Specialist Physiotherapist - Cancer Care

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 6 Physiotherapist to join our highly valued Cancer Care therapy team at University Hospital Southampton. 

University Hospital Southampton (UHS) is a Regional Centre for Cancer Care, covering Southern England and the Channel Islands.  

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated, and approachable physiotherapist who has an interest in working within this specialist area.  The post will involve supporting a well-established, integrated therapy service within Cancer Care working alongside the team leads to support the team and develop the service. The aim of the service is to provide timely and holistic therapy assessments, implement individualised patient centred therapeutic interventions and facilitate discharge and onward referral across Cancer Care. 

You will work as part of a highly motivated team delivering a therapy service across a 7-day service, including weekends and bank holidays.

You will have many opportunities within the role and therapy department to develop personally and professionally. You will be part of a large department of over 260 wte Therapy staff including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy support staff.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced, dynamic, and enthusiastic Physiotherapist who has a specialist interest in working within Cancer Services. The post holder should have a broad range of clinical experience with the ability to treat patients with care, compassion, and dignity. The successful candidate will be supporting a dedicated Cancer Care therapy team to maximise physical function and well-being whilst facilitating timely discharge.  The team work jointly with the MDT to provide a high standard of care to all patients, which will include end-of-life care. 

Essential skills for this role: 

• Desire to work within specialist area of Cancer Care, including both oncology and haematology

• Relevant experience within a variety of areas e.g., Orthopaedics, Medicine, Elderly Care, 

          Neurology  

•  Respiratory skills (including NIV awareness), or be willing to undertake the appropriate training 

          to participate in the twilight and on-call physiotherapy rota.

• Ability to effectively communicate complex and sensitive information.

• Ability to support and manage complex caseloads.

•  Experience of supervising and supporting staff and students

• Evidence of providing teaching to wider MDT, therapy teams and students

• Desire to develop their leadership skills 

Desirable skills for this role:

• Experience working with patients with a Cancer diagnosis.

• Knowledge of cancer treatments, side effects and implications for therapy input

• Experience of working with end of life patients

• Experience of working within a large MDT  

•  Evidence of participation in service development and audit

• Evidence of leadership skills

•  CPD evidence of developing communication skills

•  Ability to identify own learning needs

•  To have an awareness of own well-being 

Support will be given towards continual learning and professional development, including undertaking quality improvement projects, service development and audits.  

The post holder will be expected to lead the therapy team in the absence of the Band 7’s, be involved in leading in-service training, service development, staff and student supervision and the development of Band 3-5 therapy staff. 

The UHS Therapy services department runs a 7-day service, using a rota system so weekend/BH working and active participation in the On-call out of hours unscheduled acute respiratory services will be expected. 

If you are a dynamic and enthusiastic Physiotherapist looking to further your career in Cancer Care we would love to hear from you. We welcome questions and informal contact prior to application and interview. 

For further information and details please contact:  Naomi Ledwich [email protected] 023 8120 4552 or Jenny Appleby [email protected]  023 8120 4552

If this is not the post for you , please email: [email protected] to find out bout other opportunities we may have in Therapy services.

Person specification

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

Essential criteria

• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
• Current HCPC registration
• Experience with a variety of physical and mental health conditions/multiple pathology
• Experience of working with support staff
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Experience in independently managing a caseload of patients
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area
• Previous experience within relevant clinical area
• Previous experience on-call, where relevant to clinical area

Skills

Essential criteria

• Communication
• Time management
• Prioritisation
• Diplomacy
• Working autonomously
• Interpersonal skills
• Taking the initiative

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.