Clinical Specialist/Senior Physiotherapist NICU Department

Clinical Specialist/Senior Physiotherapist NICU Department (Location: Dublin City Centre) Job Type: Contract

Description INTERNAL/EXTERNAL COMPETITION

Applications are invited for the following position within the

PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT in the Rotunda Hospital

Ref. No:2026/023 Clinical Specialist/Senior Physiotherapist NICU Department - Specified Purpose Contract

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 Neonatal Intensive Care unit (NICU) at the Rotunda Hospital is one of the busiest neonatal tertiary referral centres in Ireland providing care to approximately 1,300 babies per year including 120-150 very low birth weight infants. The NICU has 39 cots. The NICU is recognised as a centre for therapeutic hypothermia and has well established links with the other neonatal intensive care units in the RCSI Hospital Group. The out-patient department provides follow up care for infants born in the Rotunda with over 1,500 clinics each year catering for 8,000-9,000 visits.

Successful Candidate The successful candidate will be required to meet the following:

Essential Requirements

• Hold a Physiotherapy qualification recognised by the Physiotherapists Registration Board and be registered on the physiotherapy register maintained by the Physiotherapy Registration Board at CORU (proof required).
• 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 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, reliability, flexibility and adaptability 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, ability to present information clearly and concisely, at both individual and group level.
• Ability to apply behaviour change and motivational interview skills.
• Experienced 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, organisational and time management skills, with the ability to plan and balance demands with responsibilities.
• Strong leadership skills to drive new service initiatives.
• Demonstrates dedication to maintaining CPD in this specialist area with a willingness to develop new skills where necessary.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications relevant to this area.
• Lacey Assessment of the Preterm Infant (LAPI)
• Prechtl's method of qualitative assessment of general movement
• Family centred developmental care (NIDCAP or FINE)
• Alberta infant motor scale (AIMS)
• Toronto Test Score
• Behavioural sciences and neuro behavioural assessment (NBAS, NBO)
• Neurodevelopmental or Bobath training
• Bayley's developmental assessment profile
• Peabody developmental motor scales
• Test of infant motor performance (TIMP)
• Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE)
• Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Examination (HNNE)

Clinical Practice

• Deliver physiotherapist led assessment and treatment of high risk babies in NICU and provide neuro developmental follow up to all high risk babies when discharged from NICU.
• The use of appropriate validated assessment tools (e.g. LAPI, Prechtl General Movement Assessment) in early identification of abnormal movement patterns.
• Attend ward rounds and provide input into developmental clinics with the relevant consultant or specialist registrar.
• Be a resource for developmental care education for parents and staff including awareness of environmental, sensory and social factors which may impact on long term global development.
• Collaborate with parents, carers and staff in the developmental positioning, handling and care of the baby in NICU.
• Work as a member of the NICU multidisciplinary team in providing and promoting Family Integrated Care.
• Communicate intervention requirements to relevant MDT colleagues.
• Assess and treat babies with MSK conditions requiring physiotherapy follow up at inpatient and outpatient level (e.g. plagiocephaly, talipes, torticollis, obstetric brachial plexus injury).
• Assess and treat other children who present with developmental delay who may need long term intervention. Liaise with the appropriate community based services to plan and deliver care.
• Contribute to and develop evidence based care pathways, standards of care and protocols in conjunction with the MDT to oversee the neuro developmental care of babies at The Rotunda.
• Work within professional scope of practice, but seek opportunities to develop and expand advanced practice.
• Ensure a high standard of physiotherapy assessment, treatment and management is provided for patients and that professional standards are adhered to.
• Ensure the privacy and dignity of the patient is respected at all times and observe patient confidentiality.
• Undertake other duties within the hospital as specified by the Physiotherapy Manager.
• Put in place evaluating mechanisms by continually auditing and evaluating the service to maximise effectiveness, efficiency and quality.

Education and Continuous Professional Development

• Lead, promote and ensure clinical electiveness through performance management, education, audit and research.
• Collect and analyse data to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment and upholding standards of care through clinical audit and research.
• Keep abreast of research and practice developments in relevant clinical areas by attending seminars, conferences and postgraduate courses.
• Promote changes in work practices, procedures, techniques or technology having regard to the development of best practice and advanced practice in physiotherapy.
• Communicate with other clinical specialists throughout the country and internationally to further develop clinical excellence and research.
• Act as a resource to other physiotherapist/colleagues regarding the management of complex cases both within the hospital and at a regional/national level.
• Contribute to a structured process for education of colleagues, undergraduates and other disciplines in the specialist area.
• Contribute towards continuing professional development activity programmes within the department.
• Serve on or advise such committees that may be set up relevant to this clinical specialty.
• Contribute to the forward planning and development of neonatal and paediatric Clinical Pathways.

Working Practice

• Be aware of resource management and contribute to business planning and continuous quality improvement related to the physiotherapy department and the specialist area.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate patient and activity records in line with national documentation standards.
• Adhere to clinic standards of practice and protocols for written communication with GP's, doctors and referral sources.
• Compile and prepare legal reports as necessary based on the documented physiotherapeutic care of patients.
• Responsible for daily administrative tasks and overall caseload management for physiotherapy services.
• Optimise the use of available resources and demonstrate innovation to sustain and enhance services.
• Provide information on activity levels and statistics as may be required by the physiotherapy manager.
• Comply with department policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines.
• Establish key working relationships and facilitate regular service and clinical meetings.
• Comply with all mandatory training and national standards.
• Undertake 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 . click apply for full job details