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2025/03 Clinical Specialist/Senior Physiotherapist NICU Department, Dublin
Client: The Rotunda Hospital
Location: Dublin, Ireland
Job Category: Other
EU work permit required: Yes
Job Reference: ebc8e42943e9
Job Views: 12
Posted: 21.01.2025
Expiry Date: 07.03.2025
Job Description:
Applications are invited for the following position within the PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT in the Rotunda Hospital
Ref. No: 2025/03 Clinical Specialist/Senior Physiotherapist
NICU Department
Fixed Term, Part-Time
The post-holder will develop and deliver a specialist physiotherapy service, providing high quality, safe and timely care with an emphasis on access, choice, communication, cultural diversity and patient participation for babies and children in The Rotunda Hospital, ensuring the highest standards of care are provided in line with best practice.
The position is for a Clinical Specialist; should no suitable candidates be shortlisted, Senior Physiotherapists will be considered.
The successful candidate will be responsible for:
* Developing the neonatal and paediatric physiotherapy role which provides services to babies in NICU, conducting neurodevelopmental follow-ups and assessing and treating musculoskeletal patients.
* Managing and delivering a caseload providing expert input for complex paediatric neurodevelopment from birth to 2 years.
* Acting as a source of education and quality resource for paediatric neurodevelopmental and neonatal physiotherapy to the RCSI Group.
* Developing The Rotunda neonatal/paediatric physiotherapy service in line with National Clinical Care Programmes and international best practice.
* Promoting and ensuring clinical effectiveness of neonatal/paediatric physiotherapists through performance management, education, audit and research.
* Working within the multidisciplinary team ethos and liaising with staff to ensure effective communication takes place at all times.
* Evaluating and developing the clinical specialist role through clinical audit and research.
Clinical Practice:
* Delivering physiotherapist-led assessment and treatment of high-risk babies in NICU and providing neurodevelopmental follow-up to all high-risk babies when discharged from NICU.
* Using appropriate validated assessment tools (e.g., LAPI, Prechtl General Movement Assessment) in early identification of abnormal movement patterns.
* Attending ward rounds and providing input into developmental clinics with the relevant consultant or specialist registrar.
* Being a resource for developmental care education for parents and staff, including an awareness of environmental, sensory, and social factors which may impact on long-term global development.
* Collaborating with parents, carers, and staff in the developmental positioning, handling, and care of the baby in NICU.
* Working as a member of the NICU multidisciplinary team in providing and promoting Family Integrated Care.
* Communicating intervention requirements to relevant MDT colleagues.
* Assessing and treating babies with MSK conditions requiring physiotherapy follow-up at inpatient and outpatient level (e.g., plagiocephaly, talipes, torticollis, obstetric brachial plexus injury).
* Assessing and treating children who present with developmental delay who may need long-term intervention and liaising with community-based services to plan and deliver care.
Contributing to and developing evidence-based care pathways, standards of care, and protocols in conjunction with the MDT to oversee the neurodevelopmental care of babies at The Rotunda.
Working within professional scope of practice, while seeking opportunities to develop and expand advanced practice.
* Ensuring a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, treatment, and management is provided for patients and that professional standards are adhered to.
* Ensuring the privacy and dignity of the patient is respected at all times.
Undertaking other duties within the hospital as specified by the Physiotherapy Manager.
Implementing evaluating mechanisms by continually auditing and evaluating the service to maximize effectiveness, efficiency, and quality.
Education and Continuous Professional Development:
* Leading, promoting, and ensuring clinical effectiveness through performance management, education, audit, and research.
* Collecting and analyzing data to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and uphold standards of care through clinical audit and research.
* Keeping abreast of research and practice developments in relevant clinical areas by attending seminars, conferences, and postgraduate courses.
* Promoting changes in work practices, procedures, techniques, or technology having regard to the development of best practice and advanced practice in physiotherapy.
* Communicating with other clinical specialists throughout the country and internationally to further develop clinical excellence and research.
* Acting as a resource to other physiotherapists/colleagues regarding the management of complex cases both within the hospital and at a regional/national level.
* Contributing to a structured process for education of colleagues, undergraduates, and other disciplines in the specialist area.
* Contributing towards continuing professional development activity programmes within the department.
* Serving on or advising such committees that may be set up relevant to this clinical specialty.
* Contributing to the forward planning and development of neonatal and paediatric Clinical Pathways.
Working Practice:
* Being aware of resource management and contributing to business planning and continuous quality improvement related to the physiotherapy department and the specialist area.
* Maintaining comprehensive and accurate patient and activity records in line with national documentation standards.
* Adhering to clinic standards of practice and protocols for written communication with GPs, doctors, and referral sources.
* Compiling and preparing reports of a legal nature where necessary, based on the documented physiotherapeutic care of the patient.
* Being responsible for daily administrative tasks and overall caseload management for physiotherapy services.
* Optimizing the use of available resources and demonstrating innovation to sustain and enhance services.
* Providing information on activity levels and statistics as may be required by the physiotherapy manager.
* Complying with department policies, procedures, protocols, and guidelines.
* Establishing key working relationships and facilitating regular service and clinical meetings.
* Complying with all mandatory training and national standards.
* Undertaking other responsibilities as agreed from time to time with the physiotherapy manager or other such persons to whom he/she may be accountable.
The above job specification is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria:
* Candidates for appointment must hold a Physiotherapy qualification recognized by the Physiotherapists Registration Board and be registered on the physiotherapy register maintained by the Physiotherapy Registration Board at CORU (proof required).
* Postgraduate qualifications relevant to this area.
* A minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience in physiotherapy, of which a minimum of 3 years' full-time (or equivalent) must be in the area of neonatology/paediatrics.
* Advanced knowledge and skills within this specialist area of neonatology/paediatrics.
* Evidence of continuous professional development in this area in the form of postgraduate qualifications, relevant courses, and conferences.
* Evidence of clinical achievement and contribution to evolving practice in this area.
* Experience in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching, and research.
* A strong working knowledge of the Irish maternity setting and understanding of appropriate policies, strategies, and clinical care programmes relevant to the role.
* Ability to use data management and statistical analysis software.
* Experience delivering services via virtual and telehealth systems.
* Active participation in professional bodies and working groups relevant to this post.
* The requisite clinical skills, knowledge, and ability, including a high standard of suitability and professional ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
* Confidence, self-motivation, and reliability, with the ability to be flexible and adaptable in line with the demands of a hospital service.
* Ability to work as part of a team and independently. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Able to build and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders.
* Excellent presentation skills with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, at both individual and group level.
* Ability to apply behaviour change and motivational interview skills.
* Experience in audit, evaluation, research, quality improvement, and dissemination of results.
* Demonstrates a strong patient-centred ethos and takes pride in the quality of service delivered. Able to plan, review, and adapt the service.
* Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills, with the ability to plan and balance demands with responsibilities.
* Strong leadership skills to drive new service initiatives.
* Dedication to maintaining CPD in this specialist area with a willingness to develop new skills where necessary.
All informal inquiries in relation to this post should be directed to Ms. Cinny Cusack, Physiotherapist Manager at [emailprotected].
Applicants should include a current CV, cover letter, name, and email addresses of two recent referees. Please quote the relevant reference number. Applications to arrive not later than 5pm on Wednesday 22nd January 2025.
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