Overview

Post Title:

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Neurosurgery (Spinal)

Post Status:

Temporary Specified Purpose Contract

Department

Physiotherapy

Location:

Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9

Reports to:

Physiotherapy Manager

Salary:

Appointment will be made in line with Government pay policy.

€71,405 to €82,860

Hours of work:

Full time (35 hours per week)

Closing Date:

12 noon on 18/3/2026

Please note the hospital reserves the right to close the competition early should a substantial number of applications be received.

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Spinal Care will work as part of the physiotherapy team and the consultant led MDT service in Beaumont Hospital, treating patients with complex and routine spinal pathologies. The post will include attendance at consultant led clinics which involves assessment of new and return patients from the consultant waiting list and onward referral to appropriate services. The successful candidate will also carry a physiotherapy caseload with reference to the MSK capacity modelling system and provide specialist care to complex spinal patients referred to the physiotherapy department.

The purpose of the post is:

· To reduce the wait time for patients referred to Beaumont Hospital Neurosurgical service by assessing patients directly from the waiting list at consultant led clinics.

· To work with the neurosurgery consultants and the extended multidisciplinary team to enhance the pathways of care for patients referred to the neurosurgical service.

· To develop a specialist physiotherapy spinal service and to act as an educational resource within the physiotherapy department.

To manage the Physiotherapy waiting list for neurosurgical spinal patients and carry a caseload as deemed appropriate based on service needs.

Responsibilities

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will:

• Be a lead clinician in the Physiotherapy Profession and carry a clinical caseload appropriate to the post

• Be responsible for client assessment, development and implementation of individualised treatment plans that are client centred and in line with best practice

• Be responsible for goal setting in partnership with client, family and other team members as appropriate

• Be responsible for standards of practice of self and staff appointed to clinical / designated area(s)

• Be a clinical resource for other Physiotherapists

• Communicate and work in co-operation with the Physiotherapy Manager and other team members in providing an integrated quality service, taking the lead role as required

• Communicate effectively with and provide instruction, guidance and support to, staff clients, family, carers etc.

• Document client records in accordance with professional standards and departmental policies

• Provide a service in varied locations in line with local policy / guidelines and within appropriate time allocation (e.g. clinic, home visits)

• Participate and be a lead clinician as appropriate in review meetings, case conferences etc.

• Develop and promote professional standards of practice

• Work within own scope of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct and clinical governance

• Seek advice of relevant personnel when appropriate / as required

• Provide weekend and on call service where it is a requirement of the post

• Develop advanced skills as relevant to clinical area.

Education & Training

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will:

• Participate in mandatory training programmes

• Take responsibility for, and keep up to date with Physiotherapy practice by participating in continuing professional development such as reflective practice, in service, self-directed learning, research, clinical audit etc.

• The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will have responsibility for service provision, education and training, service development and quality improvement.

• Be responsible for the induction and clinical supervision of staff in the designated area(s)

• Co-ordinate and deliver clinical placements in partnership with universities and clinical educators

• Manage, participate and play a key role in the practice education of student therapists. Take part in teaching / training / supervision / evaluation of staff / students and attend practice educator courses as relevant to role and needs

• The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist should have abilities in management and be capable of assuming lead responsibilities in the future.

• Engage in personal development planning and performance review for self and others as

Required

· Integrated Model of Care for the Prevention and Management of Chronic Disease Implementation Guide

Quality, Safety & Risk

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will:

• Be responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of a quality service in line with best practice

• Develop and monitor implementation of agreed policies, procedures and safe professional practice by adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and standards

• Ensure the safety of self and others, and the maintenance of safe environments and equipment used in Physiotherapy in accordance with legislation

• Assess and manage risk in their assigned area(s) of responsibility

• Take the appropriate timely action to manage any incidents or near misses within their assigned area(s)

• Report any deficiency/danger in any aspect of the service to the team or Physiotherapy Manager as appropriate

• Be responsible for the safe and competent use of all equipment, aids and appliances both by clients and staff under their supervision

• Develop and promote quality standards of work and co-operate with quality assurance programmes

• Oversee and monitor the standards of best practice within their Physiotherapy team

• Have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards as they apply to the role, for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards.

Administrative

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will:

• Contribute to the service planning process

• Assist the Physiotherapy Manager and relevant others in service development encompassing policy development and implementation

• Review and evaluate the Physiotherapy service regularly, identifying changing needs and opportunities to improve services

• Collect and evaluate data about the service area as identified in service plans and demonstrate the achievement of the objectives of the service

• Oversee the upkeep of accurate records in line with best practice

• Collate and maintain accurate statistics and render reports as required

• Represent the department / team at meetings and conferences as appropriate

• Inform the Physiotherapy Manager of staff issues (needs, interests, views) as appropriate

• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace

• Participate in the control and ordering of Physiotherapy stock and equipment in conjunction with the Physiotherapy Manager

• Be accountable for the budget, where relevant

• Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health Service

• Engage in IT developments as they apply to clients and service administration

• Perform such other duties appropriate to the role as may be assigned by the Physiotherapy Manager

Key Working Relationships:

The Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist will:

· Work collaboratively with other physiotherapists, medical, nursing and other health and social care professionals across the acute and community services in providing optimal clinical care and in further developing the service.

· Establish links with other organisations, both national and international where appropriate, providing support and information regarding this clinical area, and utilising these additional resources where necessary, to benefit patient care.

Accountability:

· Physiotherapy Dept Work: report to Physiotherapy Manager in Charge III for physiotherapy clinical governance, attendance and service performance management.

· Clinic Work: report to Consultants for clinical governance in triage, advanced practice remit and service performance management.

Qualifications

Selection Criteria:

Selection criteria outline the qualifications, skills, knowledge and/or experience that the successful candidate would need to demonstrate for successful discharge of the responsibilities of the post.

Applications will be assessed on the basis of how well candidates satisfy these criteria.

Mandatory:

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

(a) Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Regulation Board at CORU

https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/physiotherapists/

If you are a section 91 candidate, please see note *

AND

(ii) Have five years full time (or an aggregate of five years) post registration qualification experience. Of which four years full time (or an aggregate of four years) post qualification clinical experience must be in the required area of specialism

AND

(iii) Demonstrate a proven record of clinical excellence in the specialism

AND

(iv) Candidates must demonstrate evidence of continuing professional development relevant to the required area of specialism , in the form of post graduate qualifications or relevant courses

AND

(v) Candidates must demonstrate achievement in the areas of clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives, practice development, teaching and research

AND

(vi) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Registration board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued

2. Annual registration

(i) On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on Physiotherapists Register maintained by the Physiotherapists Registration Board at CORU

AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)

3. Health

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service

4. Character

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character

5. Role Suitability

Demonstrate a proven record of clinical /academic achievement including continuing development in this specialist field

6. Additional Skills

Be available to work on call rota for respiratory and orthopaedic services as required by physiotherapy management and have the necessary training at undergraduate level

*note

Individuals who qualified before 30th September 2018 and are registered or have applied for registration under Section 91 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005, must hold a Physiotherapy qualification approved by CORU in order to be eligible to apply. The list of qualifications under the section 91 route can be accessed on the attached link:

https://coru.ie/files-registration/hse-list-of-physiotherapist-qualifications.pdf

Section 91 candidates are individuals who qualified before 30th September 2018 and have been engaged in the practice of the profession in the Republic of Ireland for a minimum of 2 years full time (or an aggregate of 2 years fulltime), between 1st October 2016 and 30th September 2018 are considered to be Section 91 applicants under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act, 2005.

Desirable:

Further training (e.g. M.Sc.) in relevant clinical area
Previous relevant hospital senior/clinical specialist grade experience
5 years + acute hospital experience at senior grade level

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 to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Further Information for Candidates:

Supplementary information:

The Hospital

www.beaumont.ie

Management Unit:

www.beaumont.ie/hr

Informal Enquiries ONLY to:

Name:

Cathy Thomson

Title:

Physiotherapy Manager

Email address:

cathyquinn@beaumont.ie

Telephone:

01.8092577

Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist in Neurosurgery (Spinal)

Job Description