Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated, enthusiastic and experienced Band 4 Therapy Support Worker to work on the Older Person Assessment Liaison team (OPAL).
Our aim is to reduce avoidable admissions by proactively assessing patients and addressing issues relating to function, mobility and social needs referring on to community services as required. This holistic service means patients receive the support and treatment needed, in the most appropriate setting for them, which will often be their own home supported by community teams.
As part of a multidisciplinary team OPAL provides timely patient centred assessments to those with acute needs within the Heartlands Hospital. We provide effective and efficient multidisciplinary comprehensive geriatric assessment within ED, FSDEC and OPAD.
You work alongside the qualified team members to assist in adopting a home first approach using client centred assessments, expertise and advice to support the patients through their journey.
The area provides early Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments for patients who are 65 and above with the aim to facilitate early discharge and reduce length of stay. The role requires excellent communication skills the ability to discuss highly sensitive matters with patients and relatives in a confidential and sensitive manner.
Main duties of the job
The Band 4 Therapy Assistant will take responsibility for the management of a defined caseload of patients.
For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include:
The OPAL Therapy Support Worker will work under the guidance of the OPAL Clinical Practitioners, Qualified therapist and Assessors. They will gather information from patients or relatives where appropriate, in order for OPAL assessors to carry out their initial assessment and mobility Assessment. They will complete administrative tasks, patient surveys, ordering and booking equipment delivery, making telephone referrals to community beds under the instruction of the OPAL multi-skilled team members. They will complete daily routine checks.
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Job description
Job responsibilities
*Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *Education to GCSE level or equivalent including English and maths at grade C or above
- *Able to demonstrate competence in maths and written and spoken English
- *Educated to A Level / NVQ 4/ BTEC or equivalent (e.g. NVQ 3 or similar vocational qualification PLUS substantive experience working in a care setting)
- *Care certificate or be willing to work towards this
Desirable
- *Evidence of recent education / personal development related to healthcare.
- *Demonstrated has been proactive with continuing professional development
Experience
Essential
- *Comprehensive experience supporting therapists in a relevant clinical setting
- *Comprehensive experience of delivering acute inpatient rehabilitation programmes across a variety of clinical settings with evidence of MDT collaboration and hospital discharge planning
- *Can demonstrate an in depth understanding of relevant areas of therapy, the effect of illness/clinical conditions / disability on function and health and basic aims of rehabilitation
- *Comprehensive experience as a therapy support worker
- *Understanding of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
- *Experience and passion working with older adults
- *Knowledge of dementia / Alzheimer's
- *Experience of working in Acute Hospital Setting
Desirable
- * Experience of communicating with and motivating patients who may have communication difficulties
- * Good understanding of working environment --healthcare/NHS/UHB trust/acute care/community as applicable
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- *Good clinical reasoning skills
- *Confidence to feedback to the multi- disciplinary team in a formal setting and to communicate effectively with a wide variety of other professionals to represent therapies internally and externally
- *Able to communicate information and instructions to patients/carers/relatives who have communication difficulties of English as a second language
- *Evidence of being able to work effectively as part of a team / across teams
- *Good IT and Keyboard skills
- *Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- *Able to understand the priorities within team / service respond appropriately
- *Able to solve problems and contribute own ideas seeking guidance if necessary
- *Able to follow instructions
- *Motivated to learn new skills
- *Able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
- *Enthusiasm to work as therapy support worker within team
- *Ability to take responsibility under guidance
- *Know own limitations and role boundaries
- *Able to seek support from others when required
- *Able to deal with potentially upsetting clinical settings/situations
- *Demonstrates empathy to a wide range of patients, carers, staff
- *Demonstrates commitment to patient centred care
- *Reliable and trustworthy
- *Able to work under pressure Demonstrates commitment to work flexibly to meet the challenging demands of the service
- *Ability to contribute to weekend working and evening day case cover
- *Willingness to work a range of shift patterns to cover service requirements
- *Major Incident -- called to duty
Desirable
- *Able to demonstrate and teach practical skills to others, including safe use of equipment.
- *Willingness to participate and at times lead in departmental activities i.e. group supervision, course development, delivery of training
- *Demonstrates a commitment to CPD
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- *Education to GCSE level or equivalent including English and maths at grade C or above
- *Able to demonstrate competence in maths and written and spoken English
- *Educated to A Level / NVQ 4/ BTEC or equivalent (e.g. NVQ 3 or similar vocational qualification PLUS substantive experience working in a care setting)
- *Care certificate or be willing to work towards this
Desirable
- *Evidence of recent education / personal development related to healthcare.
- *Demonstrated has been proactive with continuing professional development
Experience
Essential
- *Comprehensive experience supporting therapists in a relevant clinical setting
- *Comprehensive experience of delivering acute inpatient rehabilitation programmes across a variety of clinical settings with evidence of MDT collaboration and hospital discharge planning
- *Can demonstrate an in depth understanding of relevant areas of therapy, the effect of illness/clinical conditions / disability on function and health and basic aims of rehabilitation
- *Comprehensive experience as a therapy support worker
- *Understanding of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
- *Experience and passion working with older adults
- *Knowledge of dementia / Alzheimer's
- *Experience of working in Acute Hospital Setting
Desirable
- * Experience of communicating with and motivating patients who may have communication difficulties
- * Good understanding of working environment --healthcare/NHS/UHB trust/acute care/community as applicable
Additional Criteria
Essential
- *Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- *Good clinical reasoning skills
- *Confidence to feedback to the multi- disciplinary team in a formal setting and to communicate effectively with a wide variety of other professionals to represent therapies internally and externally
- *Able to communicate information and instructions to patients/carers/relatives who have communication difficulties of English as a second language
- *Evidence of being able to work effectively as part of a team / across teams
- *Good IT and Keyboard skills
- *Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- *Able to understand the priorities within team / service respond appropriately
- *Able to solve problems and contribute own ideas seeking guidance if necessary
- *Able to follow instructions
- *Motivated to learn new skills
- *Able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
- *Enthusiasm to work as therapy support worker within team
- *Ability to take responsibility under guidance
- *Know own limitations and role boundaries
- *Able to seek support from others when required
- *Able to deal with potentially upsetting clinical settings/situations
- *Demonstrates empathy to a wide range of patients, carers, staff
- *Demonstrates commitment to patient centred care
- *Reliable and trustworthy
- *Able to work under pressure Demonstrates commitment to work flexibly to meet the challenging demands of the service
- *Ability to contribute to weekend working and evening day case cover
- *Willingness to work a range of shift patterns to cover service requirements
- *Major Incident -- called to duty
Desirable
- *Able to demonstrate and teach practical skills to others, including safe use of equipment.
- *Willingness to participate and at times lead in departmental activities i.e. group supervision, course development, delivery of training
- *Demonstrates a commitment to CPD
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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
