Senior Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• The postholder will hold their own caseload and provide support to the rest of the therapy team.

• Work independently and report back to the therapy team for support, escalation and case review.

• Use of creative, analytical and investigative skills to assess and support patients with treatment plans, ensuring progress toward goal attainment and review of goals, utilising person centred approaches.

• To follow departmental protocols and guidelines, referring to a qualified clinician as required .

• To monitor and report progress of patients to qualified staff during the implementation of planned interventions and programmes.

• To work with an individual or group in a variety of settings appropriate to the patients needs.

• To ensure patient safety and dignity at all times, using relevant methods to manage patients with challenging behaviours.

• To ensure accurate, up-to-date clinical records are kept, ensuring their security and confidentiality at all times.

• Use of lone working, travelling across Kirklees to visit community patients.

Education

• To take an active part in the PDR process, and engage in development and learning opportunities.

• To develop and maintain knowledge and skill base through participation in and delivery of information at appropriate training.

• To complete and maintain mandatory training.

• To support colleagues through delivery of coaching and teaching where appropriate.

Communication

• To utilise effective communication skills to ensure clinical advice and treatment programmes are delivered sensitively.

• To liaise with, and feedback regularly to supervising therapist(s).

• To use effective verbal and non-verbal communication tools, to communicate therapy programmes and obtain consent from patients who may have barriers to understanding. To use coaching and reassurance skills to gain patient participation and develop therapeutic relationships.

• To maintain confidentiality at all times, and ensure patient records are completed accurately in a timely manner.

Other Responsibilities

• To work in accordance with the values of The Kirkwood. Patients, Families and Carers are the focus of everything we do. Our values are what we live and work by.

We are:

• Respectful and Inclusive

• Passionate and Determined

• Open and Honest

• Kind and Compassionate

• Forward-thinking

• We strive for Quality and Excellence

• To participate in The Kirkwoods performance and development review process.

• To undertake any other duties required by The Kirkwoods Management team commensurate with the post.

• To undertake annual mandatory training provided by The Kirkwood.

• To maintain complete confidentiality as a condition of employment. Information relating to patients, other members of staff and volunteers or which is acquired for the purposes of employment may only be disclosed with the express permission of the appropriate manager.

• To respect the ethos and values of The Kirkwood and its services and comply with its policies, procedures and regulations.

This job description is not exhaustive therefore the employer and employee share responsibility to review and amend this job description in order to reflect any changes in role/development.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• - Experience of working in a health and social care, inpatient and community environment.
• - Experience in a therapy or rehabilitation role.
• - Experience of working autonomously, managing and prioritising own caseload.
• - Experience in supporting patients with goal setting and self-management strategies.

Qualifications

Essential

• - Minimum of 3 GCSE passes (grade 4/C or above) or equivalent, including Maths and English.
• - NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social care / another health-related subject, as well as knowledge skills development, group working for client group (to diploma equivalent level) or willingness to work towards this.
• - Care certificate or willingness to work towards this.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• - Able to demonstrate knowledge of a range of health conditions that impact on occupational function.
• - Awareness of own competency limitations.
• - Understanding of the impact of long-term, life limiting conditions on quality of life and function.
• - Understanding of the role of Occupational & Physio Therapists.
• - Willingness to learn the role of a Hospice within Palliative Care.
• - Able to work using person centred approaches, as well as working effectively in a team environment and individually.
• - Able to provide appropriate interventions for distressed patients or those with challenging behaviours, as well as the ability to adapt to changes in work routine.
• - Able to apply knowledge of moving & handling and equipment & adaption training.
• - Organisational and time management skills, as well as evidence of good initiative skills.
• - Ability to use and experience with SystmOne, Outlook, Teams, Windows, Mediquip and social media platforms to promote services.
• - Able to deliver therapy interventions delegated by Occupational / Physio Therapists and have the ability to adjust clinical interventions based on patients needs.
• - Support patients in activities that enhance their quality of life and encourage self-management and self-care strategies tailored to each patients abilities / preferences.
• - Good communication skills in order to communicate effectively with patients, families and the wider interdisciplinary team.
• - A full, clean UK driving licence with regular access to a vehicle.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

The Kirkwood

Address

21 Albany Road

Dalton

Huddersfield

HD5 9UY

Employer's website

https://www.thekirkwood.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)