Team Lead Physiotherapist

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

We are seeking a motivated, enthusiastic physiotherapist, with experience in childhood cancer to provide care to children undergoing cancer treatments through inpatient, outpatient and outreach pathways. This is an opportunity to help develop the service and be an active part of the Multi-disciplinary Team.

The King's College Hospital POSCU (Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit) delivers oncology supportive care including chemotherapy delivery for children aged 0-18 years with a cancer diagnosis, living locally in the boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Bromley. Principal Treatment Centre (PTC) care is at RMH, GOS or UCL hospitals. The POSCU is currently Level 2 and will be Enhanced Level B under new specification, anticipating an associated increase in workload. The physiotherapy position is part of a well-established MDT that provides support for children aged 0-18 with a cancer diagnosis.

Main duties of the job

To ensure the provision of a high quality, effective and efficient, evidence-based physiotherapy service for local paediatric oncology patients and to support the management of children and young people with cancer under the care of Child Health at King's College Hospital.

To use highly specialist physiotherapy knowledge and skills to assess, treat and manage own complex caseload of children and young people age 0-18 years with a cancer diagnosis, as an autonomous practitioner.

To deliver specialist physiotherapy for paediatric patients with an oncology diagnosis across their journey in an acute inpatient admission, outpatient attendances and clinic settings such as joint consultant long term follow up clinics; and to work closely with community teams in outreach capacity to ensure smooth continuation of and transition of care between services.

To develop the physiotherapy service in the Paediatric Oncology Shared Care Unit (POSCU) as part of the Children's Cancer Operational Delivery Network (ODN) at King's College Hospital.

To take a leadership role within the paediatric physiotherapy team and to supervise, teach and develop staff and students to meet individual and service needs.

To deputise for the Physiotherapy Clinical Lead when necessary.

To take part in the on call/weekend rota.

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

To be responsible for the efficient, effective and safe management of all patients referred to their service.

To receive referrals, undertake full assessment and independently plan individual, specialised, evidence-based, treatment programmes for patients appropriately depending on the physiotherapists diagnosis, using clinical reasoning and a variety of highly specialist skills.

To carry a designated clinical caseload including highly complex and diverse patient groups and prioritise that work efficiently, taking into account clinical and service priorities using highly specialist knowledge to underpin decisions.

To provide individual patient equipment as required, such as, walking aids, splints and supports. To issue such equipment with due regard to safety of the equipment, and in line with legal, national and local guidelines.

To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work, and of the team, including management of clinical risk, knowledge of indications and precautions of chosen techniques in line with national and trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.

To use recognised outcome measures to evaluate the effect of the physiotherapy interventions and ensure that treatment programmes are progressing appropriately.

To advise, guide and teach Assistant, Band 5 and Band 6 physiotherapy staff, in assessment and management of patients with a wide range of paediatric conditions and related problems.

To develop new working practices and local guidelines and keep abreast of new techniques in relation to the management of the patients in this specialty particularly in line with any national guidance.

To lead on production of clinical guidelines and local policies ensuring evidence-based, implemented and audited.

To provide guidance and advice to other professions and bodies involved in the provision of paediatric services and to the patients and their carers.

To be an active member of the on-call, weekend duty rotas, and extended hours as required, and cover of statutory and public holidays including working as a lone physiotherapy practitioner at night.

To deliver physiotherapy in different locations, according to the requirements of the post e.g inpatient wards; outpatient clinics. To work in some situations, as a lone practitioner.

This post requires a flexible approach to working, and requires the post holder to be an active member of the weekend duty rotas, and cover of statutory and public holidays.

Person Specification Education and Qualifications

• To have a degree or other recognised qualification in physiotherapy
• Current HCPC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development & attendance at relevant post graduate course/study days
• Working at Masters level as demonstrated by ongoing CPD evidence based project work
• Member of relevant clinical network or specialist interest group
• Member of the CSP

Knowledge and experience

• Wide ranging postgraduate physiotherapy experience including resp care, developmental care, neurology and rehabilitation
• Experience of providing a physiotherapy service to children and young people with cancer
• Experience of supervising students and / or junior members of staff
• Knowledge of current national and professional guidelines
• Understanding of clinical governance and its implications for physiotherapy
• Specialist knowledge and understanding of paediatric Haemato-oncology conditions
• Experience of providing clinical physiotherapy input for infants and children in either neonatal or paediatric intensive care

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.

Salary

£54,320 to £60,981 a year, including high cost allowance

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

213-DH-

Job locations

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust