Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIE

Role Responsibility:

To be a member of the mainstream therapies and early years therapies teams and share information with team members as directed and appropriate, keeping confidentiality at all times.

Demonstrate ability to use basic computer systems, reports and inputting data.

Ensure that up-to-date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Trust standards with guidance from supervisor.

Respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of children and their families, and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

Assist team members with liaising with other agencies involved in the childs care including: education, Social Services and Voluntary Services

Form professional relationships with children, families and children centre/school staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.

Develop skills in alternative communication methods suitable for children with severe and complex needs and develop rapport e.g. Makaton and Core Boards

To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and tools to communicate with children who are non verbal, of a non English speaking background, requiring an interpreter, with a hearing impairment, with altered emotional states, with a cognitive/learning/behavioural disability.

Report verbally to community and school therapists on the childs development and performance in therapeutic and functional skills.

Liaise with relatives and carers and other agencies involved in the childs care, as appropriate to the childs needs, as directed by team members

Report effectively any issues or concerns to supervisor/line manager

Persuade and motivate children to participate in therapy activities and reassure if required.

Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants).

Clinical Responsibility:

Undertake specific individual or group programmes as assessed and directed by trained staff members, observing general behaviour, ability and response of the children, recording the information as requested and reporting to a supervisor. Settings could include clinic, home, nursery or school.

Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote independence, safety and well-being.

Facilitate and participate in planned activities, seeking guidance if childs condition changes.

Assist in the implementation of team member interventions including:

o Assist in the running of therapy groups

o Carry out therapy programmes as directed by therapists with children and young people

o Under supervision of a therapist, provide a range of treatments; instructing and guiding children to support them in achieving identified goals. To work towards goals identified by the child, family/carers, the treating therapist, education professionals and the MDT

o Implements therapy treatment plans

o Organises transport and schedule visits or clinic appointments.

o Assist team members with home assessment

Adhere to the Trusts Policies and Procedures

To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies

Have a basic understanding of Moving and Handling Legislation and apply manual handling principles.

Assist with transfers, standing and the application of braces, splints and other equipment such as seating with support as appropriate

Ensure that toys and play materials are kept clean, safe and secure.

To support staff in gathering evidence (including research database and website searches) and developing resources.

Provide training and/or demonstrate activities and strategies to teachers/schools, with the support and guidance of therapists

To assist therapists in making and preparing clinical resources such as visual timetables

To co-ordinate the Therapy Assistant referrals from therapists in the MDT and report on the outcomes

To be responsible for toy cleaning for the team on a termly basis

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

Review and reflect own practice and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal.

Participate in non-clinical induction, training and education of students and new assistants as directed by supervisor/line manager

Administrative Duties

To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.

To support the team with clinical administrative duties such as scanning and uploading to electronic records, sending letters to families, collating clinical data including feedback questionnaires, calling families to arrange appointments, supporting therapists to organise workshops, carry out audits for team e.g toy cleaning audits and updating spreadsheets.

To attend relevant staff and service meetings.

To provide cover for other general administrative duties such as answering the telephone, and photocopying when requested.

Service Development and Improvement

Implements the Policies and Procedures that have been determined by Islington Specialist Childrens Services.

To highlight service provision problems to line manager in order to identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision

To undertake surveys or audits as directed by supervisor/line manager

Ensure that work areas are well maintained are comply with Health and Safety Guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment, cleaning and storage of materials

Responsibility for Dealing with Difficult Situations

To regularly deal with emotional circumstances with children and families to promote achievement of goals with close guidance and support

To work with children and young people who may have complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.

To identify and report concerns regarding Child Protection issues

To be able to complete required work load within time frames and deadlines set by line manager/supervisor, which may be stressful at times

To deal with children and their parents/carers with a variety of emotional conditions e.g. depression, anxiety, aggression, frustration, apathy, and cognitive/learning/behavioural disabilities and mental illness.

To deal sensitively with clients and their carers who may be distressed.

Please see attached job description for full details of role and responsibilities

Person Specification

Education/qualification

Essential

• Range of short courses relevant to client group

Desirable

• NVQ or equivalent in relevant field

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Good written communication
• High level of organisation skills
• Good IT skills

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Knowledge of developmental disorders relevant to client group e.g. developmental co-ordination disorders and sensory processing difficulties, Autistic Spectrum Condition
• Detailed knowledge of specific treatment approaches/strategies relevant to the client group
• Experience of following and monitoring goals set by a therapist and modifying therapy activities
• Experience working in a clinical role as a teaching assistant, therapy assistant or co-worker.
• Carrying out administrative duties e.g booking appointments with families
• Participating in delivering training and presentations
• basic knowledge of informal assessment techniques

Desirable

• Experience of working with babies presenting with complex conditions

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Northern Health Centre

580 Holloway Road

London

N7 6LB

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)