Bank Palliative Care Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Palliative Care Therapy Assistant

Band: 3

Location: Searle House, Exeter and covering Mid Devon (Crediton and Okehampton) and Coastal (Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Woodbury)

Hours: As required on a casual working agreement

Team/Directorate: Supportive Care

Responsible To: Spiritual and Supportive Care Team Leader

Responsible For: N/A

Accountable to: Head of Community and Supportive Care Services

To assist the work of the Specialist Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist

in providing holistic, person-centred care and support for patients with complex life-limiting illnesses in both community and hospice settings.

3.1 Main Responsibilities

Assist the therapy team in assessment and treatment, supporting patients to undertake the prescribed therapeutic treatment plan, in order that beneficial outcomes can be achieved.

Deliver, install and demonstrate equipment prescribed by the registered practitioner, instructing patients in its correct use and maintenance, to maximise benefits and ensure patient safety.

Monitor equipment stocks and order as required to ensure an adequate supply at all times.

Undertake unsupervised visits to patients under the indirect supervision of the Specialist Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist in order to carry out treatment plans prescribed by the registered professionals.

Recognise changes in a patients presentation and/or symptoms and report these back to the registered professional in order that appropriate action can be taken.

Demonstrate professionalism and sensitivity in interactions with patients and those close to them to promote and maintain Hospiscares values and ensure dignity and respect are observed.

Adhere to Hospiscares clinical recordkeeping policy to ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times and the organisation remains compliant.

Attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary team meetings and case discussions to inform decisions which ensure patients receive the best possible holistic care.

Infection Prevention and Control

Maintaining a safe environment for patients, visitors and employees is everyones responsibility. All staff are required to adhere to Hospiscares Infection Prevention and Control Policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times. This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies and procedures, acting upon or reporting any identified risks.

Specialist Physiotherapist

Occupational Therapist

Supportive Care Team Administrator

Community teams

Inpatient Unit team

Medical Team

Volunteers

Patients and those close to them

Equipment suppliers

Urgent Community Response Team

Ensure that Health and Safety guidelines and fire regulations are strictly adhered to.

Comply with safe working practices as defined by Hospiscare.

Complete online training as and when required.

Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by acts or omissions at work.

Report any accidents, incidents or near misses as soon as reasonably practicable.

Manage own work life balance and general wellbeing, including any relevant pressures in respect of lone working, travel, difficult environments and challenging situations.

Be aware of and always adhere to Hospiscare policies and procedures.

Take part in progress/performance reviews throughout the year.

Cooperate with other Hospiscare departments.

Attend training courses and complete online training modules as required to meet the requirements of the post.

Take responsibility for own personal development, seeking out opportunities to learn new skills.

Undertake any other duties as requested by management which are reasonably deemed to be within the scope of the role.

3.5 Other

Always apply the Hospiscare values and behaviours to every aspect of the role.

Promote and maintain the brand standards of Hospiscare.

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of delivering care in a clinical environment
• Awareness of the complexities of working with individuals at times of distress and conflict
• Understanding of the importance of effective team working in a healthcare context

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or similar/related
• Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

• Level 4 qualification in Health and Social Care or related discipline, or working towards

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrable experience of care giving in the Acute Trust and Community Services
• Demonstrable experience of working as part of a team within Health and Social Care

Desirable

• Experience of working in specialist palliative care
• Experience of working with volunteers

Skills

Essential

• Developed communication and interpersonal skills
• Developed IT skills
• Developed skills in recognising and responding to the changing physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs of palliative care patients and those close to them

Personal attributes

Essential

• Ability to work autonomously and act on own initiative, seeking advice/escalating issues when appropriate.
• Flexible and adaptable with the ability to respond positively in a rapidly changing environment.
• Able to maintain confidentiality.
• Commitment to continuing professional development.
• Awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all aspects of work

Additional requirements

Essential

• Able to fulfil physical and manual handling aspects of the role, including administering of basic life support
• Able to contribute to the 7 day per week cover provided by Hospiscares clinical services

Desirable

• Car owner and driver
• Able to work occasionally at weekends

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

Hospiscare

Address

Searle House

Dryden road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5JJ

Employer's website

https://www.hospiscare.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)