Clinical Lead Physiotherapist special interest in Rheumatology

Overview

A Vacancy at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust.

Are you an experienced physiotherapist with a passion for Rheumatology and musculoskeletal care? We are looking for a dynamic, proactive and skilled clinician to join our MSK therapy service as clinical lead in rheumatology.

• Well organised and confident in communication and problem solving.
• Proven experience in Rheumatology Conditions and Physiotherapy.
• Enthusiastic about improving service and supporting the growth of others.

• Undergraduate and/or postgraduate experience in the NHS as a Physiotherapist.
• Specialist interest in Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders, advancing clinical practice in this area and taking a lead in embedding the evidence base into practice.

• Perform highly specialist assessment and treatment of all MSK patients, particularly those with Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders.
• Determine clinical diagnosis, develop, deliver, implement, evaluate and modify individualised treatment programmes and/or provide highly specialist advice, ensuring appropriate pathways of care and communication with other agencies as required.
• Manage own highly specialist caseload.
• Establish relationships with other stakeholders and services involved in the care of rheumatology and connective tissue disorder patients.
• Support and advise other services, eg Pain Clinic, on the delivery of the service.
• Educate and train Physiotherapists and qualified and non‑qualified healthcare/social services/education staff including medical staff.
• Work autonomously within Trust policies and standards of professional practice, maintaining accurate and comprehensive up‑to‑date records.
• Assist the Team Leader in the daily operational management of the Out‑Patient Physiotherapy Team.
• Lead, coordinate and develop effective clinical interventions for all msk patients, particularly within Rheumatology and connective tissue disorders.
• Have highly specialist assessment and treatment skills in areas such as physical rehabilitation through manual therapy, exercise and function, pain relief (acupuncture, injection therapy, electrotherapy, etc.), complex bio‑psychosocial assessment, assessment for assistive equipment, splinting and adaptations, MDT approach, cognitive and perceptual understanding of condition/person, and falls assessment.
• Apply evidence‑based knowledge within the highly specialist clinical area, acquired through in‑depth experience and academic study to a highly specialist postgraduate level.
• Act as a resource to provide advice for relevant members of staff about assessment, treatment, management and care of patients with Rheumatology, connective tissue disorders and/or complex psychosocial needs.
• Collaborate with other providers involved in patient care, including medical and surgical consultants, health and social care community and acute colleagues.
• Take a lead and work with staff to ensure effective care pathways and transfer of care.
• Proactively facilitate a seamless transfer of care and continuing therapeutic management of physiotherapy outpatient patients between care settings.
• Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary manner, debating the blurring of boundaries if appropriate.
• Develop highly specialist programmes of assessment, treatment and intervention for physiotherapy patients in particular those with Rheumatology pathologies, connective tissue disorders and any non‑rheumatology patients.
• Manage and prioritise own clinical workload, delegating according to training and competency levels of other team members.
• Participate in the supervision process with staff daily and for students as required.
• Ensure a high standard of patient care, implementing and reviewing clinical standards relevant to the work undertaken.
• Provide highly specialist assessment and advice for the Calderdale and Huddersfield Health Economy.
• Use networks locally, regionally and nationally to share information and good practice.

• Comply with and, along with the team leader, write, develop and implement protocols, procedures and guidelines both clinical and service specific, giving feedback on policies when…