Deconditioning Therapy Support Worker, Band 3

Job description

Job responsibilities

To work as an integral member of the therapy team using the principles of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in an integrated and client-centred way. The post holder will implement assessments and treatment plans to promote independence through the use of occupation, exercise and physical modalities, taking into consideration a persons affect and cognition.

To implement and progress delegated treatment programs using clinical reasoning skills to include the teaching of patients on functional exercise, the issuing and fitting of equipment and the practice of activities of daily living. It will also include assessing patients in the safe use of mobility aids, such as safety on the stairs and personal care.

To assess patients with non-complex mobility and occupational difficulties. To instruct and motivate patients in accordance with the therapy plan, in order to achieve goals set by the registered practitioner, monitoring the patients condition at all times.

To undertake specific unaccompanied work and organise own caseload comprising of patients with predictable and unpredictable conditions. To monitor and report back to the registered practitioner and/or other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), regarding progress and changes in the patients condition or deviation in the expected care pathway, to ensure safety, the achievement of agreed goals and planning safe discharge.

To use verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients/carers. This may include education, motivation, persuasion, and empowerment. This will include patients/carers who may or may not have barriers to communication through cognitive or physical impairment e.g., hearing or visual impairment, confusion and depression.

To prepare the clinical area and the patient, for delivery of safe and effective treatments in a clean environment e.g. securing drips, drains, wounds and catheters and maintain treatment and storage areas to ensure compliance with Health and Safety and Infection Control standards. To monitor and maintain stock levels of equipment and consumables to ensure smooth service delivery.

To participate in own continuing professional development (CPD), including supervision, appraisal and training to ensure competency, service quality and meet the clinical governance agenda and organisational goals.

To undertake administrative and housekeeping tasks to support the Therapy team and ensure the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the patient. To include making accurate and legible entries in the therapy and multidisciplinary patient records. To contribute to measuring the treatment outcomes and audit activity related to the service. To use computer systems related to patient care for purposes of recording information and ordering equipment.

To participate in the weekend working rota where applicable, following a period of induction, training and assessment.

To comply with Trust and Departmental policies and procedures e.g. Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Manual Handling, clinical equipment competency, risk management, Data Protection Acts and patient confidentiality at all times. This will include demonstrating compliance with the terms of all safeguarding policies and processes relevant to the safeguarding of adults and children in the care of GHNHSFT and to undergo regular mandatory training concerned with safeguarding matters.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE level C Maths and English
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent and experience/skills

Experience

Essential

• Relevant experience as a physiotherapy or occupational therapy support worker working in the NHS or other care setting in the UK

Desirable

• Valid UK Driving License

Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrate effective communication and interpersonal skills, both verbal and non-verbal and written when interacting with staff, patients, relatives and carers
• Produce accurate and legible documentation of treatments
• Form professional relationships with clients who may need motivating and encouraging, in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
• Work flexibly in response to the changing demands of the service.
• Demonstrate an ability to act on own initiative when working independently in challenging environments.

Desirable

• Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, with self-awareness of own knowledge and learning needs and ability to seek support appropriately.

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

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Gloucester Royal Hospital & Cheltenham General Hospital

Great Western Road

Gloucester

GL1 3NN

Employer's website

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