Band 3 Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Purpose:

To assist the Inpatient Therapy Team in the provision of rehabilitation, offering a range of therapy interventions and treatments in order to facilitate clients reaching their optimum level of independence and social integration required for discharge.

To work independently under the guidance of qualified Therapists, providing therapy intervention as delegated by qualified therapists.

To be responsible for monitoring patients responses to rehabilitation and discussing patient changes/ opportunities for patient progression with qualified staff within the relevant team.

To be independently responsible for time management and participate in timetabling to ensure effective use of the therapy day.

To be responsible for a delegated clinical caseload or aspects of it (subject to competency/ complexity of client).

To work in close liaison with the qualified staff for the team to assist them with both their clinical and non-clinical duties including selected administrative support.

To participate in a programme of professional development including training and clinical, supervision.

To maintain up-to-date skill levels, competency awareness and knowledge of own scope of practice.

To maintain an awareness of policies and procedures relevant to the post.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This list is intended to summarise the key responsibilities and is not intended to cover every task that may be required of the role: -

Planning and organisational tasks / duties:

Manage and prioritise own patient caseload as delegated by the Therapists.

To support Therapists with patient interventions (e.g. home/access visits, patients requiring more than one person to treat).

To ensure equipment and treatment areas are prepared for use by Therapists.

To plan, facilitate and evaluate groups, as appropriate to the needs, with support from qualified Therapy staff.

To be able to work flexibly across the business unit as required by service need.

Patient Care Responsibilities:

To provide therapeutic intervention for individual clients to maintain or improve function in personal, work, leisure, social and domestic activities, under the guidance but not direct supervision of qualified staff.

To implement therapy interventions, adapting and progressing the rehabilitation of patients following liaison with the qualified therapists. This will include modifying treatments to take account of changes in the patients physical and mental state.

To work with patients individually, or in groups, as directed by qualified Therapists.

To work in conjunction with patients and carers on specific issues, as directed by Therapy staff, and to deal with their concerns as they arise.

To be aware of problems that could affect the patients progress and report back any changes to the delegating Therapist.

The provision of ADL and mobility equipment following liaison with the delegating Therapist.

To enable patients to make use of available services by assisting in referrals to relevant outside agencies for specialist support and service provision as agreed by the patient and the Therapist.

Responsibility for financial and other physical resources:

To ensure supplies of equipment are maintained and prepare orders when appropriate.

Responsibilities for information resources:

To ensure competence of self in the accurate uses of the organisational IT system

To keep accurate statistical records and documentation in line with departmental procedures.

Organisational:

To fulfil any specific tasks as requested by the supervising Therapist, Clinical Manager, or Service Lead.

To maintain complete confidentiality of all reports and any other information concerning patients that may be known or acquired in the course of work.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working within a health care setting and direct dealing with patients clinical needs
• Relevant general experience
• Experience of working in a team
• Awareness of current health issues
• Understanding of rehabilitation ethos
• Understanding of how to maintain privacy and dignity of patients
• Understanding of health and safety issues in the workplace

Desirable

• Experience of working in NHS
• Previous experience working in a Therapy Technician/Assistant role
• Experience of working in rehabilitation or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience in running group activities
• Knowledge of therapy equipment (eg mobility aids and functional equipment)

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE or equivalent English and Maths
• Proven broad-based educational achievement

Desirable

• Formal qualification in relevant subject e.g. NVQ level 3

Skills

Essential

• Good written and spoken English
• Effective observation and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Able to communicate effectively with colleagues, clinical staff, managers and patients and carers of all ages and social backgrounds
• Ability to encourage and motivate patients
• Ability to work with people to help participation in activities
• Ability to work within agreed competency framework
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to prioritise and organise own workload
• Good problem-solving skills
• Evidence of ability to vary treatment programmes within set protocols following communication with the referring Therapist
• Able to gather and process information, and understand how to use it appropriately
• Effective organisational skills
• Able to use computer to basic level
• Commitment and ability towards partnership working with users and carers
• Ability to work positively in new and changing environments
• Able to understand own role within a team and work within scope of practice

Desirable

• Advanced computer skills eg spreadsheets, data collection

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

CSH Surrey

Address

Walton Community Hospital

Rodney Road

Walton-on-thames

Surrey

KT12 3LD

Employer's website

https://www.cshsurrey.co.uk/about-us/about-csh-surrey (Opens in a new tab)