Community OT and Physiotherapy Assistant Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To manage and prioritise workload as delegated by the therapist.
2. Assist the occupational therapist and physiotherapist in the rehabilitation and treatment of patients using a range of therapeutic handling skills.
3. Assess patient understanding of treatment proposals, gain valid informed consent and have the capacity to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
4. Deliver individual occupational therapy and physiotherapy programmes as provided by the occupational therapist and physiotherapist and instruct patient and carers on the use of these.
5. To liaise when appropriate with the occupational therapist and physiotherapist regarding patient care. In particular highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from treatment programmes delivered.
6. To work without direct supervision in a variety of settings and to be responsible for assessing patient progress and reporting back to the occupational therapist/physiotherapist.
7. To undertake highly skilled support work to treat patients, either individually or in a group, without the direct supervision or presence of an occupational therapist or physiotherapist, making decisions relating to clinical presentation.
8. To visit children in homes, schools and other settings, instructing parents and carers on the use of specialist equipment and to carry out safety checking of this equipment.
9. To organise the repair and maintenance of occupational therapy and physiotherapy equipment.
10. Use effective communication tools, verbal and nonverbal to communicate treatment programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communicating. E.g. visual impairment, hearing impairment, severe learning difficulties, or who do not have English as a first language.
11. Communicate sensitive information effectively to patients, carers and multiagency staff and report any relevant details back to physiotherapist maintaining confidentiality at all times.
12. To be able to respond to questions from parents, carers and other agencies appropriately but recognise the need to report and refer back to the occupational therapist/physiotherapist as necessary.
13. To support the delivery of any workshops or training to parents, carers and other professionals.
14. Contribute to patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or other appropriate meetings and participate in the discussion on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision.
15. Attend multidisciplinary clinics as the occupational therapist/physiotherapy representative for individual children as delegated by the therapist. E.g. Orthotics clinics.

Organisational

1. To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and departmental requirements.
2. To be able to receive, transmit, store and retrieve information either on paper, verbally or electronically and have good keyboard skills.
3. To monitor and order both clinical and non-clinical supplies for the department. To participate in the use of the ordering systems.
4. To be actively involved in the collection of data and statistics for the use of the department from within a specific area of work.
5. To participate in any audits and surveys within the department as required by the Trust.
6. To have knowledge of and comply with organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
7. To carry out safety checks of occupational therapy and physiotherapy equipment within a designated area and report and deal with faults accordingly.
8. Be responsible for departmental administrative arrangements as required e.g. booking meeting rooms etc.
9. To be responsible for the safe use of occupational therapy and physiotherapy equipment and aids used by patients in your care, including specialist seating, standing frames, mobility aids and orthotics.
10. To implement the equipment policy in terms of distribution, monitoring and recording.
11. To be responsible for ensuring that occupational therapy and physiotherapy equipment and aids used by patients are safe and that patients and carers have been instructed and are competent in their use.
12. To attend Mandatory Training required by the Trust and incorporate within working practices. This includes Safeguarding and Child Protection Training and work in accordance with the national guidelines.
13. All individuals will have some risk management responsibilities with which you are required to comply, for details of your responsibilities please refer to the current Risk management strategy which is available on the intranet and in the local strategies folder.
14. The Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust is committed to supporting all staff to balance work and other life needs. This is the responsibility of all employees and will be achieved by consultation, open communication and involvement of all team members.

Professional and Legal

1. To participate in in-service training, meetings and internal/external courses to develop knowledge and understanding on various conditions and occupational therapy and physiotherapy techniques.
2. To take a lead role in the training of newly appointed occupational therapy and physiotherapy assistants in basic elements of patient care, safety and inducting them into the department and support other assistants across the service.
3. To be aware of Health and Safety aspects of your work and adhere to appropriate policies which are required to ensure safe working practises including prompt recording of accidents and incidents to senior staff and contributing to risk assessments.
4. Actively participate in the PDR process in order to identify personal development plans and training needs.
5. Maintain own professional development by keeping abreast of new practises and techniques to achieve a high standard.
6. To be accountable for all aspects of own work.

Communication

1. To provide and receive complex information in relation to the child, their current presentation and needs.

1. To be able to provide information related to the child and their occupational therapy/physiotherapy programme to parents, carers and education staff.

1. To be able to provide information related to a childs equipment and provide handover, training and support on the use of the equipment to parents, carers and education staff.

1. To be able to adapt communication style and approach to ensure that information is shared appropriately.

1. To identify and arrange additional support for parents and carers where there are potential barriers to communication e.g use of an interpreter.

Physical skills

The post holder will be expected to carry out the following for several long periods on a daily basis at an intense level.

• Moving and Handling patients.
• Assisting patients to move functionally.
• Transferring patients.
• Supporting patients whilst walking.
• Therapeutic handling.
• Resisted exercise.
• Using and adjustment of specialist equipment e.g, standing frames.
• Pushing wheelchairs and specialist equipment.
• Transporting heavy and bulky equipment on home visits.
• Working at a variety of different heights often on the floor.
• Working in awkward positions.
• Physical ability to demonstrate activities and exercise programme.
• Fine manual dexterity during therapy programmes.

Responsibility for policy/service development

1. To be aware of Trust Policies and Procedures and Departmental Guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for all aspects of work. To adhere to these Policies and Procedures to ensure safe working practises and escalation of any issues to senior staff and managers.

1. Where appropriate; to contribute to review and development of Policies and Procedures and make comments and suggestions on any proposals.

Responsibility for human resources

1. To demonstrate work related tasks and activities to new or less experienced employees.

1. To support the roll out of moving and handling training within the department, following adequate training.

1. Provide training in own area of practice to other members of the team.

Responsibility for research and development

1. To participate in Trust and Departmental Audits.

1. To contribute to development of audit ideas and tools, as required.

1. To be aware of research practices within the department and to contribute as appropriate.

Education and Training

Essential

• NVQ III or equivalent experience.
• Educated to GCSE level or equivalent.

Desirable

• Level 5 Assistant Practitioner Qualification or be prepared to work towards.

Experience

Essential

• Significant demonstrable experience as a Therapy Assistant (Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy).
• Evidence of working in a caring environment with children.
• Experience working with children with a disability/learning disability.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a community setting.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of the occupational therapy and physiotherapy role within a community therapy service.
• A basic working knowledge and understanding of a range of medical and health conditions and presentations which may impact on a child's development and functioning.
• Knowledge of physiotherapy and occupational therapy management strategies and activities.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and child protection processes.
• Evidence of attendance on relevant courses.
• Knowledge of moving and handling principles.
• Detailed knowledge of specialised therapy equipment, and the ability to carry out demonstrations, maintenance and safety checks.
• Ability to recognise and interpret changes in the presentation of patients.
• Ability to adapt and adjust agreed treatment plans under the direction of a qualified therapist
• Knowledge of good record keeping practices and proven ability to keep accurate and legible patient records and statistical information.

Desirable

• Be able to recognise the differing needs of individual children.

Skills

Essential

• To be able to work with minimal supervision.
• To be flexible and able to work in a variety of community settings.
• Evidence of excellent communication skills both written and verbal, enabling the post holder to communicate with professionals, carers and children and those who have communication difficulties.
• Physical ability to carry out any therapeutic handling required.
• Ability to carry out agreed treatment plans under the direction of a qualified therapist.
• A good level of IT skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own time and commitments.
• Ability to take the lead role in supporting other physiotherapy assistants.
• Participation in research and audit within the service.
• Proven commitment to CPD and ongoing training.
• Understand the concept of confidentiality.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Proven ability to complement the dynamics of the existing team.
• The ability to work flexibly

Desirable

• Innovative in approach and outlook.

Other

Essential

• Driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• Ability to travel between locations in the community

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).