Job summary
Advert for Interim Therapy Assistant Practitioner
An exciting opportunity to join the Interim Care Assessment Team as a Therapy Assistant Practitioner.
Our highly regarded team is an early supported discharge to assess service based over two sites: Bournemouth Hospital and Christchurch Hospital. We support patients home who are medically ready to leave the acute hospital setting but who require additional support to regain and optimise their independence. We are a therapy-led service and you would be working alongside Nurses and Occupational Therapists. You would support with the supervision of senior therapy assistants
Main duties of the job
To provide assessment & therapy interventions to a caseload of patients discharged from the acute hospitals to facilitate effective recovery from acute illness and trauma.
To modify and update care and therapy goal plans to reflect patient needs.
To provide induction, core training and clinical supervision to a small number of therapy assistants to support the team to deliver a high quality service.
To lead on audits as requested by the clinical lead including audits to review compliance with medication administration chart protocols and documentation standards.
About us
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues. UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme. This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have about this at interview.
Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To manage a community caseload of patients requiring a supported home from hospitalassessment service.2. To carry out community care reviews with non-complex patients to modify and update theirgoal and care plans and determine their needs of the service.3. To refer on patients with more complex problems or issues to the registered therapist or nurseas required.4. To carry out functional assessments to determine the patients level of independence and aid basic clinical decision making within agreed protocols.These assessments will include, but not be limited to: Personal care assessments, (washing, dressing, grooming.) Functional Mobility Transfers: bed, chair, toilet and car Domestic Activities. Environmental home falls assessments5. To complete assessments requested by a registered clinician. These may include but will not be limited to: Mood assessments Clinical observations Cognitive assessments Environmental home falls assessments Gait, strength and balance assessments Pressure sore risk assessments Nutritional screening6. To assess for, demonstrate & issue routine aids and equipment to patients using the most appropriate teaching techniques to enable independence.7. To ensure equipment ordered is safely and correctly fitted in a timely manner.8. Deal appropriately with unforeseen clinical and practical difficulties and use problem solving skills to resolve issues as quickly as is practical.9. To provide personal care to patients as required using trust infection control processes and personal protective equipment.10. To write and check medication administration records in line with the trust operating policy.11. To provide patients with information and advice regarding issues of health and social care to ensure patients needs are met once discharged.12. To document the results of Therapy intervention following Trust and departmental guidelines, to ensure continuity of care.13. Access patient information from the available health and social care information systems to inform therapy process14. To identify patients where social care issues are a problem and refer them to the appropriate services to ensure a holistic approach to treatment.15. All of the above is to be completed under the guidance/supervision of a qualified therapist and if identified patients have more complex needs they should be handed over to a qualified Therapist/nurse to continue their assessment/treatment/discharge plan.16. To keep up to date with clinical knowledge and skills by undertaking self-directed study, attending formal training as available, and liaising with registered clinical staff
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. To manage a community caseload of patients requiring a supported home from hospitalassessment service.2. To carry out community care reviews with non-complex patients to modify and update theirgoal and care plans and determine their needs of the service.3. To refer on patients with more complex problems or issues to the registered therapist or nurseas required.4. To carry out functional assessments to determine the patients level of independence and aid basic clinical decision making within agreed protocols.These assessments will include, but not be limited to: Personal care assessments, (washing, dressing, grooming.) Functional Mobility Transfers: bed, chair, toilet and car Domestic Activities. Environmental home falls assessments5. To complete assessments requested by a registered clinician. These may include but will not be limited to: Mood assessments Clinical observations Cognitive assessments Environmental home falls assessments Gait, strength and balance assessments Pressure sore risk assessments Nutritional screening6. To assess for, demonstrate & issue routine aids and equipment to patients using the most appropriate teaching techniques to enable independence.7. To ensure equipment ordered is safely and correctly fitted in a timely manner.8. Deal appropriately with unforeseen clinical and practical difficulties and use problem solving skills to resolve issues as quickly as is practical.9. To provide personal care to patients as required using trust infection control processes and personal protective equipment.10. To write and check medication administration records in line with the trust operating policy.11. To provide patients with information and advice regarding issues of health and social care to ensure patients needs are met once discharged.12. To document the results of Therapy intervention following Trust and departmental guidelines, to ensure continuity of care.13. Access patient information from the available health and social care information systems to inform therapy process14. To identify patients where social care issues are a problem and refer them to the appropriate services to ensure a holistic approach to treatment.15. All of the above is to be completed under the guidance/supervision of a qualified therapist and if identified patients have more complex needs they should be handed over to a qualified Therapist/nurse to continue their assessment/treatment/discharge plan.16. To keep up to date with clinical knowledge and skills by undertaking self-directed study, attending formal training as available, and liaising with registered clinical staff
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in health or assistant practitioner diploma qualification equivalent to level 4.
Desirable
- Attainment of competencies gained from multi-professional team working ? Trained to deliver OTAGO balance exercises.
Experience
Essential
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g. Exercise Physiologist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant) where direct patient care is involved in a healthcare environment. ? Working with adult patients with chronic disease or multiple pathologies
Desirable
- Previous experience working in an acute and community setting ? Working within a multidisciplinary team. ? Experience of evaluation, standard setting and evidence based practice within a healthcare/ rehabilitation setting
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential
- Ability to assess a patient with specific objective assessment tools, without supervision ? Ability to work independently on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff, mainly at a distance. ? Effective time management and organisational skills. ? Basic driving skills ? Basic computer literacy and standard keyboard skills ? Ability to act on own initiative, e.g. responding to an emergency situation
Desirable
- Ability to fit / adjust basic equipment such as toileting and transfer aids and mobility equipment.
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of Elderly care pathologies. ? The effects of physical and cognitive impairment, on skills abilities and lifestyle ? Basic rehabilitation techniques. ? Exercise prescription and monitoring e.g. of physiological signs during exercise ? Health and safety responsibilities. ? Data protection and patient confidentiality.
Desirable
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions. ? Risk assessment. ? Audit ? Project and change management
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability to drive, hold a clean driving license and access to a car for work purposes. ? Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude. ? Well motivated. ? Able to work independently when required with rational, safe clinical reasoning skills. ? Able to take direction from senior staff and work well within a team ? Empathy with older people. ? Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role. ? Highly organised with excellent time management skills and able to organize own workload on a day to day basis. ? Good verbal communication skills both face to face and over the telephone. ? Ability to document results of interventions clearly and concisely. ? Ability to establish rapport. ? Basic teaching skills. ? Ability to engage, motivate and inspire patients. ? Confident in dealing with difficult situations e.g. aggressive behaviour, conflict.
Language requirement
Essential
- Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Foundation Degree in health or assistant practitioner diploma qualification equivalent to level 4.
Desirable
- Attainment of competencies gained from multi-professional team working ? Trained to deliver OTAGO balance exercises.
Experience
Essential
- Previous work as a Therapy Assistant or equivalent (e.g. Exercise Physiologist, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physiotherapy Assistant) where direct patient care is involved in a healthcare environment. ? Working with adult patients with chronic disease or multiple pathologies
Desirable
- Previous experience working in an acute and community setting ? Working within a multidisciplinary team. ? Experience of evaluation, standard setting and evidence based practice within a healthcare/ rehabilitation setting
Technical Skills Competencies
Essential
- Ability to assess a patient with specific objective assessment tools, without supervision ? Ability to work independently on own initiative with guidance/supervision from qualified staff, mainly at a distance. ? Effective time management and organisational skills. ? Basic driving skills ? Basic computer literacy and standard keyboard skills ? Ability to act on own initiative, e.g. responding to an emergency situation
Desirable
- Ability to fit / adjust basic equipment such as toileting and transfer aids and mobility equipment.
Knowledge
Essential
- General knowledge of Elderly care pathologies. ? The effects of physical and cognitive impairment, on skills abilities and lifestyle ? Basic rehabilitation techniques. ? Exercise prescription and monitoring e.g. of physiological signs during exercise ? Health and safety responsibilities. ? Data protection and patient confidentiality.
Desirable
- General knowledge of relevant medical conditions. ? Risk assessment. ? Audit ? Project and change management
Other requirements specific to the role
Essential
- Ability to drive, hold a clean driving license and access to a car for work purposes. ? Ability to move and handle patients and equipment using approved techniques
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Flexible attitude. ? Well motivated. ? Able to work independently when required with rational, safe clinical reasoning skills. ? Able to take direction from senior staff and work well within a team ? Empathy with older people. ? Ability to recognize boundaries of own job role. ? Highly organised with excellent time management skills and able to organize own workload on a day to day basis. ? Good verbal communication skills both face to face and over the telephone. ? Ability to document results of interventions clearly and concisely. ? Ability to establish rapport. ? Basic teaching skills. ? Ability to engage, motivate and inspire patients. ? Confident in dealing with difficult situations e.g. aggressive behaviour, conflict.
Language requirement
Essential
- Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role
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.
