Job summary
COMMUNITY ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join the Mildenhall INT, within the West Suffolk Community. This role involves assessing and providing therapy under the direction of an occupational therapist and a physiotherapist. The post holder will be based within the Mildenhall INT (with a satellite base at Brandon), however may be required to work within the Newmarket INT at times. We are looking for an ambitious and caring person with skills and experience of working with adults who have varying medical or complex conditions. The post holder will work autonomously within a community environment, whilst also working closely as part of a multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will hold a patient caseload whilst working under the guidance of the therapists. The post holder will deliver therapy and progress to the level to undertake basic assessments autonomously with support. The ability to establish rapport with person receiving therapy, and working closely with health and social care colleagues, carers, family members and other professionals is important. You will also be working closely with the INT Nursing and social care team in ensuring optimised care goals for the localities patients.
Main duties of the job
The position will require the delivery of a high quality, and efficient therapy services. The focus of intervention is to work with the person to improve their level of independence and self-management, using personalised care as part of practice. The position requires working independently under the supervision of the therapists, carrying out assessments and reviewing the person's progress. We are a very friendly, supportive, and dynamic team and offer regular supervision, opportunities for development, annual appraisals, and training. Whilst no previous therapy experience is required, previous experience in a caring profession would be beneficial. You will need to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to self-directed learning and working practice.
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 (CAB beds).
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
Clinical
To work without direct supervision with accountability to qualified staff with individuals and/or groups as part of their assessment, treatment and therapy interventions.
Duties to include:
Initial assessment within the Community of appropriate patients including setting patient centred goals and with use of appropriate outcome measures
Managing a designated caseload of appropriate patients under the guidance of a qualified therapist; taking responsibility for treatment progression towards set and agreed goals and amending goals accordingly
Assisting qualified therapists in treatment progression of those patients requiring additional support
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to measure progress and ensure effectiveness.
To assist in the training, development and supervision needs of students and rehabilitation assistants
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full Job Description for more information
Clinical
To work without direct supervision with accountability to qualified staff with individuals and/or groups as part of their assessment, treatment and therapy interventions.
Duties to include:
Initial assessment within the Community of appropriate patients including setting patient centred goals and with use of appropriate outcome measures
Managing a designated caseload of appropriate patients under the guidance of a qualified therapist; taking responsibility for treatment progression towards set and agreed goals and amending goals accordingly
Assisting qualified therapists in treatment progression of those patients requiring additional support
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to measure progress and ensure effectiveness.
To assist in the training, development and supervision needs of students and rehabilitation assistants
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in healthcare environment
- Experience of contributing to assessment and care planning and carrying out interventions to contribute to service users' health and wellbeing
- Experience of working with conditions treated in area of Band 3 post
Desirable
- Experience of providing health education
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Good level of communication verbal and written communication skills. Ability to actively listen
- Able to work on own initiative and able to work as part of a team. Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
- Able to demonstrate a knowledge of Health & Safety legislation for self and others including manual handling legislation
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to improve effectiveness and efficiency and the need to develop services to meet the needs of the local population
- Involvement in service development initiatives
- Awareness of local adult care services, relevant voluntary organisations and private sector resources
- Able to recognise the importance of people's rights and able to act in accordance with legislation and guidance
- To have commitment to the delivery of an equitable patient/client centred service.
Desirable
- Involvement in tasks related to evaluation of services and quality initiatives
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance with relevance to quality initiatives
Personal qualities
Essential
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Education & Qualification
Essential
- To be able to provide evidence of working successfully at Band 3 level
- Foundation Degree or willingness to undertake
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 or Diploma Level 3 QCF
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Experience of working in healthcare environment
- Experience of contributing to assessment and care planning and carrying out interventions to contribute to service users' health and wellbeing
- Experience of working with conditions treated in area of Band 3 post
Desirable
- Experience of providing health education
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Good level of communication verbal and written communication skills. Ability to actively listen
- Able to work on own initiative and able to work as part of a team. Able to work without direct supervision, within an agreed scope of practice
- Able to demonstrate a knowledge of Health & Safety legislation for self and others including manual handling legislation
- Able to demonstrate an understanding of the need to improve effectiveness and efficiency and the need to develop services to meet the needs of the local population
- Involvement in service development initiatives
- Awareness of local adult care services, relevant voluntary organisations and private sector resources
- Able to recognise the importance of people's rights and able to act in accordance with legislation and guidance
- To have commitment to the delivery of an equitable patient/client centred service.
Desirable
- Involvement in tasks related to evaluation of services and quality initiatives
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance with relevance to quality initiatives
Personal qualities
Essential
- Frequent Travel Essential - You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.
Education & Qualification
Essential
- To be able to provide evidence of working successfully at Band 3 level
- Foundation Degree or willingness to undertake
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 or Diploma Level 3 QCF
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).
