University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically-led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas.
Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education and world-class research. We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites.
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in Pelvic Health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
Job Purpose
To provide a high standard Pelvic Health Physiotherapy service to the specialities of obstetrics and gynaecology for both in-patient and outpatients within University College London Hospitals.
To perform as an autonomous and independent practitioner, for patients who may have complex or chronic musculoskeletal and gynaecological problems whilst maintaining appropriate treatment plans, records and statistics.
To assist in service development implementation, management and planning of education programmes and in the supervision, teaching and appraisal of junior physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
To participate in the Orthopaedic or Cardio-respiratory emergency evening, weekend and public holiday services as stated in the departmental policy, working as an autonomous practitioner without supervision within the Trust.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibility to patient/client care
- To be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of the practitioner’s professional activities working as an autonomous practitioner.
- To use highly specialised clinical reasoning skills, knowledge of evidence-based practice and Obstetrics and Gynaecology expertise in determining appropriate care plan using specialist treatment skills. This can occur in situations where conflicting evidence is present.
- To undertake highly skilled specialist assessments of patients, including those with complex presentations with gynaecological and musculoskeletal obstetric conditions using highly developed dexterity, coordination and palpatory sensory skills. This includes continuing risk assessment, manual therapy techniques and therapeutic handling requiring moderate but variable physical effort during sessions lasting from 10 minutes to 60 minutes per patient.
- To interpret and analyse clinical and non-clinical data from assessments to form accurate diagnoses in a wide range of highly complex Pelvic Health conditions, including interpretation of investigation results. From this, to formulate accurate hypotheses and prognoses and recommend best course of intervention for an individual rehabilitation programme, through to discharge, based on a sound knowledge of evidence based practice.
- To monitor, review and modify treatment plans/goals to measure progress and ensure effective outcomes.
- To provide one to one patient care or group work depending on individual requirements.
- To use a wide range of specialist treatment techniques including cognitive behavioural methods, pressure biofeedback, electrotherapy and internal vaginal assessment.
- To measure and fit specialist appliances for abdominal and pelvic supports and to monitor use and evaluate benefit of these to individual patients.
- To provide education to patients, carers, relatives and other health care professionals in the management of the patient’s condition.
- To assist in leading in patient management / treatment which may include interaction with other disciplines; to advise and educate patient/carers/relatives/other health professionals.
- To take an active role in health promotion and to facilitate the understanding of the aims of rehabilitation package, to optimise patient management and to ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
- To work in areas where the environment has artificial lighting, variable temperatures, poor ventilation and ergonomics.
- To work with the possibility of exposure to body fluids, unpleasant smells, infections & exposure to verbal or physical aggression, including patients displaying highly emotional and confrontational behaviours.
- To work in an environment where work patterns may be unpredictable and disrupted by frequent demands from patients, clinical staff, students and administrative support staff to deal with urgent queries relating to clinical and managerial matters, as well as complaints.
- To be responsible for the safe manual handling of patients during mobility & functional transfers.
- To be responsible for maintain accurate and comprehensive patient records, using written and information technology e.g. electronic patient records (EPR) in line with legal requirements, local and national policies, guidelines and standards of practice.
- To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment and support other staff to do likewise.
- To respect the individuality, values, cultural & religious diversity of patients & contributes to the provision of a service sensitive to their needs.
- To sensitively deal with distressing or emotional circumstances regarding patient care e.g. communicating news of poor prognoses such as chronic pain management or lifelong disability or conveying news of realistic outcomes following injury or surgery.
- To participate in either the emergency Respiratory or Orthopaedic duties as a lone practitioner within the Trust.
- To support the Pelvic Health Team Lead in the management of staff performance issues.
Important Requirements:
- Degree in Physiotherapy and HCPC registered
- At least 6 months NHS experience in that last 3 years
- Strong clinical knowledge, good initiative, and an ability to stay calm and work efficiently under pressure
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Honesty and integrity, and a caring approach to patients
We are so grateful for the commitment and focus of our Bank Staff Physiotherapists, so in return we offer the following advantages:
- Flexible working hours
- Access to free Bank Partners Core Skills training
- Ability to self-book shifts with a weekly pay system
- Opportunity to gain valuable NHS experience in chosen specialism
- Priority of shifts over all agency workers
- Competitive pay
Apply now for this fantastic career-progressing opportunity by attaching your CV, and a member of our recruitment team will be in contact with you shortly.
Bank Partners is an employment agency/employment business (as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003) and is acting on behalf of its client in relation to this vacancy.