Orthotist

Job content

The NHS is the biggest employer in Europe. It’s a world-renowned institution and an exciting place to work, full of challenges and opportunities.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) is one of the leading specialist orthopaedic hospitals in the country, with some of the highest levels of staff and patient satisfaction, as well as a strong reputation for innovation. We work together as a team of over 1,600 expert members of staff to make a difference for our patients and their families.

Our latest CQC Report was published in February 2019 and saw us rated as ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ for care.

Who we’re looking for…

Orthotist

The Department of Orthotics at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital, Oswestry is currently looking for an enthusiastic Orthotist to join our large team. The post is permanent and you would be joining an established team of 15 Orthotists working in an in-house NHS Orthotics Service. The Orthotics Dept has invested in technologic advancements for delivering high quality patient care and improved clinical outcomes. This is further supported with modern clinical facilities, and a full preceptorship programme for graduates.

RJAH is a specialist orthopaedic hospital with a worldwide reputation for innovation and high patient care and offers an exciting opportunity for your Orthotic career development. The service provides clinics at several different locations in Shropshire and within developed multi disciplinary teams covering specialties including foot and ankle, paediatrics, spinal injuries, spinal disorders, gait analysis and diabetes. As a dept. we are dedicated to supporting clinical development of staff and have supported training programmes.

The department has a large onsite manufacturing workshop. This facilitates the opportunity to develop aspects of Orthotic manufacture and prescription ideas, directly with technicians.

Ideally applicants need to have previous clinical experience in clinical Orthotics but a fully supported preceptorship programme will be offered to any graduate or newly qualified Orthotist to support their initial 12 months.

Our aim is to aspire to deliver world class patient care, and we want talented, dedicated and passionate people to help us achieve this.

Our continued success is accomplished through the skills and expertise of our staff, which is underpinned by our values: Friendly, Caring, Excellence, Professional and Respect. If your values align to ours, and you would like to join us in aspiring to deliver world class patient care, we would love to hear from you.

Joining RJAH is more than just a job – we want our people to have the best opportunities to thrive in their role.

Whether you’re starting out in your career, or have a wealth of experience – we’re always looking to recruit outstanding individuals in a range of clinical areas, as well as support and administrative roles.

We have a range of fantastic staff benefits on offer to everyone who joins RJAH and you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and outstanding professional development opportunities.

RJAH has strong links with a range of universities including Staffordshire, Keele, Glyndwr, Chester and Birmingham.

Shropshire is also one of the most attractive parts of the country, with a rich historic culture and excellent transport links. The hospital is located on a site outside Oswestry, just off the A5. The nearest train station is in Gobowen, approximately two miles from the hospital. The station is part of the Chester to Birmingham line.

Job Purpose

To provide an efficient & effective clinical Orthotic service within the department’s, the divisions & Trust’s objectives and local health delivery plans.

To provide this service to the Trust’s purchasers. To accept consultant and healthcare professions referrals to the service for patients orthotic management.

To undertake clinical examination and assessment of patients and provide orthoses in a timely, appropriate and suitable manner including highly specialist technical/clinical prescriptions.

The orthoses to be sourced/procured by best value practice.

To maintain State Registration as an Orthotist and work within professional best practice guidelines at all times ensuring planned achievement of outcome measures for patients’ orthotic management.

Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical

1. Accept referrals from medical and healthcare professionals and undertake clinical assessment and examination of patients to provide suitable orthotic clinical-technical prescriptions, including triage and prioritisation of patient need. Accept as an individual the legal responsibility for patients’ orthotic care.

2. Use measurement and data acquisition techniques in recording all pertinent information to ensure accuracy of patient prescriptions.

3. Perform plaster positive model rectifications as appropriate.

4. Specify the design, componentry, materials, fabrication method and suppliers of orthoses and order individual items to meet the patients’ clinical needs.

5. Perform risk assessments in the selection of components for customised devices to ensure patient safety.

6. Perform mechanical and technical adjustments to orthoses.

7. Evaluate the completed device on the patient to ensure the desired quality of bodydevice interface, functional alignment comfort, cosmetic appearance and mechanical integrity and safety.

8. Re-evaluate the above following an agreed time interval to meet patient needs or requirements of a care plan (review appointments).

9. Provide verbal, visual and written department information, explanation and highly specialised clinical advice to the patient and/or carers at every stage of device provision for informed consent including complex devices

10. Report patient adverse incidents related to the provision of orthoses to maintain patient safety and engage in national reporting and monitoring procedures for specialised medical devices.

11. Provide written updates to referrer as to orthotic treatment and status and refer patients to other disciplines to ensure appropriate care.

12. Give clinical and professional advice to the multi-disciplinary team regarding appropriate orthotic provision for patients.

13. Advise and maintain effective liaison with technical support personnel including assistance with training in order to ensure best current technical practice in meeting patients’ needs.

14. Ensure excellent written and verbal communications are maintained with patients, carers, relatives and members of the health and social care teams; convey complex and sensitive information at appropriate levels of understanding.

15. Use excellent negotiating and counselling skills and other tools to ensure the effective communication of complex, sensitive and emotional information and to overcome barriers to understanding in an empathic way. Such persons will include those “At risk”, the terminally ill, the vulnerable, those such as stroke patients, the learning disabled, the deaf and hard of hearing and those possessing poor communication skills. Also non-English speakers and those who speak some English but who have a different first language.

16. Be able to negotiate care plans with patients and carers using motivational and supportive skills to overcome any differences in opinions and understanding to ensure co-operation from a range of orthotic management options.

17. Agree and document outcome measures in patients’ treatment plan.

18. Record accurately up to date patient activity as required by the Department of Health for performance monitoring for the department and its purchasers.

20. Maintain professional registration with the Health Professions Council.

21. Abide by the Statement of Conduct for Prosthetists/Orthotists of the Health Professions Council.

22. Maintain patient clinical records in accordance with the regulations of the Health Professions Council and local guidelines of Clinical Governance.

23. Practice in accordance with the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists Guidelines for Best Practice.

24. Be responsible for maintaining a high level of professional competence. Demonstrate commitment to Continuing Professional Development Life Long Learning and the maintenance of a CPD Portfolio.

25. Participate in Clinical Supervision in accordance with the Trusts programme. Proactively participate in peer support and supervision which may include for example, reflective practice, case conferences, journal clubs, clinical discussion and supervision
sessions with the principal Orthotist or other members of the multidisciplinary team.

26. Maintain continuous working relationships with relevant product, equipment and service providers in the Healthcare industry by meeting regularly with representatives
of orthotic manufacturers and suppliers.

27. Be aware of current pertinent clinical and technical research and development by meeting with representatives of orthotic manufacturers and suppliers.

28. Use expert judgement in clinical practice to ensure cost effectiveness in the provision of equipment to patients in accordance with the Trusts best value policy and authorise
signatory prescribing orthoses up to the value of £2,500

29. Be familiar with local clinical governance policies and procedures and participate in clinical governance activities.

30. Participate in research and audit annually.

31. Maintain the department’s clinical placement accreditation for University undergraduate training by providing support to the training officer in clinical education experiences for undergraduate Orthotists.

32. Participate in the training and education of healthcare professionals including contribute to professional presentations.

33. Liaise with professional groups, carers, users and consumer groups to maintain the best possible standards of practice.

34. Engage in the promotion of the profession and the Trusts service locally, nationally and internationally.

35. Modernise practice to improve the efficiency and quality of the service provided by the department.

36. As part of the clinical team assist in the maintenance of a full clinical orthotic service in line with commissioner requirements via SLAs.

37. Organise and maintain a personal clinical caseload in a variety of locations including the patients’ own home when necessary.

38. Monitor, evaluate and change component/device stock levels and types as prescription trends alter.

39. Participate, implement and propose changes in Quality Assurance Systems, protocols and procedures as relevant and necessary, including process mapping and operational
reviews.

40. Ensure the maintenance of safe and clean working environments for self, colleagues and patients checking the equipment is safe for use such as measurement and assessment jigs, plaster cutting tools etc.

41. Ensure that Health & Safety legislation is complied with at all times, being aware of and following Trust and Service Policies including: -

• Health and Safety
• Manual Handling
• COSHH
• Infection Control
• Incident and complaints reporting
• Risk Management

42. Report any accidents, complaints, defects in equipment, near misses and untoward incidents following Trust procedure or that the host Trust.

43. Ensure that all information relating to clients and staff gained through employment with the Trust is kept confidential in accordance with Trust policy and the Data Protection Act.

44. Attend and contribute actively to staff and team meetings within the department and commissioner Trusts.

45. Provide guidance for and maintain effective working relationships with administrative and technical staff to ensure service efficiency.

46. Undertake all statutory & mandatory training as required by the Trust and any identified training that will help develop the post in line with the department’s and division’s objectives.

47. Undertake relevant clinical and non-clinical training as and when required for service maintenance/development.

48. Actively participate in the appraisal process.

49. Comply with all relevant Trust Policies and Procedures.

50. Provide cover for colleagues as required, long or short term for department to meet its contractual obligations.

51. Carry out any other duties as required by the service, commensurate with the type/level/grade of the post.

52. Treating children without principal parent or carer present at off-site clinics such as Special Schools within the guidelines and protocols of the Trust’s Child Protection Policy

If you would like to join a highly motivated NHS team who are committed to development of staff and the profession then we would welcome your application.

You must be HCPC registered and have a BSc Hons degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics, and preferably a BAPO member.

We welcome the opportunity for you to contact or visit RJAH Orthotics to meet the team and see our facilities.