Rehabilitation Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Supporting Patient Excellence

Follows rehabilitation plans as directed by a therapist or Nurse to provide goal-based rehabilitation to patients within their homes or place of residence.

Assess and make recommendations for equipment, home adaptations, care provision and on-going rehabilitation, reporting these to a Therapist, Registered Nurse, or care manager.

Deliver, fit, and demonstrate basic equipment to client and appropriate others, ensuring client safety.

Implement and record planned programmes of care and rehabilitation to patients as directed by a Nurse, Therapist or Care Manager including the use of paper notes, electronic notes, telephone, email, and virtual platforms.

Support patients through instruction and guidance in a range of therapeutic activities, under the direction of a therapist, in the achievement of identified treatment goals.

To involve clients and carers in the planning of care/rehabilitation programmes and encourage self-management where appropriate.

Build professional relationships with patients, their family and carers, through use of communication, reasoning and negotiating skills, respecting others views, culture, autonomy and individuality.

Able to communicate effectively with patients who have speech, cognitive or behavioural issues and implement ways of promoting effective communication.

Listens actively to clients to establish an understanding of their needs to help them make informed decisions about their care.

Gains client trust and consent prior to procedures so can administer planned care.

To be an advocate for clients i.e., making team members aware of any concerns if it is in the clients best interest.

In an emergency, institutes an immediate response including CPR where necessary.

Supporting Clinical Excellence

Performs basic assessments, using evidence-based knowledge to recognise abnormalities in clients condition or home situation and identifies when to report back to the appropriate professional.

Assists in helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admission, promotes timely and safe discharge, proactive case management and client self-care of various chronic conditions, including stroke.

Independently carry out visits to patients homes planning day and following a timetable, making changes based on urgent need as appropriate

Provides regular feedback to the Nurse, Therapist, Care Manager or community team members to allow them to review and adapt care/treatment plans accordingly.

Seeks advice and supervision from a Therapist, Nurse or Care manager in a timely fashion to inform analysis and reasoning when complex patient situations are identified.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers, members of the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies.

Contributes to client goal planning sessions and shows initiative in areas where competent and as agreed by senior staff.

Able to communicate effectively with all members of the Community Stroke Team and the wider Stroke Pathway to support and promote team working

Liaises with other agencies using email, telephone and accurately records and transmits messages.

Manages unpredictable and/or volatile situations effectively, including the ability to undertake risk assessment prior to visiting and dealing with family members and external agencies resolving conflict where required in a sensitive and professional manner.

Works autonomously and aware of lone worker policy and ensures any information that may compromise another member of staffs safety is passed on promptly.

Plan delegated clinical and non-clinical work tasks, and prioritises duties as appropriate, in conjunction with support worker colleagues under guidance from a Therapist, Nurse or Care Manager when required

As part of a team, incorporate up to date therapy, nursing, and handling techniques into working practice

Supports and works on behalf of, different health professionals within the Community Stroke Service.

Provide effective verbal and written reports to therapists and other multi-disciplinary team members or at Multidisciplinary meetings relating to the patients performance and progress in their therapy interventions

Where barriers to understanding existing staff will need to use tact, motivational, negotiating and reassurance skills. Information received and given may be sensitive and will need to be handled in an empathic and professional manner maintaining confidentiality within Trust Policies and professional codes of conduct.

Undertakes 7-Day working on a roster basis which can include weekend and occasional overnight provision to provide overnight care.

Professional Responsibilities

Manages own delegated caseload, duties and travel throughout Northamptonshire, reprioritising as necessary.

As appropriate to level of competence, supports members of multidisciplinary team in planning and managing their own delegated caseload particularly during absence.

Feeds back information on individual clients to the team for planning purposes during caseload meetings.

Prioritises and manages own workload, expecting conflicting demands on time.

Undertake training and work within agreed competencies providing care packages to clients delegated by Therapist, Nurse or care manager as required, including;

Safely undertake moving and positioning of clients using appropriate equipment as part of rehab/care plans adhering to the Trusts Moving and Handling Policy +/- the use of equipmet such as hoists, sliding boards and handling belts.

Assisting with all activities of daily living where required using a re-enabling approach to care.

Assisting with domestic tasks using a re-enabling approach to care.

Basic wound care and wound management.

Basic catheter care.

Bowel management and stoma care.

Basic clinical observations.

Assisting with community re-integration tasks such as going to the local shops, attending appointments etc.

Undertake clinical procedures within own scope of competencies, safely and precisely utilising a variety of clinical interventions and equipment.

Promotes health and wellbeing enabling clients to access information and resources.

Recognises own limitations within agreed level of competence and seeks advice and guidance from multidisciplinary team members responsible for specific clinical or therapeutic intervention.

Policy and Service Development Responsibilities

Comply with the national, Trust and local policy, protocols and guidelines

Contribute to the Service governance arrangements including attending meetings, completing risk assessments, completing audits and attending mandatory and service specific training

Contribute towards service development activities through participation in team meetings and service development sessions

Propose changes to processes and procedures carried out within own area of work to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the service

Participate occasionally in team audit and evaluation as agreed with qualified professionals

Maintains client confidentiality at all times.

Team Vision

Our team vision was curated in collaboration with patients and staff and is:

'We work in partnership with our patients to support, enable and empower them to develop the skills and resources required to self-direct their ongoing rehabilitation so they can live meaningful, fulfilling and enjoyable lives beyond their stroke.

Patient and Family Support Service

The peer support service is a stroke survivor led service and has peer support workers who have lived experience of stroke. The Peer and Family support service aims to:

• Assist all people who have experienced a stroke to thrive post stroke and have the skills, resources, and knowledge to live a healthy, happy, meaningful, and fulfilling life beyond their stroke.
• Collaborate with patients and their families to understand their lived experience of stroke. The peer support workers provide hope and motivational support.
• Employ stroke survivors as peer support workers and volunteers to provide patients with the lived experience support that they desire during their rehabilitation journey.
• Deliver information and support using a social prescribing framework.
• Provide information in a variety of ways depending on the patients' needs.
• Assists with patient and carer onboarding and support for our online community platform 'My Stroke Hub', facilitate the online peer support catch ups and manages the hub content.
• Work closely with local charitable, voluntary, and private sector providers so that the services they access are suitable to their needs.

Now this service is funded, and as our community stroke service continues to develop and expand and we currently have a vacancy for a highly motivated Band 3 Rehabilitation Assistant to work with us as we embed these services into our offer.

You will have the ability to work on your own initiative and on your own in patients homes yet thrive working as part of a team and as a valued member of a multi-disciplinary team. You will possess excellent interpersonal skills and approach your work with energy and enthusiasm. Excellent communication skills and motivation to make a positive change to the quality of life of our local stroke survivors is essential. Experience of delegating programmes to and training support staff will be valuable as will previous community experience. The ability to adapt to virtual working will also be a valuable skill as we have a robust tele-rehabilitation service of 1:1 sessions, remote groups, and use of apps and various technologies.

We provide a countywide seven-day service and weekend working is expected.

Being a car driver is essential. There are three location teams to cover the county and elements of working from home. All staff are required to work flexibly across the county.

Person Specification

Educations, Training and Qualifications BSc Honours (or equivalent) in Occupational Th

Essential

• Good level of basic education e.g. GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Study to NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Training as an Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language or Physiotherapy clinical support worker at Band 2 or 3.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Experience working face to face with members of the public.
• Experience working as a member of a team.
• Recent NHS experience.
• Experience working in a community health or social care setting.
• Experience of working with individuals with stroke.
• Experience of working as a carer.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of Stroke.
• Basic knowledge and understanding of the role of the Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Physiotherapists in healthcare.
• Understanding/insight into the impact of illness and disability on an individual.
• Experience of working with people in a rehabilitative role.
• Experience of working with the public demonstrating good customer care skills.
• Experience of working with people with physical health requirements.
• Experience of working with people with learning difficulties and or mental health is.sues
• Awareness of risks to Health & Safety in the community.

Desirable

• Experience working as Band 2 or 3 clinical support worker within Therapies and/or stroke.
• Working in the community.
• Basic knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
• Awareness of the impact of stroke on an individual.
• Good experience of working with community health care teams.

Skills

Essential

• Skills to produce clear and concise verbal reports and written documentation of therapy interventions..
• Skills to communicate effectively with patients, carers, team members, Therapy colleagues and other agencies..
• Skills to work alongside colleagues as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to work using own initiative.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Ability to recognise own limitations and level of competency.
• Significant experience of client personal, physical and general care tasks.
• Ability to follow a rehabilitation care plan.
• Ability to complete basic wound care and clinical observations.
• Basic IT skills, including use of Word and Outlook.
• Be able to undertake frequent standing, kneeling, crouching, hoisting and other moving and handling procedures.
• Regularly move and handle clients that may require moderate physical effort, in confined spaces and often unsuitable environments, using relevant practical experience, equipment and skills that enable optimum safety and best practice..
• Evidence of good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to equality and diversity.
• Able to support clients, carers and family during times of emotional distress.
• Ability to do overnight shifts where appropriate To work overnight shifts if required in the service.

Desirable

• IT skills (keyboard, Microsoft word, email and internet).
• Ability to use virtual platforms.
• Demonstrates some understanding of the Mental Capacity Act/Deprivation of Liberties and applies principles to everyday practice seeking advice/guidance as required.

Key Competencies/Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Demonstrates appropriate emotional self-regulation and maintains professional boundaries at all times.
• Able to cope with the changing demands and unpredictable nature of the service.
• Confident manner with a positive approach and high levels of motivation.
• Motivation for continued personal development and learning new skills.
• Sensitive manner to be able to treat patients with dignity and respect.
• Non-judgemental and able to work with people from a variety of backgrounds.
• Flexible and adaptable approach to work.
• Professional manner and appearance.
• Physical ability to undertake manual handling of patients and equipment on a daily basis in a variety of environments.
• Ability to respond positively and adapt to change.
• Personal resources to cope when dealing with patients with complex conditions, acute or terminal illnesses, traumatic injuries, mental impairment and challenging behaviours on a daily basis.
• Able to adapt to change.
• Able to demonstrate personal and professional integrity.
• Willing to work to meet the needs of the service (to include evenings, weekends, bank holidays).
• Be a team player and support colleagues as required.
• Able to work autonomously at other venues. Able to travel around Northamptonshire between clients' homes and to transport equipment required.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Northamptonshire.

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

Northampton General Hospital

Address

Northampton General Hospital

Billing Road

Northampton

NN1 5BD

Employer's website

https://www.northamptongeneral.nhs.uk/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)