Rehabilitation Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

Tapping House is a leading provider of palliative care services in Norfolk. We are an independent charity delivering innovative and specialist rehabilitative therapy, end of life care and bereavement services.

Reporting into the Therapy Lead, the post holder will work as a band 3 Hospice Equivalent Rehabilitation Assistant predominantly in the Tulip Centre, within the Hospice Inpatient Unit, and occasionally in the community. They will be a valuable member of the therapy team, working under the guidance and supervision of qualified Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapist.

The care provided is appropriate to the patients needs and stage of illness and uses a rehabilitative approach to promote quality of life. The Rehabilitation Assistant will be involved in running therapeutic groups, supporting social programmes alongside volunteers, carrying out rehabilitation programmes as implemented by the therapists, and will have key worker responsibility for a designated number of patients.

MAIN DUTIES

Clinical

• To be patient-centred in defining an individuals goals and engage in a treatment/support programme that works towards mutually agreed goals with particular emphasis on adaptation to illness, changing function and the development of self-management strategies
• Deliver activities, interventions or treatments aimed at the achievement of specified goals in 1-1 or group environments
• Be responsible for the day to day running of the therapeutic groups, both as a support and in leading the groups. These may be activity groups, exercise or self-management education groups
• Enable people to choose and participate in activities that are meaningful to them
• To have key worker responsibility for a number of patients and their families, supporting their physical and emotional needs, seeking support from senior staff for complex issues
• As part of the therapy team be involved in team and caseload review meetings as well as wider Multi-Disciplinary Team meetings, contributing to the discussion on those patients you have key worker responsibility for
• Monitor and maintain the environment and resources during and after clinical/therapeutic activities
• Support individuals to retain, regain and develop the skills to manage their lives as far as possible
• To communicate sensitively with patients, carers, families and staff using advanced communication skills through a variety of medium such as groups, face to face and using the telephone
• To work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, ensuring that the needs of patients and carers are identified within a holistic framework, that includes physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs, fostering an interdisciplinary approach to rehabilitation
• To provide therapeutic and rehabilitative interventions within the IPU, often with a wellbeing and end of life wishes focus, with support of therapy colleagues
• To maintain clear referral processes for external and internal services/teams and support the smooth transition of patients between services
• To maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical records, using systmone electronic patient record
• To liaise with carers and external agencies regarding therapeutic interventions/activities and to play an active role in discharge planning from the therapy service when appropriate
• Contribute, monitor and review the development of service objectives, protocols and policies under the direction of the Therapy Lead
• To be involved in the development of the service through quality improvement and clinical audit
• Provide support and day-to-day supervision for volunteers supporting therapeutic and social programmes

Physical, Mental and Emotional

• To be able to cope with change and organisational developments
• To be able to cope emotionally with difficult and complex communication issues, demonstrate resilience and coping strategies, and to support team members at difficult times

Education and Development

• To contribute to the safe and competent use of all equipment/aids used
• To use and instruct others such as health and social care professionals, or carers to use moving and handling techniques as required by the individual and their environment according to own competence
• To take responsibility for own continued personal and professional development through participation in individual development review, clinical supervision and other educational activities
• To keep up-to-date with local and national developments in palliative care
• To contribute to the orientation, development and support of other staff and students working in other clinical areas
• To foster a philosophy of continuous learning and evaluation and to take responsibility for own and care volunteers development, identifying training and education needs

Disclosure and Barring Service DBS Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Exceptions Order as amended and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service DBS to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Other Responsibilities:

Uphold the Hospice's vision and values at all times.

Carry out all duties in accordance with the Hospice's policies and procedures, including health & safety, code of behaviour, confidentiality, and equality, diversity & inclusion.

Promote awareness of the Hospice, its services, and its strategy.

Work collaboratively and respectfully with all staff, volunteers, and supporters.

Support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, young people, and children.

Adhere to policies on information security, data privacy, and confidentiality.

Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development.

Undertake other duties as directed by your Line Manager.

General

• Carry out all duties in accordance with the Hospices policies and procedures including but not limited to health & safety, code of behaviour, confidentiality and equality, diversity & inclusion.
• Promote awareness of the Hospice, its services and its strategy.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully with all staff, volunteers and supporters of the Hospice.
• Promote and support the safeguarding of vulnerable adults, young people and children, observing and adhering the Hospices policies on safeguarding.
• Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and development and to participate in any training relevant to the role.

Information Security, Confidentiality, and Records Management:

• The role requires adherence to organisational policies concerning information security, data privacy, and confidentiality. The employee is responsible for safeguarding sensitive information, ensuring secure handling and storage of records, and maintaining compliance with applicable data protection regulations. This includes actively participating in Information Governance training, reporting potential security incidents, and managing records in accordance with Tapping Houses Retention Archiving and Destruction of All Hospice Records Policy.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive and will be reviewed periodically to ensure that the needs of the service are being met

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 2 in health and social care
• GCSE or equivalent in English
• Good spoken, written and understanding of English

Desirable

• NVQ level 3 in health and social care

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential

• Working within a team
• To be skilled in dealing with anxious and distressed patients and relatives
• To be independent and able to accept responsibility
• To have good communication skills
• To have the ability to recognise own limitation, and when to access advice and supervision
• To be able to pay attention to detail.
• Understanding of confidentiality.
• Calm, sensitive and empathetic disposition.

Desirable

• To have the ability to work single-handed with individuals/groups within a supportive environment.

Experience

Essential

• To have demonstrable experience of working with people
• To have the ability to communicate with patients, including those with hearing difficulties, cognitive impairment and aggressive / challenging behaviour
• To have experience in liaising with other staff within the MDT on the patients progress / issues
• To have excellent time management and organisational skills
• To be computer literate

Desirable

• To have knowledge of rehabilitation treatments and activities
• To have evidence of on-going personal development
• To have experience in working in a physiotherapy or occupational therapy setting
• To have experience of working within palliative care
• To have an understanding of a wide variety of conditions

DISPOSITION / ATTITUDE / MOTIVATION

Essential

• To have the ability to work without direct supervision
• To have the ability of problem solving
• To have a co-operative nature and be able to get on well within a multidisciplinary team
• Able to work well within a busy environment.

Desirable

• To have interest in lifelong learning.

Other

Essential

• Full UK driving Licence holder

Desirable

• Access to own transport

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

Tapping House

Address

Wheatfields

Hillington

King’s Lynn

Norfolk

PE31 6BH

Employer's website

https://www.tappinghouse.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)