Other benefits
Vacancy details
An exciting freelance opportunity has arisen for an experienced paediatric physiotherapist at Down’s South London, working within a unique early intervention multidisciplinary therapy (MDT) setting.
We are seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic paediatric physiotherapist with appropriate postgraduate physiotherapy skills to join our friendly and supportive therapy team and provide a high standard of physiotherapy to support early development milestones in babies and young children with Down’s Syndrome.
About us
Down’s South London provides an early intervention MDT service led by our highly specialist therapy team for children with Down’s Syndrome from birth to six years old in South London.
We are also a family support network, providing much needed support and information sharing, valuable friendship opportunities for parents/carers as well as other social opportunities for families.
The Job
The freelance role requires two days a week during term time. Working from 8:45am to 5:00pm with 30 minutes unpaid lunch break (7.75 hrs per day). It is term time only, there are three terms per academic year and each term is 10 weeks long. Additional hours for administration may be required from time to time.
As the treating physiotherapist the successful candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with our other therapists to provide specialist support and advice within the MDT clinical team, and create a positive caring environment, where children and their caregivers receive a high quality, professional service.
The rate of pay is from £55 per hour, depending on experience.
The post is ongoing, with the opportunity for further professional development within a highly specialist MDT setting.
Key Responsibilities
- To be professionally and legally responsible for all aspects of your work as per HCPC and other professional bodies requirements.
- To comply with the physiotherapy codes of professional conduct at all times.
- To manage and prioritise your own clinical caseload efficiently and effectively.
- To assess, develop and implement specialist physiotherapy treatment for the caseload, and integrate this into the MDT group therapy sessions.
- To use safe, evidence and research-based approaches in assessment and therapy provision.
- To provide specialist advice to caregivers where necessary.
- To communicate effectively with all other clinical and charitable personnel and with external personnel from other agencies.
- To keep abreast with the latest evidenced-based practice in Down’s Syndrome and related training through relevant reading, attendance at in-service training, external courses and database searches.
The Person
Education/Qualification
Essential
- Degree/ Diploma in Physiotherapy
- Valid Health and Care Professions Council Registration
- Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Desirable
- Member of the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists
- Supervisory / leadership skills training
- Specialist training in working with children with Down’s Syndrome
- Neuro-developmental treatment/ Bobath/ sensory training.
Experience
Essential
- Specialist knowledge and experience in paediatric physiotherapy with children with additional needs including those with Down’s Syndrome.
- Experience of delivering physiotherapy within a community setting, including clinics, patients’ homes, schools, nursery or children's centres as appropriate.
- Substantial experience as a Band 6 physiotherapist in Paediatrics.
- Knowledge/experience in the use of relevant assessment and treatment approaches, including the use of standardised assessments.
- Evidence of effective multidisciplinary and multi-agency work.
- Evidence of the ability to receive and engage in supervision appropriately.
- Experience of using outcome measures.
Desirable
- Experience in training/teaching healthcare professionals
- Experience in contributing to policy, procedures, guidelines and clinical standards development.
- Evidence of the ability to supervise or manage junior staff/assistants/students.
- Experience in conducting audits and/or research.
- Experience in setting up new projects/initiatives.
- Knowledge of current policy and political drivers impacting on public health and the NHS.
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Advanced skills in the assessment and treatment of paediatric patients with a variety of conditions or complex needs including Down’s Syndrome.
- Sound knowledge of clinical practice and issues relating to the delivery of physiotherapy.
- Ability to set appropriate SMART therapy goals and targets.
- Ability to work autonomously.
- Ability to work as a team member and promote collaborative multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working.
- Ability to problem solve, prioritise and demonstrate clinical reasoning.
- Highly developed communication and reports writing skills, in verbal and written format.
- Ability to manage time effectively, prioritise workloads effectively, meet deadlines and deal with work pressures and demands.
- Excellent IT skills - Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, clinical record keeping systems.
- Knowledge and understanding of the variety of specialist equipment available and be able to clinically reason which if any was most appropriate for the child.
- Knowledge and understanding of care pathways to facilitate appropriate referrals.
- Ability to maintain good communication and liaison between all MDT members regarding service provision and development and to promote a strong working relationship at all times.
- To clearly convey detailed knowledge of techniques, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology to the team and families where appropriate.
- To comply with health and safety policies, including manual handling and infection control at all times.
Desirable:
- Specialist skills and in-depth knowledge of working with children with Down’s Syndrome
- Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team specifically with Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and 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.
How to apply
To apply please email your CV and cover letter to contact@downssouthlondon.org
Application deadline: 09/08/24