Recruiting
Core/Employed Lead Neurophysiotherapist

In general 47.5% – 65% of your time will be spent undertaking billed clinical work, once your caseload has built up over the first few months in post.  There are likely to be occasional peaks and troughs in your clinical load, and you will be expected to take on any appropriate referrals enabling you to achieve this level of billed clinical activity as directed by the Clinical Director and COO.  We will always endeavour to ensure that your cases are as geographically conveniently located as possible, but in some instances we may expect you to travel longer distances (though within your normal working hours, or with overtime payments if appropriate; see below). 

As the Lead Therapist overseeing our network of associate neurophysiotherapists you will be responsible for doing all that is feasible – with central/admin support – to ensure continuity of provision to our clients. 

The remainder of your time will be spent on leadership and management responsibilities, including supervision of associates, attendance at a range of meetings, representing/promoting Cognivate at various events, and providing CPD within and outside the team.   

You will report directly to Dr Rose, who is your clinical line manager, and to Lydia Storr-Meddings as our business manager.

Clinical work

Your clinical responsibilities will include:

1. Undertaking physiotherapy assessments and interventions with neurologically impaired clients in their own homes, workplaces, or other community settings, collaborating and communicating with other team members and external professionals/agencies as appropriate to each case.

2. Devising and implementing high quality rehabilitation programmes, with interventions oriented towards enhancement of independence, participation and psychosocial functioning.

3. Providing interventions, advice and guidance concerning (e.g.) mobility, stamina, balance, and vestibular issues in the context of vocational rehabilitation programmes which are often interdisciplinary and involve collaboration with the client’s employers, colleagues, and teachers.

4. Collaborating with other members of each client’s interdisciplinary team to undertake initial assessments and write integrated reports concerning their needs, progress, and future treatment/management options [NB: These are usually provided in a medicolegal context but they are NOT expert witness reports].

5. Training/supervising rehab assistants and support workers, and engaging relevant members of the client’s network (e.g. family members, employers) as appropriate with physiotherapy interventions and recommendations.

6. Evaluating the impact of physiotherapy and IDT interventions through the systematic use of appropriate standardised and qualitative assessments.

7. Attending meetings, both those of the full Cognivate team and client-focused reviews/planning sessions which may involve other external agencies.  The majority are virtual, but in-person Service Development Meetings involving our whole core team take place once every 6-8 weeks.  You must be available to attend these and other clinical meetings on Wednesday afternoons.

8. In all respects, maintaining client confidentiality and complying with GDPR requirements as set out and kept under review by the Executive Team.

Administrative and service-related duties

9. Acting as key worker for some clients.  This entails co-ordinating other Cognivate therapists who are working with the client, for example through chairing clinical meetings and discussions; overseeing the generation of integrated reports; and liaising with case managers/other external agencies as needed. Logistical aspects of this are supported by our Ops team.

10. Writing clear and concise reports in a timely manner, within a focused timeframe if required for medicolegal or other purposes, using co-designed team templates and electronic systems.

11. Keeping confidential, up-to-date and accurate written records in accordance with professional standards as set out by the HCPC and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy [CSP]; and documenting time spent on a range of activities as required for both clinical and business purposes. 

12. Generating and providing online content as required.  This may include, for example, preparation of static materials (e.g. text, images, video providing accessible information) and pre-recorded educational videos.

13. Contributing to structured service evaluation and development, including through the systematic collection of outcome data and participation in training/CPD activities.

Leadership and management

14. Strategic development of the Physiotherapy department through (i) growing and managing our network of associate physiotherapists and (ii) by identifying, evaluating, and if appropriate developing and implementing expansions to our physiotherapy provision – either geographically or in terms of new services/client groups.   This will be collaborative with the Executive Team and other Lead Therapists, and in due course could involve recruitment of new core physiotherapists.

15. Recruiting and overseeing associate neurophysiotherapists, and organising CPD activities and events for them and other Cognivate staff.

16. Maintaining Cognivate team members’ awareness of contemporary developments in neuro- physiotherapy which may be valuable to the quality of our provision, making recommendations concerning the development of internal expertise and potential investments.

17. Taking a lead role in shaping and implementing our clinical protocols, working with other members of the IDT to do so, and ensuring that associate physiotherapists embed these effectively in order to ensure excellence and consistency in Cognivate’s practices.

18. Giving presentations and/or contributing to exploratory discussions with potential referrers, commissioners, and professional groups including clinical practitioners, case managers, lawyers, third sector support organisations such as Headway, and employers.

19. Identifying, ordering and maintaining appropriate PT resources and equipment, ensuring adherence to professional standards of infection control and safety.