Therapy Assistant (Band 4)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical: Manage a delegated caseload of patients triaged by a qualified therapist, providing assessment and follow up visits (IPU and community), equipment, and advice to patients and their families / carers as appropriate. Provide feedback or escalation to senior therapists and seek support as needed. Work autonomously within defined protocols and competency levels, under the supervision of a qualified Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist or Registered Nurse. Undertake appropriate assessments and interventions autonomously both to individuals and a group. Work to support patients goals, rehabilitation, enablement and self-management, with individuals or groups under the guidance of a qualified OT/PT or RN as required. Support the fatigue and breathlessness management selfmanagement course and offer 1:1 to reinforcement of techniques. Lead, manage and deliver social support and lighter touch patient groups, both onsite at Brentry and in community locality settings. This includes working closely with volunteers. Design and deliver in person or virtual teaching/support sessions. Negotiate and agree functional treatment goals with patients, using a range of technical and creative skills as delegated by therapy staff. Be responsible for ongoing assessment, treatment, intervention and discharge planning for assigned patients in IPU. This includes assessment and prescription of equipment and minor adaptations, and implementation of therapeutic activities. Assess simple functional mobility needs and refer or signpost for appropriate equipment. Evaluate patient progress, reassess and adjust treatment programmes in consultation with an OT, Physio or RN. Deliver therapy treatment plans as delegated and designed by hospice OTs/PTs using a rehabilitative or compensatory approach to enable patients to participate in treatment episodes and support actives of daily living. Provide general advice to patients, relatives and carers to ensure understanding of the aims of the prescribed intervention and a consistent approach to patient care, and offering information on hospice and community services Support the service through non-clinical duties, including organisation and co-ordination of new groups, stocks and working environment Work without direct supervision to implement and support patients in their treatment plans as designed by a Physiotherapist/Occupational Therapist/RN. Report progress, issues and discharge plans to the OT and PT at agreed intervals. Be responsible for maintaining the OT and PT equipment store at the hospice, including basic maintenance, cleaning and stock levels. Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to support patients activity, independence and quality of life Work within SPH Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Policy, and Safeguarding policy to ensure you safeguard the interests of all patients and their families, escalating concerns when necessary. Understand and follow safeguarding procedures and escalate concerns appropriately. Use digital tools and patient record systems in line with Information Governance and data protection standards. To participate in hospice special interest groups. Communication Maintain a high standard of behaviour and communicate sensitively, supportively and in a timely manner with members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, and relatives. Respect and accommodate patients beliefs and preferences, using alternative communication methods where needed. Complete all documentation accurately, legibly and in accordance with hospice policy and Information Governance standards. Respect patient confidentiality. Being aware of barriers to understanding such cognitive changes through illness. Participate in and/or facilitate multidisciplinary meetings, in person or virtually. Personal & People Development Prepare for and participate in own individual performance review and development process. Keep up to date with all mandatory and statutory training Maintain clinical competencies relevant to role Seek feedback to inform own development needs Work to maintain your own physical and mental health to enable you to be fit and resilient for the role Engage in continuous professional development Identify when support is needed in any areas of own work Reflect on intense/challenging situations with colleagues and/or through with clinical supervision and reflective practice. Health & Safety As appropriate to role, assess and advise service users on safe equipment use (once successfully completed competencies). Follow all hospice policies, procedures and risk assessments to ensure safety. Know emergency procedures and how to act swiftly to get help. Follow the hospice lone worker policy Adhere to, promote and educate others on infection prevention practices. Report any accidents, incidents and near misses via the SPH reporting system and identifies risks in work activities and processes. Supports and challenges others to maintain health, safety and security. Be mentally and emotionally resilient to support to patients and their carers effectively. Service Improvement Contribute to monitoring and improving care standards through audit and research. Implements policies relevant to your work and suggest changes to improve practice, particularly the new lighter touch and social support groups. Identify and suggest improvements to service. Take on new tasks and adapt as agreed, asking for support needed Contributes ideas in team meetings and with line manager Assist in service evaluations, including designing questionnaires and collecting patient feedback. Quality Practise according to agreed standards of care within scope of competence and area of responsibility Prioritises own workload and manage time to ensure priorities are met and quality of care. Equality & Diversity Treat everyone with dignity and respect, actively promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Works to meet the needs of a diverse patient population. Challenge bias, prejudice, and intolerance, or report to their line manager. Supports individuals in exercising their rights Be aware of how own behaviour impacts others.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• A nationally recognised qualification/apprenticeship in
• Health & Social care (or equivalent) at Level 3 if in
• possession of level 2 then willingness and commitment
• to work towards level 3
• Ability and willingness to undertake appropriate training
• for required clinical activities

Desirable

• Relevant level 4 qualification (Such as Certificate of
• higher education, or Higher apprenticeship or Higher
• Diploma, NVQ), or equivalent level of skills acquired
• through training and experience

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years of experience of direct patient care
• in a health or social care setting either as Therapy
• Assistant or Health Care assistant Band 3
• Experience of working with patients who have life
• limiting conditions (cancer and non-cancer diseases)
• Experience of team working, understands team
• dynamics, including what factors make a team work well
• Experience of working autonomously without direct
• supervision
• Able to make correct decision within a set of clear
• guidelines
• Community and in-patient experience
• Willingness to develop palliative care knowledge and
• skills

Desirable

• Understanding of Rehabilitation Palliative care
• Group work experience
• Knowledge and experience of using EMIS

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Able to use a variety of IT systems, including Microsoft
• office, MS Teams and EMIS and can complete
• documentation accurately
• Inspirational interpersonal skills able to engage and build
• effective relationships at all levels
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• with the ability to prioritise tasks
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Support patients rehabilitation, utilising skills, such as
• practising exercises, therapeutic manual handling,
• washing, eating, etc. always maintaining patient safety
• Able to work without direct supervision to implement and
• support patients in their rehabilitation plans
• Able to use initiative and skills to recognise any changes
• in patients well -being and responses to treatment and
• reporting in a timely way to the treating therapist/ other
• professional staff group
• Able to demonstrate clinical reasoning skills to facilitate
• decision making process
• Due to the nature of this job the post holder needs to be
• physically fit and able to undertake manual handling and
• physical duties

Additional Criteria

Essential

• Compassionate and trustworthy
• Self-motivated and able to motivate others
• A skilled facilitator, able to get the best out of people
• within a group situation
• Willing to learn and adapt
• Approachable, non-judgemental and empathetic
• Innovative and solution focused
• Flexible and adaptable
• Reliable and punctual
• Able to work under pressure
• Commitment to and ability to demonstrate St Peters
• Hospice values
• Demonstrates enthusiasm and commit to work in
• palliative and end of life care
• Driving license and own transport

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

St Peter’s Hospice

Address

St Peter's Hospice

Charlton Road

Bristol

Somerset

BS10 6NL

Employer's website

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