Neuromyelitis Optica

Job overview

We are seeking to recruit a senior physiotherapist with neurological experience to form part of the NMO multi-disciplinary team. This post is for 29 hours per week, consisting of one day per week to attend the NMO out-patient clinic, and the rest of the time split between providing wellbeing service, patient follow-ups, and attending outreach clinics, patient days and annual meetings that may require a longer working day.

The NMO Service is a Nationally Commissioned Highly Specialised Service providing diagnosis and care of patients with NMO. This post involves providing physiotherapy support for all appropriate Oxford NMO patients, including:

· Physiotherapy assessment: using advanced clinical skills to provide specialist support to patients and advice to the NMO team.

· Expertise to advise patients on the management of their physical deficits.

· Assessment of activity and exercise programmes.

· Onward referral to local services and advice on mobility aids.

Additionally, this role involves supporting the Oxford NMO Service to maintain and promote its role as a specialist service by:

· Participating in outreach clinics and annual meetings/patient day.

· Contributing to the development of the service by undertaking audits of outcome assessment tools used and producing patient information literature.

· Educating other healthcare professionals and advising on the rehabilitation needs of this patient group

Main duties of the job

· To work in conjunction with the NMO team, lead nurse and lead consultant to provide a coherent and effective service to NMO patients, taking the lead on therapy and wellbeing aspects of the service.

· To take the lead in developing and offering a broader wellness service along with 2 full time specialist nurses and a team of doctors.

· To be responsible for providing physiotherapy and wellbeing support for all appropriate NMO patients in outpatients and remote clinics, in-patient ward settings, remote support via telephone and email, and day cases for NMO review.

· Supports delivery of the physiotherapy service by working with the NMO team and fostering leadership skills and experience.

· Uses advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide specialist support and advice to the NMO team.

· Supports team members in maintaining and improving all aspects of evidence-based practice and quality assurance in the team.

· Involving in service development projects to improve the NMO service in response to analysis of patient outcomes and national service specifications.

· The post is a band 7 physiotherapist role and as such significant NHS physiotherapist experience is essential, relevant post-graduate qualifications and the ability to work autonomously at a senior physiotherapist level.

Working for our organisation

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest NHS teaching trusts in the country. It provides a wide range of general and specialist clinical services and is a base for medical education, training and research. The Trust comprises four hospitals - the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington and the Horton General Hospital in Banbury.

Our values, standards and behaviours define the quality of clinical care we offer and the professional relationships we make with our patients, colleagues and the wider community. We call this Delivering Compassionate Excellence, and its focus is on our values of compassion, respect, learning, delivery, improvement and excellence. These values put patients at the heart of what we do and underpin the quality healthcare we would like for ourselves or a member of our family. Watch how we set out to deliver compassionate excellence via the OUH YouTube channel.

In 2023 NHS England launched its first sexual safety charter, and our Trust proudly signed it. We pledge zero tolerance for inappropriate sexual behaviour and commit to the ten core principles Oxford University Hospitals promotes a safe, respectful hiring environment. If you want to make a difference with us, come and join our team. Together, we will uphold the highest standards of care and professionalism.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Diploma/Degree in Physiotherapy
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development, including attendance at recent postgraduate courses relevant to the clinical field

Desirable criteria

• Membership of appropriate Clinical Interest Group
• MSc in appropriate field

Experience

Essential criteria

• Considerable NHS experience at Band 6 in neurology
• Proven experience in staff supervision and development
• Evidence of participation in research/ audit

Desirable criteria

• Service Development
• Experience of Team Leadership
• Experience of working with patients with NMO

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.

Application numbers

Please note that this job advertisement will close automatically once the application limit is reached, regardless of whether this occurs before the advertised closing date.

Documents to download

• Job description and personal spec (PDF, 160.4KB)
• Job description and personal spec (PDF, 272.6KB)