Job summary
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced and dynamic therapist to join our friendly therapy team at University Hospital Lewisham. You will be working within our LEEP team (Pulmonary Rehabilitation) supported by a team of qualified Physiotherapists.
In this role you will be working within a hospital or community setting, providing assessment and treatment programmes for patients, under the supervision of qualified therapy staff. You will be managing your own caseload and working autonomously. Due to the nature of the caseload this role will include moving and handling.
The ideal candidate will have experience working with patients in a hospital or community setting, and have excellent communication and rapport skills. An ability to work flexibly within a fast paced environment is essential.
You will be working as a key member of the team in a patient focused manner, problem solve and support the team to overcome any issues as they arise.
Main duties of the job
This position is accountable to the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead. The post holder will provide therapy in a hospital setting, in a patient's home or in a community setting. The position contributes to the improved self-management for patients with chronic respiratory disease, to maximise clinical outcome.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will work under the supervision of qualified therapy staff, providing assessment and treatment programmes for patients in the hospital and community setting.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner is able to carry out a full episode of care from assessment to discharge, for a specified and designated clinical caseload identified by a qualified clinician.
The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and department.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be responsible for supervising band 3 staff and students as directed by the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead and Team Lead.
The successful applicant will hold a full valid UK drivers licence and have the ability to work independently in the community if required.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
- Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
- Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
- Improving the experience of staff with disability
- Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
- Making equalities mainstream
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Department: LEEP Team Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Responsible to: Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead
Grade: Band 4
Hours: 37.5
Job Summary:
This position is accountable to the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead. The post holder will provide therapy in a hospital setting, in a community setting, or possibly the patients home. The position contributes to the improved self-management for patients with chronic respiratory disease with the aim of maximising clinical outcomes.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will work under the supervision of qualified therapy staff, providing assessment and treatment programmes for patients in the hospital and community settings.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be able to carry out a full episode of care from assessment to discharge, for a specified and designated clinical caseload identified by a qualified clinician.
The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and department.
Key Result Areas & Performance:
- To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to assist in the carrying of a caseload of patients under the supervision, direct and indirect, of a therapist
- Assess patients for suitability for attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation programmes via health questionnaires and walking tests independently as well as in conjunction with senior physiotherapist.
- Discuss any concerning cases with a senior physio to ensure patient safety when joining the LEEP programme.
- Partly leading classes and providing 1:1 support for patients where needed; including adjusting exercise programmes and discussing with senior physiotherapist which adaptations are needed for safe continuation of exercise programme.
- Assess and provide for equipment needs where appropriate
- Review patients to assess function
- Progress patients to maximise their function and independence as designated from qualified therapist
- To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies.
- To promote understanding on the aims of therapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.
- Contribute to advice and education sessions for relevant patient groups
- To participate in multidisciplinary / multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This may include the review of patient progress, and discharge planning.
- To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion, motivation and negotiation to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme.
- Maintain accurate clinical records of all interventions according to CSP and HCPC guidance and locally set standards.
- To produce patient related reports for other disciplines or agencies relating to assessment findings and/or treatment outcomes
- Input and maintenance to databases as required; including data input into RiO, ICare and Excel databases.
- Referring to the qualified practitioner when necessary, to work independently with a specified client group to manage equipment provision and functional assessment and rehabilitation.
- Deliver and install simple aids and equipment in the patients home and instruct patients and carers in use of this equipment as appropriate
- To carry out home visits and access visits, with or without a therapist, as required.
- To manage own day to day workload and maintain level of service within the pathway at the local site, and assist other members of the team to make appropriate prioritisation choices. To ensure the effective exchange of information across the pathway team and co-ordination of service delivery.
- Participate in weekend working rota.
- To assist admin staff with the triaging of patients and inputting of referrals onto the database, as well as assisting in the booking in of initial physiotherapy appointments.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Post Title: Therapy Assistant Practitioner
Department: LEEP Team Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Responsible to: Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead
Grade: Band 4
Hours: 37.5
Job Summary:
This position is accountable to the Inpatient Physiotherapy Lead. The post holder will provide therapy in a hospital setting, in a community setting, or possibly the patients home. The position contributes to the improved self-management for patients with chronic respiratory disease with the aim of maximising clinical outcomes.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will work under the supervision of qualified therapy staff, providing assessment and treatment programmes for patients in the hospital and community settings.
The Therapy Assistant Practitioner will be able to carry out a full episode of care from assessment to discharge, for a specified and designated clinical caseload identified by a qualified clinician.
The post holder will assist in the administration and clerical duties for the team and department.
Key Result Areas & Performance:
- To undertake all aspects of clinical duties and to assist in the carrying of a caseload of patients under the supervision, direct and indirect, of a therapist
- Assess patients for suitability for attending Pulmonary Rehabilitation programmes via health questionnaires and walking tests independently as well as in conjunction with senior physiotherapist.
- Discuss any concerning cases with a senior physio to ensure patient safety when joining the LEEP programme.
- Partly leading classes and providing 1:1 support for patients where needed; including adjusting exercise programmes and discussing with senior physiotherapist which adaptations are needed for safe continuation of exercise programme.
- Assess and provide for equipment needs where appropriate
- Review patients to assess function
- Progress patients to maximise their function and independence as designated from qualified therapist
- To provide information, teaching and instruction to relatives, carers, other disciplines and agencies.
- To promote understanding on the aims of therapy and to ensure continuation of the treatment programme.
- Contribute to advice and education sessions for relevant patient groups
- To participate in multidisciplinary / multi-agency team meetings and case conferences to ensure the co-ordination of patient care. This may include the review of patient progress, and discharge planning.
- To employ appropriate skills such as persuasion, motivation and negotiation to gain co-operation in the continuation of the agreed treatment programme.
- Maintain accurate clinical records of all interventions according to CSP and HCPC guidance and locally set standards.
- To produce patient related reports for other disciplines or agencies relating to assessment findings and/or treatment outcomes
- Input and maintenance to databases as required; including data input into RiO, ICare and Excel databases.
- Referring to the qualified practitioner when necessary, to work independently with a specified client group to manage equipment provision and functional assessment and rehabilitation.
- Deliver and install simple aids and equipment in the patients home and instruct patients and carers in use of this equipment as appropriate
- To carry out home visits and access visits, with or without a therapist, as required.
- To manage own day to day workload and maintain level of service within the pathway at the local site, and assist other members of the team to make appropriate prioritisation choices. To ensure the effective exchange of information across the pathway team and co-ordination of service delivery.
- Participate in weekend working rota.
- To assist admin staff with the triaging of patients and inputting of referrals onto the database, as well as assisting in the booking in of initial physiotherapy appointments.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Evidence of study to or attainment of NVQ level 3, relevant qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience.
Desirable
- Experience working as a Band 3 Therapy Assistant
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working clinically in a physiotherapy or occupational service.
- Experience of working with patients in an acute setting.
- IT experience.
- Knowledge of basic principles of rehabilitation
- Able to use initiative and work independently, able to manage time, prioritise and organise own workload
- Able to exert moderate effort, on a day to day basis, for short to prolonged periods of time in order to undertake required moving and handling procedures/treatment sessions/fitting of equipment
- Able to use computer databases and complete records electronically
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Community and acute experience
- Working in a care-related environment
- Knowledge of respiratory conditions
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
- Evidence of study to or attainment of NVQ level 3, relevant qualification or equivalent knowledge and experience.
Desirable
- Experience working as a Band 3 Therapy Assistant
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working clinically in a physiotherapy or occupational service.
- Experience of working with patients in an acute setting.
- IT experience.
- Knowledge of basic principles of rehabilitation
- Able to use initiative and work independently, able to manage time, prioritise and organise own workload
- Able to exert moderate effort, on a day to day basis, for short to prolonged periods of time in order to undertake required moving and handling procedures/treatment sessions/fitting of equipment
- Able to use computer databases and complete records electronically
Desirable
- NHS experience
- Community and acute experience
- Working in a care-related environment
- Knowledge of respiratory conditions
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).
