Therapies Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE

Therapies Assistant

GRADE

Band 3

HOURS OF DUTY

22.5 hours per week

REPORTS TO

Therapies Manager

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

The Therapies Manager, the Therapy Teams, the multi-disciplinary team and all other hospice staff and volunteers, patients, relatives, carers and external health and social care teams

RESPONSIBLE FOR

N/A

JOB SUMMARY

To work as part of the Therapies team, assisting with the delivery of therapy services to people with life-limiting illness who are supported by Saint Francis Hospice.

To work with the Therapies Manager and other staff to assist with providing a comprehensive service to inpatients, outpatients and patients living in the community.

To plan and implement activities based on patients needs, abilities and preferences. This might include, for example, art, music, movement, games. You will help groups and individuals to take part in the activities.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping including electronic data entry and recording.

To plan and implement patient led appropriate activity programme to groups and individuals.

To assist with the provision of various Therapeutic Groups.

To assist with home visits to assess patients needs and deliver and fit equipment under the direction of the Therapists.

To assist with the maintenance, collection and cleaning of equipment.

To drive the hospice van to collect and deliver equipment within the community.

To ensure materials are stored in accordance with Health and Safety regulations (e.g. COSHH), ensuring store rooms are kept tidy and stock levels maintained.

To report any relevant information or observations relating to a patients condition to the Therapists.

To report any concerns about the provision of the Therapy Services to the Therapies Manager.

To maintain and develop skills and knowledge by participating in relevant internal and external training opportunities.

To attend all mandatory training in accordance with hospice policies.

Confer with the Therapies Manager to plan annual leave and study leave to ensure continuity of service.

To undertake projects and achieve objectives in agreement with the Therapies Manager during Appraisal.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITES

To participate in Appraisal in consultation with the Therapies Manager

To have an understanding of the importance of Multi-Professional team working and the ability to promote it within the organisation.

To have an understanding and awareness of behaviours and interpersonal skills that are vital to effective team working and practice them at all times.

To take responsibility for own professional and personal development which will be monitored in Supervision sessions and in Appraisal.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF POSTHOLDER

SENSITIVITY AND PROFESSIONALISM: As an employee of Saint Francis Hospice you should expect that it is likely that you will come into contact with patients, their families and members of the public who are at the end of life or recently bereaved. All employees are expected to respond to people recounting and expressing their emotions about such events with sensitivity and understanding, and to know enough about the services that the Hospice provides to be able to signpost people who may benefit from our services to the relevant contacts.

CONFIDENTIALITY: The post holder must maintain confidentiality, security and integrity of information relating to patients, staff and other hospice matter during the course of duty. Any breach of Confidentiality may become a disciplinary issue.

DATA PROTECTION: It is the responsibility of all staff to be aware of their obligations in respect of the Data Protection Act 1998.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITES: The hospice is committed to the development of positive policies to promote equal opportunity in employment and has a clear commitment to equal opportunities. All employees have a responsibility to ensure that they understand the standards expected and that they promote and adhere to the equal opportunity measures adopted by the hospice.

HEALTH AND SAFETY: All staff must be familiar with section 2 of the Health & Safety Policy, Organisation of Health and Safety. This documents sets out the responsibilities of all staff for health and safety, whether in a supervisory capacity or not. Policy section 3 (arrangements for Health and Safety) provides an overview of training for competence in Health and Safety matters.

HOSPICE IDENTITY BADGES: Hospice ID badges must be worn at all times whilst on duty.

SMOKING: The hospice acknowledges its responsibility to provide a safe, smoke free environment, for its employees, service users and visitors. Smoking is therefore not permitted at any point whilst on duty, in accordance with the guidelines set down within the Hospice No Smoking Policy.

REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE/CODE OF CONDUCT:

All employees who are required to register with a professional body to enable them to practice within their profession are required to comply with their code of conduct and requirements of their professional registration.

WORKING TIME REGULATIONS: The Working Time Regulations 1998 require that you should not work more than an average of 48 hours in each week. For example, in a 26 week period you should work no more than 1248 hours.

Please note that this job description is not definitive or restrictive in any way. It is a guide to the responsibilities of the role. It may be reviewed, in consultation with the post holder, in light of changing circumstances and the changing needs of the Hospice.

The post holder will be expected to perform any other such duties as might reasonably be required by the Director and will work in accordance with all Hospice Policies and Procedures.

In an emergency, all staff may be required to work different hours or carry out different tasks to those set out in their contracts of employment. This will be done in consultation with individuals and taking into account any special circumstances that may exist.

Person Specification

Skills, Abilities, Knowledge

Essential

• Possess excellent communication skills.
• Have the ability to work within a Multi-Professional team.
• Possess a keen interest and understanding in Therapies, including Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Complementary Therapy and Creative Therapy.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work flexibly if required.
• Have a positive approach to problem solving.
• Be approachable and possess a sense of humour.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with a Therapies Team or equivalent and appropriate experience.
• Experience of supporting/running groups of clients.

Desirable

• Experience of working within a health care environment.
• Experience of working with people with life-limiting illness and their families/carers.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Must hold a valid British Driving Licence and have ability to drive Hospice vans.
• Demonstrating the Hospice Values of Supportive, Compassionate, Inclusive and Respectful, Professional and Always Learning.
• Supportive - The ability to listen to and value peoples experience and use them to give the personal support that is right for everyone.
• Compassionate - The ability to be kind and treat everyone we meet with care and compassion. The ability to be friendly and put people at the heart of our actions and words, supporting peoples choices and decisions, helping them to feel safe, secure and valued.
• Inclusive and Respectful - The ability to be open and transparent and value each persons individuality. To be able to show respect for everyone and value diversity. To be mindful that our different experiences and knowledge make us stronger and together we achieve more.
• Professional - The ability to do your best, in providing the appropriate care and expertise to those who need us and support us.
• Always Learning - The ability to be open and outward looking, always ready to adapt and change, looking for better ways of doing things, by learning from each other and from the ever changing world around us.

Qualifications

Desirable

• General school qualifications i.e. GCE/GCSE Maths and English

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

Saint Francis Hospice

Address

St. Francis Hospice

Broxhill Road

Havering-atte-bower

Romford

RM41QH

Employer's website

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