Hand Therapist

The post is suitable for either an OT or Physio with experience within hand therapy, or an experienced band 5 who wants to gain more clinical experience and development in the Hand Therapy field. We would consider a band 5 development post; during the first 12-18 months of your employment in this position, you will be supported by the team to complete a series of competencies. At this point and once achieved, you will transition to a band 6 position.
You will develop your skills within a supportive learning environment through competency-based learning, including shadowing, 1:1 tutorials, joint appointments, external courses, and in-service training. You will provide skilled assessment of patients with diverse and complex presentations using advanced clinical reasoning skills to provide appropriate treatment and advice to patients, based on sound knowledge and evidence-based practice.
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust operates many different services across the county opening exposure to development and progression opportunities across the Trust and it is a Trust that is committed to clinical excellence in everything it does. The post includes a detailed supervision and appraisal framework with regular protected learning time. The Trust is also committed to clinical leadership and therefore is focusing on developing front-line staff leadership skills bringing more exciting and innovative opportunities to come.

Main duties of the job
We see hand/wrist dysfunction or injury, including rheumatology, plastics, neurology, and non-specific diagnoses. Referrals are received from GPs, other NHFT AHPs, and Consultants. We have good links with the local hospitals and we also run a joint clinic with an Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioner.
We work with patients to set goals and achieve the best possible outcome for returning to the activities that are important. This takes the form of advice, education, exercises, task adaptation or splinting. You will participate in running a Rheumatology group. Our therapists enable the patient to take control of their treatment plan and progress. Appointments are a mixture of face-to-face, telephone, and video. Notes and exercise programmes are created digitally.
You will have responsibility for your own caseload, as well as delegating, escalating, and advising colleagues as appropriate. You will have knowledge and skills that allow you to effectively treat a wide array of conditions, and to issue and fabricate splints as needed. You will be required to support the technical instructor and be responsible for caseloads, tasks, or projects delegated to you by the team lead.
We are a small team of 1x band 7 lead, 4x band 6 Hand Therapists, x1 Band 4 Technical instructor and x2 administrators. The team covers four clinics across the county, providing the highest quality of care and placing an emphasis on empowering and enabling patients to enhance their treatment plan., Applications will be transferred to the TRAC system, by completing an application you are giving authorisation for the transfer of your data. In submitting an application form, you authorise us to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process. Including factual reference, occupational health clearance and statutory and mandatory training records
Correspondence regarding your application will be sent to you via a TRAC system account.
Please submit your application as soon as possible; due to the high volumes of applications we receive we reserve the right to close any adverts before the closing date once we have received sufficient applications.
We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.
At NHFT we support many of our colleagues to work flexibly and we will consider requests for flexible working from day one. For this role, we are open to discussing a range of options including flexible hours, agile/home working, compressed hours and part time hours. Please have a conversation with the recruiting manager about the flexibility you need and we will promise to explore what is possible with you.
Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.
All posts that are engaged in a regulated activity will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and a DBS re-check on a three yearly basis whilst employed in such a role. Staff employed in these posts will therefore be asked to register with the DBS Automatic Update Service upon receipt of their DBS certificate and must update yearly , the annual fee will be reimbursed subject to Trust policy. For further information please visit: DBS Update Service: applicant guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note if a DBS is applicable for the position then a charge will be deducted from your first salary or upfront cost if a staff bank position.
Please note that all new starters to the trust are subject to a probationary period.

NHFT is an integrated primary care and mental health Trust, providing physical, mental health and specialty services in both hospital settings and out in the community. Because we put the person at the centre of all we do, we focus on delivering care that is as easy to access as possible. This means many of our services can be provided at home, work or in schools. We also provide health services to various prisons and detention centres in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.