Job summary
This is an opportunity for Assistant Practitioner with experience to be part of the North Home First rehabilitation service, providing high quality rehabilitation to patients with a range of physical health conditions. This will include MSK, Stroke, Parkinson's disease, Neurological conditions, Spinal Injuries, Cancer, Post Surgery, General Frailty, Amputees, plus a wide range of other conditions.
The post holder will work jointly alongside qualified therapists with complex patients and will work autonomously within their scope of practice. This is a dynamic post which will be evaluated and adjusted to reflect the needs of the service, local population and feedback from users and staff, including the post holder themselves.
Main duties of the job
The role involves managing a caseload of adults in close liaison with the Home First Team. Many of these patients will have multiple complex health needs. Within scope of practice this role provides the opportunity for the post holder to undertake independent, holistic assessments with service users in their normal place of residence using manual assessment techniques, analytical and clinical reasoning skills. The role will involve recording daily documentation in patient notes (paper and/or electronic) the regular recording and analysing of outcome measure data and the completion of discharge summaries.
TheAssistant Practitioner role supports the work of a range of different professions ensuring that the individuals' physical, psychological, and emotional needs and preferences are met.
About us
By joining Team MPFT, you will be helping your communities and in return for this, we will support you by;
- Supporting your career development and progression
- Excellent NHS Pension scheme
- Generous maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Options for flexible working
- Up to 27 days annual leave (increasing with service up to 33 days) and the opportunity to purchase additional leave
- Extensive Health and Wellbeing support and resources
- If you work in our community teams, we pay for your time travelling between patients
- Lease car if you complete more than 500 business miles per annum, fully insured and maintained (including tyres), mileage paid at lease car rate
- Salary sacrifice car - fully insured and maintained (including tyres), your gross pay is reduced by the cost of the vehicle before tax, NI and pension deductions are calculated, milage paid at business rates
- Salary sacrifice bikes up to £2k
- Free car parking at all trust sites
- Free flu vaccinations every year
- Citizens Advice support linked with a Hardship Fund for one off additional support up to £250 (if the criteria is met)
And more. We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive organisation and there is a choice of staff networks that help you meet like-minded people.
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
ClinicalResponsibilities
- To carry out and progress rehabilitation programmes set by qualified therapists
- To complete secondary assessments following hospital discharge, including triage, subjective and objective assessments for appropriate patients. Within the scope of practice and competency for the role, responsible for identifying clinical need for input from MDT. To set and review SMART goals for individual patients.
- To discharge appropriate patients from the service, following appropriate pathways, completing appropriate onward referrals, completing timely discharge summaries and to signpost to community and voluntary groups.
- To educate and empower patients to adopt self-management strategies
- To be able to complete basic observations and skin integrity for a patient (e.g. NEWS 2, blood pressure, SaO2), to be able to recognise and acutely unwell patient and to be able to escalate concerns appropriately
- To assess equipment needs, order and review equipment and complete appropriate risk assessments
- To complete clinical outcome measures during 1:1 sessions and MDT review sessions
- To undertake planned lone visits, routinely monitoring risk factors which may include:
-
- The individuals home environment
- Provision of follow up practical support or educational information
- Providing information re adapting functional activities to minimise safety risks
- Communicating all results / observations / findings / concerns to the appropriate registered health or social care professional including safeguarding concerns
- Demonstrate understanding of the common rehabilitation approaches used with our cohort of patients (e.g. normal movement, exercise therapy, spasticity management) and demonstrate good safety awareness and knowledge of contraindications to treatment, with training and support if required
- To train individuals and carers on the safe use of assistive aides, equipment and assistive technology on a regular basis
Administration/ managerial:
To report and document changes in condition, maintain accurate and contemporaneous records, in hand-written or electronic format in line with Trust policy and the Data Protection Act
- Ensure that there is feedback to the appropriate or responsible registered healthcare professional. This is a vital function of the Assistant Therapy Practitioner role
- To manage your own clinical caseload and diary, demonstrating good time management skills
- To attend and actively participate in team meetings/peer support and appropriate education and training to ensure continuing professional development
- To prepare for and participate in personal objectives through appraisal and supervision
- To assist as appropriate in the induction of new staff into the team and in education of student and professionals temporarily allocated to the team
- To attend statutory and mandatory training as outlined by the Trust
- To assist in general administrative duties, including recording of statistical information, filing and photocopying, making appointments, answering the telephone, and dealing with enquiries when required
Systems and Equipment
- To competently use a range of equipment e.g. hoist, Mo-lift, Standing Frame with appropriate training if required
- Demonstrate awareness of contraindications and cautions associated with use of equipment
- To manage and maintain the peripheral store
- To share responsibility for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and health and safety are maintained
- To report any defects in equipment, near misses, accidents or untoward incidents following Trust guidelines and procedures
- To be responsible for inputting clinical data onto the relevant clinical systems
Decisions and judgments
- To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective reflection, supervision, and appraisal
- Within the scope of practice and competency for the role, responsible for identifying clinical need for input from MDT
- To be able to us sound reasoning skills when delivering and progressing treatment programmes
- To demonstrate good time management, punctuality, and proficient working
- To take into account views and wishes of clients, carers and families respecting their diversity
- To prioritise a varied workload to meet the changing needs of the service
Communication and relationships
To demonstrate excellent communication skills with the Multidisciplinary Team
- To demonstrate excellent communication skills with patients, who often have complex communication difficulties, cognitive deficits, or mental health problems
- To establish good therapeutic relationships with individuals and orientate their activities towards successful rehabilitation, maximising levels of function within choice and condition
- To adhere to the Trust vision and behaviours
- To treat all individuals with respect and maintain privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times
- To develop and maintain a good working relationship with other team members in health and social care
Physical Demands of the Job
Daily moving and handling of individuals with varying physical and cognitive abilities that may be inconsistent and unpredictable e.g. mobilising, transferring, ADL practice and outdoor mobility
- To kneel, twist and bend on a regular basis often within confirmed spaces of a patients own home when completing assessments and treatments. To be able to kneel and move into safe position of support for individualised patient needs.
- To be required to adopt awkward positions at times when carrying equipment to a patients normal place or residence and during the fitting of the item/s
- Daily moving and handling of equipment that may need moving up / downstairs to meet patient needs that can be unwieldy and heavy in and out of cars g. walking aids, wheelchairs, hoists, commodes
- To use observation, listening and tactile skills in all therapeutic interventions in order to monitor progress and feedback appropriately
- Daily driving
- Daily IT inputting
- To be prepared to work at any location within the locality to accommodate he needs of the service.
Most challenging/difficult parts of the job
Working with patients with complex physical disabilities, requiring skilled handling and treatment
- Regular lone working
- Occasionally working and dealing with bodily fluids during personal care activities
- Occasionally dealing with clients with continence issues
- Occasionally working in unsanitary conditions, beyond control of the Trust
- Working with patients/carers with chronic or terminal illness using empathy, tact and diplomacy
- May be exposed to frequent distressing or emotional situations
- Occasionally working with verbal abuse, from upset aggressive, uncooperative clients or carers including dealing with volatile family dynamics
- Driving and navigating in all weather conditions
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria - Qualifications
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social Care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths or equivalent
- Good written and spoken English
Essential Criteria -Experience
- Considerable recent practice as a therapy assistant working in the NHS / Private Sector
- Working with patients with nursing, therapy or social care needs
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Working with care / treatment plans
- Working in a changing environment
Essential Criteria - Skills, Knowledge & abilities
- Working in a team environment
- Ability to work independently but report back to a team
- Safeguarding others
- Moving and handling
- Different methods of communication
- Assessment and provision of equipment
- Demonstrate effective communication and listening skills
- Demonstrate written skills that are accurate and legible
- Demonstrate numeracy skills
- Basic I.T skills
- Undertakes tasks in a variety of physical settings and positions
- Demonstrate individual responsibility in respect of health and safety
- Telephone and message taking skills
Essential Criteria - Personal Attributes
- Access to a car for work purposes
- Excellent communication skills
- An approachable manner
- Flexibility and ability to work 37.5 hours with the possibility of bank holidays, weekend working and working until 20:00 hrs
- Able to demonstrate empathy to others
- Commitment to team working and empowering others
- Self-motivation when working independently
- Respect confidentiality
- Non-judgmental, values the diversity of individuals within the team and patients
- Able to demonstrate the ability to motivate others
- High level of self-awareness
- Trustworthy and reliable
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
ClinicalResponsibilities
- To carry out and progress rehabilitation programmes set by qualified therapists
- To complete secondary assessments following hospital discharge, including triage, subjective and objective assessments for appropriate patients. Within the scope of practice and competency for the role, responsible for identifying clinical need for input from MDT. To set and review SMART goals for individual patients.
- To discharge appropriate patients from the service, following appropriate pathways, completing appropriate onward referrals, completing timely discharge summaries and to signpost to community and voluntary groups.
- To educate and empower patients to adopt self-management strategies
- To be able to complete basic observations and skin integrity for a patient (e.g. NEWS 2, blood pressure, SaO2), to be able to recognise and acutely unwell patient and to be able to escalate concerns appropriately
- To assess equipment needs, order and review equipment and complete appropriate risk assessments
- To complete clinical outcome measures during 1:1 sessions and MDT review sessions
- To undertake planned lone visits, routinely monitoring risk factors which may include:
-
- The individuals home environment
- Provision of follow up practical support or educational information
- Providing information re adapting functional activities to minimise safety risks
- Communicating all results / observations / findings / concerns to the appropriate registered health or social care professional including safeguarding concerns
- Demonstrate understanding of the common rehabilitation approaches used with our cohort of patients (e.g. normal movement, exercise therapy, spasticity management) and demonstrate good safety awareness and knowledge of contraindications to treatment, with training and support if required
- To train individuals and carers on the safe use of assistive aides, equipment and assistive technology on a regular basis
Administration/ managerial:
To report and document changes in condition, maintain accurate and contemporaneous records, in hand-written or electronic format in line with Trust policy and the Data Protection Act
- Ensure that there is feedback to the appropriate or responsible registered healthcare professional. This is a vital function of the Assistant Therapy Practitioner role
- To manage your own clinical caseload and diary, demonstrating good time management skills
- To attend and actively participate in team meetings/peer support and appropriate education and training to ensure continuing professional development
- To prepare for and participate in personal objectives through appraisal and supervision
- To assist as appropriate in the induction of new staff into the team and in education of student and professionals temporarily allocated to the team
- To attend statutory and mandatory training as outlined by the Trust
- To assist in general administrative duties, including recording of statistical information, filing and photocopying, making appointments, answering the telephone, and dealing with enquiries when required
Systems and Equipment
- To competently use a range of equipment e.g. hoist, Mo-lift, Standing Frame with appropriate training if required
- Demonstrate awareness of contraindications and cautions associated with use of equipment
- To manage and maintain the peripheral store
- To share responsibility for the security, care and maintenance of equipment ensuring standards of infection control and health and safety are maintained
- To report any defects in equipment, near misses, accidents or untoward incidents following Trust guidelines and procedures
- To be responsible for inputting clinical data onto the relevant clinical systems
Decisions and judgments
- To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective reflection, supervision, and appraisal
- Within the scope of practice and competency for the role, responsible for identifying clinical need for input from MDT
- To be able to us sound reasoning skills when delivering and progressing treatment programmes
- To demonstrate good time management, punctuality, and proficient working
- To take into account views and wishes of clients, carers and families respecting their diversity
- To prioritise a varied workload to meet the changing needs of the service
Communication and relationships
To demonstrate excellent communication skills with the Multidisciplinary Team
- To demonstrate excellent communication skills with patients, who often have complex communication difficulties, cognitive deficits, or mental health problems
- To establish good therapeutic relationships with individuals and orientate their activities towards successful rehabilitation, maximising levels of function within choice and condition
- To adhere to the Trust vision and behaviours
- To treat all individuals with respect and maintain privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times
- To develop and maintain a good working relationship with other team members in health and social care
Physical Demands of the Job
Daily moving and handling of individuals with varying physical and cognitive abilities that may be inconsistent and unpredictable e.g. mobilising, transferring, ADL practice and outdoor mobility
- To kneel, twist and bend on a regular basis often within confirmed spaces of a patients own home when completing assessments and treatments. To be able to kneel and move into safe position of support for individualised patient needs.
- To be required to adopt awkward positions at times when carrying equipment to a patients normal place or residence and during the fitting of the item/s
- Daily moving and handling of equipment that may need moving up / downstairs to meet patient needs that can be unwieldy and heavy in and out of cars g. walking aids, wheelchairs, hoists, commodes
- To use observation, listening and tactile skills in all therapeutic interventions in order to monitor progress and feedback appropriately
- Daily driving
- Daily IT inputting
- To be prepared to work at any location within the locality to accommodate he needs of the service.
Most challenging/difficult parts of the job
Working with patients with complex physical disabilities, requiring skilled handling and treatment
- Regular lone working
- Occasionally working and dealing with bodily fluids during personal care activities
- Occasionally dealing with clients with continence issues
- Occasionally working in unsanitary conditions, beyond control of the Trust
- Working with patients/carers with chronic or terminal illness using empathy, tact and diplomacy
- May be exposed to frequent distressing or emotional situations
- Occasionally working with verbal abuse, from upset aggressive, uncooperative clients or carers including dealing with volatile family dynamics
- Driving and navigating in all weather conditions
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria - Qualifications
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social Care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE grade C or above in English and Maths or equivalent
- Good written and spoken English
Essential Criteria -Experience
- Considerable recent practice as a therapy assistant working in the NHS / Private Sector
- Working with patients with nursing, therapy or social care needs
- Working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Working with care / treatment plans
- Working in a changing environment
Essential Criteria - Skills, Knowledge & abilities
- Working in a team environment
- Ability to work independently but report back to a team
- Safeguarding others
- Moving and handling
- Different methods of communication
- Assessment and provision of equipment
- Demonstrate effective communication and listening skills
- Demonstrate written skills that are accurate and legible
- Demonstrate numeracy skills
- Basic I.T skills
- Undertakes tasks in a variety of physical settings and positions
- Demonstrate individual responsibility in respect of health and safety
- Telephone and message taking skills
Essential Criteria - Personal Attributes
- Access to a car for work purposes
- Excellent communication skills
- An approachable manner
- Flexibility and ability to work 37.5 hours with the possibility of bank holidays, weekend working and working until 20:00 hrs
- Able to demonstrate empathy to others
- Commitment to team working and empowering others
- Self-motivation when working independently
- Respect confidentiality
- Non-judgmental, values the diversity of individuals within the team and patients
- Able to demonstrate the ability to motivate others
- High level of self-awareness
- Trustworthy and reliable
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths or equivalent
Desirable
- Further courses appropriate to rehabilitation e.g. Upper limb course, Bobath based courses
- Has attended in service training events related to rehabilitation / neurology
Essential
Essential
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social Care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English or equivalent
- Good written and spoken English
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Considerable recent practice as a therapy assistant working in the NHS / Private Secor
- Working with patients with nursing, therapy, or social care needs
- Working with care / treatment plans
- Working in a changing environment
Desirable
- Further courses appropriate to rehabilitation e.g. Upper limb course, Bobath based courses
- Working in community rehabilitation
- Experience of working with individuals with complex communication, cognitive and mental health needs
- Experience of working with palliative patients
- Basic knowledge of normal movement, spasticity and rehabilitation approaches
- Medical conditions and disease processes e.g. Stroke, Diabetes, Sclerosis
Person Specification
Essential
Essential
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE Grade C or above in English and Maths or equivalent
Desirable
- Further courses appropriate to rehabilitation e.g. Upper limb course, Bobath based courses
- Has attended in service training events related to rehabilitation / neurology
Essential
Essential
- NVQ Level III in Health and Social Care or a Foundation Degree in Health and Social Care or the equivalent level of knowledge and skills acquired through experience
- GCSE grade C or above in Maths and English or equivalent
- Good written and spoken English
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Considerable recent practice as a therapy assistant working in the NHS / Private Secor
- Working with patients with nursing, therapy, or social care needs
- Working with care / treatment plans
- Working in a changing environment
Desirable
- Further courses appropriate to rehabilitation e.g. Upper limb course, Bobath based courses
- Working in community rehabilitation
- Experience of working with individuals with complex communication, cognitive and mental health needs
- Experience of working with palliative patients
- Basic knowledge of normal movement, spasticity and rehabilitation approaches
- Medical conditions and disease processes e.g. Stroke, Diabetes, Sclerosis
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
