Job summary
We are looking for two caring and ambitious assistants to join the large Children's Community Physiotherapy Team within east Suffolk. We are interested in recruiting experienced PT assistants/technicians (Band 4) or staff with more general children's experience who are keen to evolve their skills within a development post (Band 3)These two roles are based in Ipswich travelling across the east locality. The roles involve working with children (0-18/19) with neuro - developmental needs / long term disabilities, in schools, child development centers, clinics and homes.
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a passion for working with children with additional needs and be a car driver who is willing to travel to rural locations.
There is good peer support from an experienced team of band 4 technicians and training & supervision from experienced Children's Physiotherapists.
Main duties of the job
You will be working within a county wide team of 37 physiotherapy and support staff that has bases across Suffolk.
The team works in support of children with long term and varied disabilities across a wide spectrum of diagnosis and presentations.
The team is part of Integrated Community Paediatric Services (ICPS) that links medical and therapeutic children's teams across the county.
Excellent training and personal development opportunities are integral to the team
You will link with many MDTs within ICPS in providing care to children and families as part of your role
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for more information
1. Communication:
Encourage children, young people and families in an active approach to maintaining personal independence and developing gross motor and play skills. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills, as there will often be significant barriers to understanding, i.e. learning disability, behavioural issues, sensory impairment, pain, fear denial and unrealistic expectations.
To communicate complex and sensitive information, as agreed with the qualified therapist, to parents carers and children in order to gain co-operation during treatment sessions.
Ensure ongoing communication with the therapist regarding treatment of individual children/young people.
To plan, produce and maintain physical management programmes/documentation using a variety of IT tools.
2. Planning and Organisational Skills:
To arrange and manage appointments and maintain rotas on our online computer system (SystmOne) accordingly.
To assist in the preparation & running of therapy gym groups.
To prioritise own workload as per service requirements.
To keep up to date with changes to service protocols relating to appointments & prioritisation.
To follow therapy plans and programmes as indicated by therapy team.
To manage time effectively
To undertake any other duties which might be considered appropriate by the Lead Physiotherapist
3. Clinical Duties:
To visit child/ young persons home to assess for and order appropriate physical management and moving and handling equipment. To adjust equipment and teach all carers how to use equipment safely e.g. walkers, standing frames, transfer aids and wheelchairs.
To assess for, prescribe and organise the provision of simple orthotics. To measure and fit specialist footwear.
Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings, annual review meetings etc as the PT representative for individual children/young people, as delegated by the relevant therapist. Participate in decision-making process at multi-disciplinary meetings.
To manage the rehabilitation of patients as delegated by a therapist. Working without direct supervision and be responsible for assessing patient progress modifying programmes and equipment as necessary within agreed limits.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description for more information
1. Communication:
Encourage children, young people and families in an active approach to maintaining personal independence and developing gross motor and play skills. This requires empathy, sensitivity and good interpersonal skills, as there will often be significant barriers to understanding, i.e. learning disability, behavioural issues, sensory impairment, pain, fear denial and unrealistic expectations.
To communicate complex and sensitive information, as agreed with the qualified therapist, to parents carers and children in order to gain co-operation during treatment sessions.
Ensure ongoing communication with the therapist regarding treatment of individual children/young people.
To plan, produce and maintain physical management programmes/documentation using a variety of IT tools.
2. Planning and Organisational Skills:
To arrange and manage appointments and maintain rotas on our online computer system (SystmOne) accordingly.
To assist in the preparation & running of therapy gym groups.
To prioritise own workload as per service requirements.
To keep up to date with changes to service protocols relating to appointments & prioritisation.
To follow therapy plans and programmes as indicated by therapy team.
To manage time effectively
To undertake any other duties which might be considered appropriate by the Lead Physiotherapist
3. Clinical Duties:
To visit child/ young persons home to assess for and order appropriate physical management and moving and handling equipment. To adjust equipment and teach all carers how to use equipment safely e.g. walkers, standing frames, transfer aids and wheelchairs.
To assess for, prescribe and organise the provision of simple orthotics. To measure and fit specialist footwear.
Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings, annual review meetings etc as the PT representative for individual children/young people, as delegated by the relevant therapist. Participate in decision-making process at multi-disciplinary meetings.
To manage the rehabilitation of patients as delegated by a therapist. Working without direct supervision and be responsible for assessing patient progress modifying programmes and equipment as necessary within agreed limits.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- oGood general level of education including 5 GCSEs including Maths and English
- oLevel 3 NVQ or equivalent
Desirable
- oPaediatric Assistants training
- oNNEB training
- oRelevant training in the application and understanding of Physiotherapy
- oRelevant paediatric training (Band 4 only)
- oSafeguarding training (Band 4 only)
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- oExperience as a PT therapy assistant/ equivalent knowledge skill set working in health or similar post.
- oExperience of working with children and families.
- oKnowledge of children's physical and general development
- oKnowledge of safeguarding processes
Desirable
- oExperience of working in an education setting.
- oExperience of children with special needs
- oExperience in NHS or Educational record keeping such as S1 or equivalent
- oExperience of delivering training and/or therapy /exercise groups
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oGood spoken and written communication skills with children, young people and adults including those with impaired communication and learning difficulties.
- oGood organisational skills
- oGood interpersonal skills including observation, listening, tact and empathy.
- oAble to discuss, analyse and reflect on observations (Band 4)
- oAble to work independently as well as under instruction (Band 4)
- oIT literate *able to use MS packages (Word, Outlook)
- oAbility to keep client confidentiality
Desirable
- oAdvanced IT skills (Band 4)
- oAble to use MS Teams & Excel
- oEvidence of participation in service development
- oEvidence of relating to children, young people parents/carers with different lifestyles and values
Personal qualities
Essential
- oAbility to have a flexible approach, creative and use initiative.
- oAbility to work under pressure.
- oAble to use own initiative.
- oHolds a current (UK enabled) driving licence and willingness to drive as part of role.
Desirable
- oConfident to deliver training to therapy partners (Band 4)
- oAdaptable, and perceptive attitude
- oConfident to deal with conflict or differences of opinion, or emotionally challenging situations (Band 4)
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
Essential
- oGood general level of education including 5 GCSEs including Maths and English
- oLevel 3 NVQ or equivalent
Desirable
- oPaediatric Assistants training
- oNNEB training
- oRelevant training in the application and understanding of Physiotherapy
- oRelevant paediatric training (Band 4 only)
- oSafeguarding training (Band 4 only)
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- oExperience as a PT therapy assistant/ equivalent knowledge skill set working in health or similar post.
- oExperience of working with children and families.
- oKnowledge of children's physical and general development
- oKnowledge of safeguarding processes
Desirable
- oExperience of working in an education setting.
- oExperience of children with special needs
- oExperience in NHS or Educational record keeping such as S1 or equivalent
- oExperience of delivering training and/or therapy /exercise groups
Skills and abilities
Essential
- oGood spoken and written communication skills with children, young people and adults including those with impaired communication and learning difficulties.
- oGood organisational skills
- oGood interpersonal skills including observation, listening, tact and empathy.
- oAble to discuss, analyse and reflect on observations (Band 4)
- oAble to work independently as well as under instruction (Band 4)
- oIT literate *able to use MS packages (Word, Outlook)
- oAbility to keep client confidentiality
Desirable
- oAdvanced IT skills (Band 4)
- oAble to use MS Teams & Excel
- oEvidence of participation in service development
- oEvidence of relating to children, young people parents/carers with different lifestyles and values
Personal qualities
Essential
- oAbility to have a flexible approach, creative and use initiative.
- oAbility to work under pressure.
- oAble to use own initiative.
- oHolds a current (UK enabled) driving licence and willingness to drive as part of role.
Desirable
- oConfident to deliver training to therapy partners (Band 4)
- oAdaptable, and perceptive attitude
- oConfident to deal with conflict or differences of opinion, or emotionally challenging situations (Band 4)
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).
