and accept clinical responsibility for managing own caseload and, through the use of advanced diagnostic and assessment skills, interpret specific conditions caused or affected by the working environment, providing advice on appropriate action.
To utilise advanced skills in diagnostic testing, such as blood testing and imaging, to form accurate diagnoses.
This includes the direct requesting of investigations and the
interpretation of results.
To formulate individualised management and treatment plans using advanced clinical reasoning/problem solving skills to provide specialised programmes of care.
Demonstrate an expert level of problem solving skills.
To recognise when treatment is inappropriate and would benefit from the input of another
profession or when advice on client management is needed and to refer onwards to the
appropriate consultant, or other health care professional.
Assess staff for fitness to work and advise on any restrictions/adaptations to their role and/or
their environment. Communicate with manager concerning advice.
Keep staff who are restricted in their role, under review. Maintaining regular and effective
communication with manager.
Participate in case conferences in relation to the future management of an employee with the
individual, H.R., and the manager.
Undertake workplace visits when requested or indicated in all areas of the Trust and to
external contracts. Provide reports, support and advice on the working environment. Involve
internal and external agencies as required.
Assist in developing policies and procedures appropriate to the needs of the Occupational
Health Service.
To be responsible for inputting data on a daily basis regarding client information,
demographics, audit and outcome measures in line with professional standards and local
Trust policies.
To provide quarterly data reports regarding the activity and outcome of the physiotherapy service.
To monitor MSK referrals that are being received to ascertain cause and therefore produce recommendations with the relevant lead i.e. Health and Safety, Manual Handling, Estates. Identify hotspots of MSK referrals and incidents to investigate cause and provide
recommendations.
Monitor the number of MSK referrals and incidents to provide assurance
that recommendations have been followed or follow up appropriately.
Provide medical reports when appropriate and ensure that the request is in line with requirements of The Access to Medical Reports Act 1988 & The Data Protection Act 1998.
Professional
To act in a professional manner and respect staff confidentiality at all times. Support fellow colleagues to do the same.
To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of own work, including management of clients under your care.
To take responsibility for maintaining own Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through reflective practice, peer case review sessions, tutorials, supervision and attendance on relevant internal/ external courses.
To be an active member of training programmes by the attendance and delivering of
presentations at staff meetings, tutorials, in-house and external training sessions, and by attendance of external conferences/courses and use of reflective practice.
To work within the CSP Scope of Professional Practice and Code of Conduct and to adhere to all relevant Trust and service policies and guidelines.
To participate in clinical supervision, both as supervisor and supervisee.
To participate in the Trust Appraisal Scheme, both as appraiser and as an appraisee.
Communication
To ensure that the work of the physiotherapist within the Occupational Health team is recognised and understood in the wider organisation.
Develop and maintain good working relationship with staff and managers within the trust.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate, in simple terms highly complex information and ideas to clients to maximise rehabilitation potential and to ensure understanding of condition.
Communication skills of persuasion, motivation and explanation will consistently be used.
Attend Trust meetings at the request of Occupational Health management.
Carry out workplace visits in accordance with Health and Safety legislation and at the manager's request.
Report findings and give appropriate advice verbally and in writing to managers and clients.
Work collaboratively within a multi disciplinary Occupational Health Team.
To present information in an effective, informative and challenging manner to senior managers.
Organisational & Leadership
Work autonomously on a day-to-day basis deciding and managing priorities for own work area, balancing other client related and professional demands, and ensure that these remain in accordance with the team as a whole.
Demonstrate excellent time management skills and be consistently reliable in attendance.
Advise line manager on issues of service delivery including short fall, service pressures, etc.
Review and develop the role of Physiotherapy within the Occupational Health department; actively proposing, developing and implementing protocols, policy and or service changes within the occupational health service in conjunction with Occupational
Health management team.
Measuring and evaluating the effectiveness of Physiotherapy interventions. To regularly update, interpret and inform line manager of implications of professional publications, national and local policies relevant to physiotherapy as they are released.
To participate in annual service plans, reports and reviews.
To assist in the recruitment and induction of new staff to the service as deemed appropriate by the manager.
Demonstrate sound understanding of clinical governance and risk management and apply this to the work situation.
Be aware of Health and Safety of your work regarding your work environment and adhere to I implement any policies that may be required to improve the safety of your work area.
To represent the Occupational Health Department/Trust in internal/external forum in relation to specific educational initiatives
To facilitate and participate in training/promotional events related to the Occupational Health Service.
Audit & Research
Participate in the collection and evaluation of clinical audit within the speciality and identify, implement and evaluate appropriate action necessary to ensure quality.
Keep records and data on audits and assessments undertaken
Contribute to the Occupational Health Service audit programme as required.
To complete monthly/quarterly (as determined) audits on MSK referrals for the Trust and to identify any trends and make recommendations as appropriate.
To complete monthly/quarterly (as determined) audits on MSK incidents for the Trust and to identify any trends and make recommendations as appropriate.
To complete monthly/quarterly (as determined) audits on MH assessments to identify gaps and to provide support with specialist ergonomic assessments for complex cases.
Provide monthly or quarterly updates to H&S committee and any other relevant boards/committees as directed on MSK injuries & incidents, trends identified, recommendations, number of specialist ergonomics assessment etc.
Work with the team to promote and critically evaluate research regularly in order to provide and demonstrate Evidence Based Practice (EBP). Keep abreast of new trends and developments and incorporate them into the workplace. Assist in the development and implementation of procedures to comply with new standards.
Identify topics and carry out research in this specialist area.
Ensure Ethics policy and procedures are adhered to.
Attend and present audit/research on topics requested at department audit meetings and business and procedures meetings
