Job responsibilities
SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES
The
post holder will be expected to undertake the full duties of a Therapy
Assistant as outlined below:
1.
PROFESSIONAL
1.1
To participate as a full member
of the Therapy team in the implementation of individual treatment plans
including other relevant multi-disciplinary team members where appropriate.
1.2
Prepare residents for therapy, ensuring their privacy and dignity is
maintained at all times.
1.3
To provide under the supervision of the Physiotherapist or Occupational
Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist ongoing monitoring, support and
assessment of residents physical and mental health needs.
1.4
Prepare and clean equipment, maintain tidy working areas during and
after treatment.
1.5
Check and maintain equipment safe for use and action according to company
policy if faulty.
1.6
To be involved in overseeing inventory checks of equipment in the gym,
Occupational Therapy Kitchen and Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
treatment rooms and on the units with direction from the Occupational Therapists
and Physiotherapists.
1.7
Monitor progress of individuals and report any observations to the
Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech and Language Therapist and the Nurse
in Charge.
1.8
Maintain accurate and legible records using SOAP format in the therapy
notes.
1.9
To carry out therapeutic massage, exercises and passive stretching techniques
as instructed by the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist.
1.10
To undertake skin integrity checks as instructed by the Physiotherapist
and Occupational Therapist.
1.11
To update therapy database records as required or requested to complete
by the Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist
1.12
To attend daily nursing handovers on all Units every morning and
feedback any relevant information to the Health Care Assistants and Therapy
team.
1.13
To support with OT kitchen sessions as directed by the Occupational
Therapist.
1.14
To carry out shopping for ingredients if not available from the kitchen
for Occupational Therapy Kitchen sessions.
1.15
To be involved in groups organised by Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy
and Speech and Language Therapy.
1.16
To monitor and encourage residents progress, taking into account the
environment and provide regular feedback to the Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Speech and Language Therapist.
1.17
To be involved in any administration tasks which assist with the running
of the Therapy Department, this may include photo copying, printing, using
Microsoft office; including Word and Excel to assist with inputting Therapy
stats, maintaining up to date equipment inventories and any other admin tasks.
1.18
To make telephone calls and liaise with other
agencies under the supervision of the qualified therapists.
1.19
To be able to
comprehensively assess residents, within your skill level and scope of
practice, as delegated by the qualified Therapist and consider the residents
physical, psychological and functional skills approaching a qualified
Therapist for further advice as required.
1.20
Understand
Consent to Treatment by:
1. Understanding the Mental Capacity Act and how it
impacts on your patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
2.
Gaining
valid consent to and understanding of treatment programmes by residents prior
to any intervention and/or their carers
3.
Assessing
patients understanding of treatment programmes
4.
Respecting
a patients right to decline treatment.
1.21
Ensure
rehabilitation goals of any intervention are clearly developed in conjunction
with the resident and, where appropriate, carers. It would be desirable to use
recognised outcome tools to aid evaluation of the goals, where appropriate.
1.22
To
use a range of treatment skills and options within your competency level to
make decisions on individualised rehabilitation programmes, but always seeking
guidance from a qualified Therapist where a task is beyond your scope of
practice.
1.23
Carry out the
implementation of treatment programmes or, where appropriate, set up elements
of the programmes to be carried out by carers.
1.24
Carry out
specific treatment and care under the guidance and delegation of the qualified
Therapists in accordance with the agreed treatment programme.
1.25
Instruct,
supervise and provide direction and guidance of exercise/treatment programmes
set by the qualified Therapist.
1.26
To organise,
provide, install and teach in the use of adaptive equipment, mobility aids and
transfer equipment as has been identified by a qualified Therapist.
1.27
Evaluate a
residents progress, re-assess and alter treatment programmes/goals as required
in conjunction with qualified Therapists.
1.28
To have a
reasonable understanding of clinical conditions and terminology.
1.29
To be involved in
reviewing referrals for appropriateness in line with agreed protocols and
contact a qualified Therapist to make a decision regarding urgency,
prioritisation of referrals and allocation of resources.
1.30
To demonstrate
good verbal and non-verbal communication skills with residents, their families,
carers and staff and to demonstrate awareness in relation to sensitive issues
and to deal with difficult situations as appropriate.
1.31
To ensure that
resident confidentiality is maintained at all times. To be able to communicate
in a manner which is consistent with residents needs and to use the
appropriate communication tools when required.
1.32
To be able to
work as an autonomous member of the Multidisciplinary Team and to manage own
caseload with the supervision of the qualified Therapists.
1.33
To have the
ability to work across a range of clinical areas with appropriate supervision.
1.34
To
be involved in making appropriate referrals to outside agencies as overseen by
the qualified Therapists.
1.35
To
be involved in organising equipment to be delivered to the residents home to
facilitate safe and timely home visits or discharge.
1.36
Maintain
accurate and up-to-date patient records in accordance with PJ Care and national
standards.
1.37
To input
appropriate statistics and complete outcome measures as delegated by qualified
Therapists.
1.38
Attend
Multidisciplinary Team meetings where appropriate and provide information for
care reviews regarding resident treatment to be able to influence the outcome
of resident care or discharge as delegated by the qualified Therapists.
1.39
Evaluate
your own clinical effectiveness individually and with support from a qualified
Therapist.
1.40
To be able to
recognise improvements or negative outcomes in relation to the residents
participation in treatment sessions and their condition, informing the
supervising Therapist and documenting it in the residents records.
1.41
To ensure that
residents are encouraged to maintain optimal independence through participation
in all decision making related to their treatment and care.
1.42
To provide
emotional support to patients, their families, and carers to enable them to
cope with the psychological effects of their injury/illness.
1.43
In the absence of
senior Therapists be prepared to ensure the smooth day to day running of the
team and in the event of any concerns inform the Registered Manager.
HYDROTHERAPY (based at
Eagle Wood, Peterborough but used by Milton
Keynes residents)
1.44
To assist the physiotherapist with patient handling within the
hydrotherapy pool.
1.45
To observe hydrotherapy residents for any warning signs and highlight
any concerns to
the physiotherapist.
1.46
To ensure residents take any emergency medication (such as inhalers and
GTN sprays) to hydrotherapy sessions and are wearing waterproof dressings if
required.
1.47
To be competent in, and regularly practice, hydrotherapy emergency
evacuation procedures.
1.48
To check and record hydrotherapy pool chemistry, temperature and
humidity levels on a daily basis and inform physiotherapist immediately if any
measurements are outside of their limits.
1.49
To liaise with housekeeping, maintenance team and microbiology with
regards to hydrotherapy pool management when required.
1.50
To report any incidents/ accidents to the appropriate members of staff
and complete the necessary documentation.
1.51
To ensure a safe hydrotherapy environment including clear pool access
(entrances and exits), removal of any standing water on the poolside and
ensuring emergency equipment is
working and readily available to use if required.
1.52
To ensure residents for hydrotherapy have showered before and after each
session and encourage fluid replenishment.
