Physiotherapist (Band 6) – Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

Department: Physiotherapy

Responsible to: Therapy Manager/line manager

Salary range:  £20,857.60 - £27,509.33 per annum (pro rata from £39108 -  £51580 FTE)

Hours of work: Part time 20 hours per week

Contract Type: One Permanent

Location: Putney, Southwest London

Closing date: 28/02/25

Benefits:

• Free counselling and therapy sessions and other mental wellbeing support through our partner CIC Wellbeing
• Get involved in our free on-site wellbeing programs, including weekly yoga, and monthly pottery club (we are the UK’s only hospital with its own kiln)
• Financial support services such as low-interest loans and help with savings accounts through our partnership with London Capital Credit Union
• Join our wellbeing networks to connect with people in our hospital; we have a Pride network, Women’s network, and our Race Equality network. We also have heritage events to celebrate the diversity of our workforce – most recently we had a South East Asian celebration.
• Free on-site parking (rare in London)
• More benefits: Cycle2Work scheme, tech purchase support scheme, Blue Light Card discounts, and more.

 

Summary of position and the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

The RHN is a leading national centre of excellence, providing person-centred services for adults with acquired brain injuries. Our pathways span from post-acute rehabilitation services to end of life care, for people with complex neuro-disability. We hold a strong ethos of supporting our residents, patients and their families. Our services are underpinned by a strong research and education programme.

This post is rotational, encompassing the Brain Injury Service Level 1a Neurorehabilitation, specialist nursing home, long-term ventilator unit, Neuro-behavioural services, and young adults services. The post holder will work as part of an interdisciplinary team, as well as working alongside other physiotherapists and support staff. The postholder will be accountable to the Lead Physiotherapist in their service area. The postholder will deliver an effective and responsive service to patients within the service and contribute to departmental, service and hospital wide development.

Rotations are approximately 9 months in length but may be adjusted according to individual, departmental and hospital service need.

 

Main Objectives of the role

• To provide specialist patient-centred assessment and treatment for a complex neurological clinical caseload as part of a specialist interdisciplinary team.
• To demonstrate awareness of the RHN’s values and contribute to achieving them appropriately.
• To strive to improve efficiency in all areas of your work including in leadership and supervisory capacities.
• To ensure professionalism and excellent communication with staff, patient, relatives and external agencies.

 

Key Responsibilities

 1.     To work effectively as part of a specialist interdisciplinary team, demonstrating excellent joint working and communication, to achieve patient value centred goals and ensure optimal management and rehabilitation of patients with complex physical, cognitive and communicative needs.

2.     To create and implement a specialised 24 hour postural management programme for each patient, with support as needed, including wheelchair and bed positioning assessment, spasticity management, respiratory management, and splinting, making referrals to internal and external clinics as required.

3.     To undertake rehabilitation of patients as indicated by clinical need. This may include exercise programs, gait re-education, upper limb rehabilitation and neuro-muscular electrical stimulation.

4.     Be able to respond to a respiratory emergency, and provide respiratory management to patients as indicated by clinical need, including tracheostomy management, weaning, manual techniques, cough assist and manual hyperinflation as well as providing advice to the interdisciplinary team.

5.     To attend all relevant meetings, and complete all necessary documentation and outcome measures involved in a patients’ admission, according to HCPC and CSP standards, in order to facilitate optimal communication and patient management, and to meet service requirements

6.     To ensure excellent communication with patients and relatives, and within the team, including undertaking a key worker role as required

7.     Provide support and supervision to registered staff, Physiotherapy Support Staff and students in their designated areas, and be responsible for task allocation to them

8.     To work well as part of the physiotherapy team, providing consistent feedback to the team lead and seeking help if needed, while being flexible and supportive to colleagues and prepared to work across other service areas within RHN as required.

9.     To participate in audit, research and service development as required

10.  To play an active role in sharing information and maintaining up to date knowledge and competence through your own continued professional development, as well as getting involved in internal and external training opportunities.

 

Person specification: Essential and Desirable

1.     Qualification in Physiotherapy recognised by the Health Care Professions Council: Essential

2.     Registered member of the HCPC, membership of CSP or own public liability insurance: Essential

3.     Completion of core physiotherapy rotations at band 5 or equivalent level for at least 18 months with a minimum of 6 months experience in neurology: Essential

4.     Demonstrate the ability to competently carry out neurological assessment and treatment, working closely with the multi-disciplinary team to establish patient-centred goals: Essential

5.     Ability to prioritise and manage a large caseload, recognising boundaries, and seeking support when appropriate: Essential

6.     Evidence of working well in a team: Essential

7.     Evidence of participation in continued professional development including demonstrating a keen interest in neurological physiotherapy with a good understanding of the need for evidence based practice and service development: Essential

8.     Experience of respiratory management, including tracheostomy management: Essential

9.     Experience in splinting, wheelchair assessment, postural management and spasticity management: Desirable

10.  Experience of delegation and supervision of junior staff, physiotherapy support staff and students: Essential

 

Interested in applying and hearing from us?

Please note we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close this post at any time and will be reviewing applications as they are submitted.

If you require any further assistance, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@rhn.org.uk or ring 020 8780 4500.

Candidates applying for a role at the Royal Hospital for Neuro Disability are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and Influenza.

RHN is a care provider for vulnerable patients at extreme risk. In consequence, safeguarding patients will always be our highest priority.

RHN is proud to be a diverse and inclusive employer that respects and values the differences of our people to achieve their full potential. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to contact our Resourcing Team at recruitment@rhn.org.uk