Community Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Areas of Responsibility1. To contribute to the delivery of care packages for patients with long term conditions, palliative care and rehabilitation needs for example, to achieve quality of life and independence where possible.2. To work within the integrated team to facilitate early discharge from hospital.3. To work within the integrated team to prevent unnecessary admission to hospital4. To work with all health care professionals, and statutory/non statutory agencies to provide a seamless, integrated service to our service users.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIESClinicalThe post holder will:1. Assess patients with straightforward requirements based on predetermined department protocols.2. Prepare for, carry out and monitor assessments and treatments in specified clinical areas, and discharge in line with predetermined department protocols.3. Apply competency-based treatment techniques/care to patients with specific conditions under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.4. Modify and progress intervention / treatment using own clinical reasoning, notifying a qualified practitioner accordingly.5. Prepare for and develop individual/group activities to meet defined intervention needs.6. Monitor patients and promptly alert a qualified practitioner when there are unexpected changes.7. Demonstrate problem solving, and contribute to the solution, working with colleagues.8. Make basic judgements on patients response to prescribed treatment, and report findings to a qualified practitioner.9. Plan and prioritise own visits to delegated patients and ensure these aredocumented in personal work diary.10. Ensure patient held records are completed for each visit, and that SystmOne inputting is completed on a daily basis.11. Where there are barriers to understanding, such as hearing impairment, mental capacity impairment and other difficulties in comprehension, explanations require adjustments in order to gain understanding, consent and concordance.12. Be required to use tact and persuasive skills in order to gain the patients cooperation in their treatment/care/management plan.13. Liaise with GPs, Social Services, inpatient teams, other allied health careprofessionals and the voluntary sector to ensure identified needs are met and care co-ordinated appropriately.14. To participate in multi-disciplinary/multi-agency meetings as appropriate, e.g. Gold Standard Framework.15. Communicate with patients/carers by exchanging factual information, reassurance, tact and empathy.16. Establish and maintain appropriate working relationships with colleagues, patients, carers and other health care professionals.17. Demonstrate dexterity and coordination when undertaking treatment of patients where accuracy is important, e.g., taking blood sugars, venepuncture, supervising transfers, passive exercises.

18. Be responsible for ensuring equipment is used safely, following appropriate training, and that it is maintained appropriately.19. Contribute to the requisitioning of supplies and equipment through electronic ordering systems.20. Work predominantly independently on specified tasks, with regular clinical support and supervision by a qualified practitioner.21. Work with qualified practitioners with group work/clinics as required.22. Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of consent and gain consent as appropriate following department policy.23. Share responsibility for maintaining store cupboards, pool cars, cleaning specialist equipment and general housekeeping tasks.24. Share responsibility for indirect patient contact tasks, such as, answering telephones, arranging appointments, processing referrals and inputting activity data.25. Will be exposed to bodily fluids, infected material, blood products on a daily basis, therefore must utilise universal precautions and adhere to infection control policies.26. Demonstrate basic IT and standard keyboard skills.

ProfessionalThe post holder will:1. To be an active member of the in-service training programme by attendance at and participation in staff meetings, training sessions, courses and reflective practice.2. To participate in the staff appraisal scheme as an appraisee, maintaining a dynamic personal development plan.3. To demonstrate an awareness of clinical governance and risk management and apply to work situations.4. To provide peer support to other carers.5. To develop competencies to enhance practice and ability to meet needs of patients and the service.

Communication1. To establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with patients and carers, incorporating motivation, encouragement and confidence building.2. To demonstrate an ability to communicate with patients/carers with complex needs, using clear and effective verbal/non-verbal communication.3. To gather and collate information to enable co-ordinator to plan interventions/liaison with others.4. To provide direct feedback to professionals as appropriate, and in a clear and concise way.5. To contribute to accurate and timely patient records, including data collection.6. To communicate and share information with DNs, GPs and SWs as necessary.8. Be able to communicate effectively with patients/relatives with communication difficulties i.e., deafness, blindness, learning difficulties.9. To provide feedback to co-ordinator in a clear and concise way.

OrganisationalThe post holder will:1. Undertake mandatory training as required.2. Participate in a Personal Development Review process.3. Undertake Personal Development Plans for more junior staff members.4. Take part in clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.5. Follow Trust policies, and local procedures.

6. Ensure absence reporting is undertaken as determined by Team Leader and Trust Policy.7. Contribute to clinical audit as required.8. Complete the staff survey as required.9. Complete risk assessments and incident forms as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ 3 or equivalent knowledge and experience
• Foundation degree programme, or equivalent demonstrable knowledge and skills acquired through training and experience
• Good general education
• Experience of working in a health or social care setting

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with people, in the statutory/voluntary/private sector
• Evidence of ongoing learning
• Experience of lone working / decision making
• Experience of working with people at the End of life

Desirable

• Experience of working in people's homes

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of additional specialist areas through in-house training & short courses
• Highly motivated
• Good communication skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of multi-disciplinary team roles.
• Experience of working in a community setting.

Communication

Essential

• Tact & diplomacy
• Empathy & sensitivity
• Ability to use own initiative
• Able to communicate effectively using the English language in both verbal and written forms

Personal and People Development

Essential

• Ability to manage stressful situations
• A team player
• Awareness of own limitations
• Good organisational skills
• Open to change and development

Personal Attributes / Behaviours

Essential

• Able to identify with the Trust's commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
• Able to show initiative
• Able to work alone
• Assertive
• Good listening skills

Other

Essential

• Be able to: Kneel, bend & stoop, and work in cramped environments,Manoeuvre limbs of around 5-6kg, Manoeuvre patients using handling aids
• Be reliable
• Must have a full UK driving license and have access to a vehicle

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

Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust

Address

Wymondham Health Centre

Wymondham

NR18 0AR

Employer's website

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