Job overview

The Luton and Dunstable Hospital Therapy Department would like to present an exciting opportunity to join an established team in the Acute and Emergency Medicine Therapy Department.

The team provide therapy input, with a 7 day extended hours service, across all our front door areas such as Emergency Department, Emergency Assessment Units, Medical Short Stay units and Frailty Unit.

Our Emergency Department offers a friendly and supportive environment that will equip you with new knowledge and experience that will help to further build and progress your career. We as a therapy team are very keen for further development within Therapies to maintain high clinical standards and services in the pursuit of excellence.

The therapy team works closely with the MDT to enable efficient discharges with the patient at the heart of each decision.  We are involved in many quality improvement initiatives to drive service provision forward.

Applications are invited from suitably motivated and innovative individuals to join an energetic and evolving Therapy Team within a reputable Trust. The post holders are required to be enthusiastic and passionate about the field of therapy and must be able to work flexibly across weekends and extended hours.

We will consider flexible working and job shares for the appropriate candidates. The department has a strong commitment to CPD and supports staff members with development.

Main duties of the job

To perform advanced physiotherapeutic assessment of patients with diverse presentations, to determine a diagnosis and formulate and deliver an appropriate programme

To undertake all aspects of clinical duties as an autonomous practitioner.

To supervise physiotherapy students on placement within the Acute and Emergency Medicine therapy team. 

To participate in the development and delivery of education and training.

To undertake generic work in Acute and Emergency Medicine within the field of occupational therapy to a competent standard, supported by clinical supervision from non-physiotherapy senior staff.

To hold responsibility for own caseload and be responsible for patients with physiotherapy problems on the Acute and Emergency Medical wards, working without direct supervision. Clinical work is evaluated through regular clinical supervision with a Band 7 clinician, but day-to-day clinical work is not routinely reviewed.

Supported by the Band 7 Acute and Emergency Medicine physiotherapy lead, to design and undertake evidence-based audit and research projects to improve service delivery. Make recommendations and occasionally implement changes to practice or service protocols, as agreed with the Band 7 lead.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.