Part time Senior Physiortherapist -CDNT

Role

Senior Physiotherapist   - Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT)

Duration of Post

17.5 hours per week (0.5 WTE) and 35 hours (1 WTE)

Location

This post will be based in CDNT 6 Palmerstown

Reporting Relationship

Children’s Disability Network Manager

Job Purpose

To provide a person and family-centred evidenced based physiotherapy service as part of an inter-disciplinary team for children with complex needs. This incorporates physiotherapy assessment, planning, and implementing physiotherapy interventions based on the individual needs of child and family. 

Scope of the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to work within an interdisciplinary team, providing quality physiotherapy services to children and young people with complex needs. 

The scope of the post will include conducting home and school visits, when necessary, physiotherapy and MDT assessments and interventions.  It will also include provision of orthotics, 24-hour postural management equipment, involvement in group interventions, IFSPS and linking with all relevant agencies involved in the care of the child e.g., Hospital based and Specialist Services.   Opportunities for providing hydrotherapy and equine therapy are also available.

Stewarts Care is committed to ongoing professional development and training.  Clinical Supervision will be provided.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

·         Responsible for carrying out physiotherapy assessments, planning, and implementing child and family-centred physiotherapy programme.

·         Provide education, training, and supports to families, schools and the wider communities as needed as part of the Interdisciplinary team. 

·         Manage and prioritise caseloads based on the clinical need of children. 

·         Be involved in the organisation and co-ordination of orthotic, seating, and other postural management clinics. 

·         Attend and participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and external appointments relevant to the needs of the child.

·         Attend family Support planning meetings and provide physiotherapy input relevant to the child’s goals. 

·         Lead and contribute to CDNT quality improvement that may include service development, in-service training, and evaluation of resources within the physiotherapy role.

·         Demonstrate an awareness of accountability and value for money in the provision of physiotherapy equipment.

·         Represent the profession/team at meetings and conferences as designated by CDNM.

·         To promote and deliver supports in line with the principles of Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People. This includes working as part of an interdisciplinary team providing family centred services in line with agreed national and legislative policies.

Education & Training

·         Take a lead role in supervision of physiotherapy students and staff grade Physiotherapists.

·         Lead and participate in-service training.

·         Take responsibility for keeping up to date with current physiotherapy practice and participating with CPD relevant to clinical role and participate in induction training, clinical supervision, and reflective practice.

·         Attend mandatory training programmes as directed by CDNM.

·         Abide by the Physiotherapy Registration Board Code of Conduct and Ethics as set out by CORU & European Core Standards of Physiotherapy Practice

Administrative

·         Effectively assist with service developments on the team.

·         Ensuring the implementation of current and evolving legislation, policies, procedures, guidelines, and protocols relevant to Stewarts Care, The Children’s Disability Network team and Progressing Disabilities.  Assist with the updating, development and implementation of local policies and Standard Operating Procedures within the Interdisciplinary team.

·         The post holder will be required to adhere to Stewarts Care Policies procedures and guidelines and act in accordance with National guidelines for Progressing Disability Services.

·         Keep up to date and accurate interdisciplinary records updated physiotherapy records, reports, and statistics as required/advised by CDNM.

·         Ensure that confidentiality is always maintained.

Health & Safety

·         Responsible for ensuring any equipment or appliances in the department are in safe working order and are used in a safe manner.

·         Comply with policy and procedures concerning assessment and provision of equipment and ensuring equipment is maintained and serviced as appropriate.

·         Support a culture that values diversity and respect.

Note: This job description is an overview of the general duties for the Senior Physiotherapist role in the Children Disability Network Team and is not an exhaustive list. Other duties may be included, if necessary, by the CDNM and or Clinical Director 

Qualifications & Experience

Candidates must meet the following criteria relevant to the role:

Essential Criteria

·         Hold a Physiotherapy qualification recognised by the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU – candidates must state CORU registration number on the application, or CORU application number and date of submission if still awaiting registration number in the case of section 91 applicants.

·         All candidates must have three years full time (or equivalent) years post-qualification clinical experience.

Desirable Criteria

·         Experience of Working with Children

·         Experience in the area of disabilities.

·         Experience of 24-hour postural management and orthotic assessment.

·         Evidence of CPD in area of physical and intellectual disability.

Professional Skills and Competencies

·         Demonstrates excellent ability to organise their time and workload and prioritise as necessary.

·         Excellent communication skills to engage and interact with colleagues, MDT, children, and their families so information is conveyed in a clear and concise manner.

·         Demonstrates the ability to utilise problem-solving skills to achieve clinical outcomes relative to physiotherapy intervention.

·         Evidence of the ability to achieve results through effective collaboration and communication.

·         Demonstrates the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the CDNT.

Personal Attributes

·         Promote a culture that values equality, diversity, and respect in the workplace and educate and empower others to work to the highest standards.

·         A clear focus on family-centred practice in clinical decision making and physiotherapy intervention.

·         Adhere to the codes of professional conduct about respecting the right & dignity of every child and family.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.

Remuneration

Salary and qualifications are in accordance with Department of Health consolidated pay scales. Salary Scale is Physiotherapy Senior Scale - €61,424- €72,325 incl LSI (pro-rata).

Annual leave

29 days per annum pro rata

Working week

The hours allocated to this post are 17.5 hours per week, exclusive of lunch breaks.

The allocation of these hours will be at the discretion of the CDNM and in accordance with the needs of the service.

Probation

All employees will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months, with an extension if required to 9 months. This probationary period applies to all employees irrespective of their role or type of role.

Garda Vetting

Stewarts Care will carry out Garda vetting on all new employees. An employee will not take up employment with the organisation until the Garda Vetting process has been completed and the organisation is satisfied that such an appointment does not pose a risk to the Service Users and employees.

References

Stewarts Care will seek up to two written references from current and previous employers, educational institutions, or any other organisation with which the candidate has been associated. Stewarts Care reserves the right to determine the merit, appropriateness, and relevance of such references and referees.

This job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder. It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.  Stewarts Care is a lead agency for CDNT 5 & 6 and as such the post holder may be required to work within another area of CDNT in exceptional circumstances to meet service needs as directed by The Director of Clinical Services.