Skip to main content

This site is independent of the NHS and the Department of Health.

Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Frailty Assessment Team
Grade
Band 7
Contract
14 months (Fixed term post to cover maternity leave)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift pattern 4 days in 7 - 8am-6pm (including weekends and public holidays))
Job ref
318-25-T0374
Employer
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Town
Gloucester
Salary
£46,148 - £52,809 (pro rata if part time)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
02/06/2025 23:59

Employer heading

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust logo

Frailty Specialist Physiotherapist, Band 7

Band 7

Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.

As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.

As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.

By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support.

 

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic individual to join our Frailty Assessment Team as a band 7 Frailty Specialist Physiotherapist for a fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. The successful candidate would be a current Band 7 physiotherapist or an experienced Band 6 physiotherapist who is ready to take up a leadership role.  The role involves leading the provision of therapy and working with the Frailty Multidisciplinary team providing a rapid assessment of older adults, initiating services where required to safely avoid unnecessary hospitalisation and deconditioning. The role involves contributing to a comprehensive geriatric assessment to those individuals attending the Emergency Department(s), Frailty Assessment Unit and Frailty Direct Attend to achieve a positive outcome for the patients. The successful candidate would need to work within this fast paced environment, making autonomous decisions in order to make swift decisions regarding admission avoidance, taking a positive risk taking approach. 

Shift pattern 4 days in 7 - 8am-6pm (including weekends and public holidays)

Main duties of the job

To provide a high level of autonomy, but within agreed guidelines, you will use recognised models of practice to complete evidence-based assessments, interventions and outcome measures to underpin all practice.

Provide leadership, supervision, education and support to Frailty therapy team as well as being a specialist resource of knowledge for health care professionals. The candidate would have excellent communication skills and liaise with the multidisciplinary team including the consultants, patient relatives and primary care partners. The post holder would need to demonstrate a flexible approach as the demands of the role may change depending on the demands of the service.

Working for our organisation

We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.

 

With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one of our innovative hospitals. As well as generous annual leave allowance, access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

The Frailty Team are always motivated, resilient, strong and strive to deliver best care for everyone every time. We are encouraging of staff development and foster a positive culture. 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

- To case manage the attendance and admission avoidance for frail individuals

- To manage a diverse caseload of patients with varying levels of frailty and a wide range of co-morbidities/presentations including orthopedic, cardiac, neurological and palliative with a view to avoid hospital admission where possible. 

- To demonstrate highly specialised clinical skills of assessing, treating and discharging of frail older adults. This can include managing acutely unwell patients e.g patients who require respiratory physiotherapy intervention.

 - To seamlessly transfer patient care to community partners in a timely manner, contributing to appropriate patient flow pathways. Including the timely assessment and provision of equipment to facilitate discharge.

 - Respond to agreed escalation procedures during times of extreme capacity demands in the health and care services in Gloucestershire.

 - To work within an integrated physiotherapy and occupational therapy service, while being aware of own professional boundaries.

 - To work as an autonomous practitioner.

- To take a lead role in supervision and development of qualified therapists, support workers and students within the Frailty team.

- To contribute to the Trust Governance agenda, including the delivery of safe, high-quality care.

- To be competent in risk assessments and managing risk autonomously, supporting other team members with their decision making in the Emergency Departments and the Same day Emergency Care setting/Frailty Unit.

- To have an excellent knowledge of resources available outside of the Acute Trust

- Be a visible and accessible presence throughout the service acting as a role model to other care professionals to support them in managing complex interventions using a variety of approaches to decision making, providing support and supervision.

- To communicate effectively with patients and carers, potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information in order to provide patient centred care. Patients may have communication, perceptual or cognitive/understanding difficulties/disabilities.

- To maintain clear, accurate, concise and contemporaneous patient records in line with departmental and professional standards and include relevant outcome measures.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy undergraduate degree
  • Registered professional – CSP, BAOT HCPC etc
  • Evidence of continued professional development
  • Completed or working towards completion of relevant post-graduate study and experience of working at a senior level in this specialist area.
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of Quality Improvement methodology knowledge and experience (e.g., QSIA within Gloucestershire ICS, or similar)

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Extensive post registration experience
  • Extensive experience of assessing, treating and discharging older adults with complex needs including specialist clinical skills in functional assessments, cognitive assessments and treatment, activity analysis, equipment assessment and provision, complex discharging.
  • Ability to work in a number of areas cross both CGH and GRH and the community demonstrating flexibility and own resilience.
  • Experience of working with older adults including knowledge of Rockwood clinical frailty score
  • Ability to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility

Knowledge/ Skills

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of initiative and be able to make appropriate decisions with clear guidelines
  • Ability to work collaboratively within teams and across organisational boundaries
  • Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload
Desirable criteria
  • Knowledge of Quality Improvement approaches, tools and templates
  • Excellent organisational skills

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesWorkplace Wellbeing Charter LogoArmed Forces Covenant Gold Awardcorporate covenantStep into healthArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Ceris McKearney
Job title
Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Frailty
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03004222211
Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies