Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Communication

1. Exchange and communicate factual information to patients using encouragement, reassurance and tact and overcome barriers to understanding with patients whose understanding is impaired.

2. Maintain accurate, objective up to date patient records according to Trust standards.

3. Use a range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to communicate effectively with patients, to progress rehabilitation and treatment programmes.

4. Receive and provide routine information to staff, patients and carers.

5. Accept and relay information / messages to / from registered staff, verbally, electronically and in writing as requested.

6. To communicate effectively with registered staff to feedback about patient caseload/progress.

7. To participate in regular meetings with other members of the therapy team and multidisciplinary team.

8. To deal effectively with patients who have a range of communication and behavioural needs.

9. On an informal basis, to promote the profile of Therapies in the Trust.

Clinical Responsibilities

1. Within specific guidelines and following training, be responsible and accountable for a clinical caseload working within codes of practise and professional guidelines.

2. To complete ward round and triage clinical inpatient referrals for maternity and gynaecology patients. Prioritise according to protocol.

3. To deliver care, advice and education to patients within therapy assistant scope of practice (according to protocol). In particular, to independently assess and provide early post-natal management advice to women on the post-natal ward, or following discharge, for the following patient types/conditions:

i. Following vaginal or caesarean section birth

ii. Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) / 3rd/4th degree tears

iii. Diastasis rectus abdominus (DRAM)

iv. Pelvic floor conditions including incontinence (urinary and faecal) and pelvic organ prolapse

v. Post-natal pelvic girdle pain

4. To run antenatal and post-natal classes, both face-to-face and virtual, providing specific pre-set information as determined by the Womens and Mens Health Physiotherapy service.

5. To understand a range of labour procedures (e.g. episiotomy, forceps, ventouse, caesarean, 1st and 2nd degree perineal tear) and gynaecological procedures (e.g. pelvic floor repair, abdominal/vaginal hysterectomy). To give simple explanations to patients as required.

6. To work as a collaborative member of the MDT and be a point of contact for midwives, nurses, doctors and administrative staff. To effectively escalate any issues outside of own scope of practise to qualified physiotherapist or service lead.

7. To report relevant changes in patient status to update or seek advice from a qualified physiotherapist.

8. To recognise and work within scope of practice.

9. To recognise risk and be responsible for the undertaking and documenting of risk assessments of patients under his / her care.

10. To be able to recognise signs of psychological / emotional difficulties, escalating concerns where needed, to ensure the patient receives appropriate support.

11. To work flexibly and be able to adjust to the constantly changing demands of the departments.

12. To have holistic understanding of patient and family dynamics, the patients condition and its impact on their functional ability.

13. To undertake specific activities relevant to the clinical area which demonstrate advanced technical skills that have required specific training.

14. To provide patient centred and effective clinical interventions, respecting patient choice and dignity, and working with a multidisciplinary team approach to achieving patient goals.

15. To assess patients understanding of treatment proposals to gain valid informed consent according to Trust Policy and the mental capacity act.

16. Liaise effectively by establishing and maintaining professional working relationships with other members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, and relatives. This may include staff from other agencies or localities when a patients care is being transferred.

17. To recognise emergency situations and act accordingly working within Trust procedures and protocols.

Professional

1. Work to support therapists in adhering to professional standards and Trust procedures and policies.

Planning and Organisational Skills

1. To manage own day to day work tasks and prioritise with reference to registered practitioner.

2. Work with other registered practitioners across the Trust to support the Therapies Team

3. To assist therapists arranging in-service training, study days etc.

4. To participate in appropriate Clinical Governance activities such as Risk Management, as directed by a registered clinician.

5. Prioritise delegated workload and be responsible for own effective time management.

Service and Personal Development

1. To work within relevant professional standards of practice (CSP, RCOT) adhering to Trust procedures and being prepared to comment on proposals for change.

2. To participate in the development of the therapy services with registered practitioners.

3. To participate actively in sharing and receiving in-service training and development, to ensure continuous professional development, as appropriate to grade and experience.

4. To assist therapists with inducting new staff to the department.

5. Demonstrate non-clinical and clinical duties to new starters.

6. To undertake administration tasks to support the therapy services as requested.

7. Attend annual mandatory training in line with Trust policies.

8. To actively participate in continuing professional development to further own learning and personal development, including regular supervision, peer review and annual appraisal.

9. To record continuing professional development in own portfolio, linked to the annual appraisal and personal development plan.

10. To share learning, skills and knowledge with other staff members and students.

11. To be aware of own limitations and ensure that no task or procedure is carried out until necessary training has been received.

12. To contribute towards service reviews and audit and research and development within Therapy services.

Information and Resource Management

1. To record personally generated clinical observations.

2. Ensure all equipment is used appropriately and safely, according to service guidelines and educate other staff members where necessary.

3. Maintain therapy stock levels.

4. Observe a personal duty of care when using equipment.

5. To be aware of criteria for provision of equipment from other organisations in Oxfordshire, and to abide by this criteria.

6. To compile record and collate accurate statistics for treatment interventions in a timely manner accordance with the Therapy guideline and the needs of the service.

7. To be competent using the online equipment ordering system.

8. To use the Trust intranet, EPR systems, PAS and data bases as appropriate for the speciality.

9. To be able to use e-mail for communications across the sites, and to use the therapy IT system for sharing / using information.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Skills

Essential

• oProven educational standard to GCSE in English and Maths at Grade C or above (or the equivalent)
• oEducated to A-Level / NVQ 4 / BTEC or equivalent e.g., NVQ 3 plus substantive experience working in a care setting.
• oCare certificate or willing to work towards this.

Experience

Essential

• oHave experience working within a health or social care services setting.
• oDemonstrate an understanding of the therapy assistant role gained through previous employment or work experience.
• oBe able to communicate effectively using verbal, non-verbal, and written methods.

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

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Churchill Hospital

Old Road

Headington, Oxford

OX3 7LE

Employer's website

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