Job summary
Therapy Assistant - (Medical Rehabilitation)
West Middlesex University Hospital
There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Health or Social Care support worker to join our acute therapy service as a Band 3 Therapy Assistant West Middlesex University Hospital. This is an ideal next step for someone considering a career in Allied Health Professions.
You will be working in the Medical Rehabilitation Therapies Team which consists of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Therapy Assistants. We provide therapy to adults who are in hospital as a result of an acute illness, assisting them to regain mobility and independence with day to day tasks.You will require some background and experience in a health care setting or working alongside Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, as this post requires you to work in a busy hospital environment with patients, families and other professionals.
We are looking for someone who can work full time hours (37.5 hours a week Monday to Friday, working 8.30am to 4.30pm).
Main duties of the job
The job description provides details on the clinical, administrative and communication requirements and responsibilities of this post. However, the key role will be to support the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to deliver therapeutic care to the patients following admission to hospital.
You will also be responsible for - Delegated administration duties for individuals and the clinical team in which you are working Liaison and communication with therapists and other professionals Dealing sensitively with patients and their families Maintaining treatment areas and equipment Maintaining accurate documentation and written feedback of therapy sessions.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust provide services from two main hospitals, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, and a number of clinics across London and the South-East.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people.
Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate.
We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To carry out the appropriate procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the therapist with the appropriate level of competency. It is the joint responsibility of the therapy assistant and the supervisor to ensure the assistant is competent and confident in carrying out the required intervention and duties. These may involve mobilising and transferring patients, assisting with functional tasks, cognitive rehabilitation programmes set out by a therapist, undertaking home visits, assisting with groups, carrying and installing equipment and supervising exercise programmes.
- To provide patients and carers with direction and guidance on a range of rehabilitation activities as directed by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This may incorporate encouraging patients and carers to actively become involved in regaining and maintaining their independence.
- To carry out access or joint home visits with patients, supervising and assisting patients with treatment programmes as directed by the therapists.
- Setting up equipment for use by therapists during treatment sessions or for use in the home environment to assist patients independence.
Administrative
- To participate in the smooth running of work areas by undertaking administrative tasks e.g. making appointments, telephone calls and other clerical activities.
- To keep regular and up to date records written or electronically data and assist the therapists as necessary with departmental statistics.
- Maintain appropriate levels of stock within the therapy team.
- Arranging transport for patients.
Communication
- To liaise with the occupational therapist /physiotherapist regarding patient care and report to the supervising therapist any change in the patients condition.
- To communicate with other members of the multidisciplinary team, carers, external agencies and those related to the patients care. To use effective communication with patients or relatives who have barriers of understanding or communicating. e.g. visually impaired, cognitive impairment, hearing or speech disability and to be aware of any device e.g. hearing aids which may hinder communication.
- To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to for example, pain, fear or failed expectations.
- To work on a daily basis with patients/carers/relatives who have a high level of emotional stress due to awareness of diagnosis or poor prognosis
Working Conditions
- May be exposed to confined working conditions within patients homes or within hospital environment.
- There may be daily exposure to unpleasant working conditions for example, body fluids including urine, faeces and sputum and hazardous substances such as contaminated body fluids and chemotherapy. There may also be contact with patients who have highly infectious conditions e.g. multi resistant Tuberculosis.
- To work in an environment where the work pattern may be disrupted by frequent demands from staff, patients, students, relatives and telephone calls.
- To comply with the trust manual handling policy at all times.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical
- To carry out the appropriate procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the therapist with the appropriate level of competency. It is the joint responsibility of the therapy assistant and the supervisor to ensure the assistant is competent and confident in carrying out the required intervention and duties. These may involve mobilising and transferring patients, assisting with functional tasks, cognitive rehabilitation programmes set out by a therapist, undertaking home visits, assisting with groups, carrying and installing equipment and supervising exercise programmes.
- To provide patients and carers with direction and guidance on a range of rehabilitation activities as directed by the physiotherapist or occupational therapist. This may incorporate encouraging patients and carers to actively become involved in regaining and maintaining their independence.
- To carry out access or joint home visits with patients, supervising and assisting patients with treatment programmes as directed by the therapists.
- Setting up equipment for use by therapists during treatment sessions or for use in the home environment to assist patients independence.
Administrative
- To participate in the smooth running of work areas by undertaking administrative tasks e.g. making appointments, telephone calls and other clerical activities.
- To keep regular and up to date records written or electronically data and assist the therapists as necessary with departmental statistics.
- Maintain appropriate levels of stock within the therapy team.
- Arranging transport for patients.
Communication
- To liaise with the occupational therapist /physiotherapist regarding patient care and report to the supervising therapist any change in the patients condition.
- To communicate with other members of the multidisciplinary team, carers, external agencies and those related to the patients care. To use effective communication with patients or relatives who have barriers of understanding or communicating. e.g. visually impaired, cognitive impairment, hearing or speech disability and to be aware of any device e.g. hearing aids which may hinder communication.
- To deal sensitively with patients and carers who have a high level of anxiety or aggression due to for example, pain, fear or failed expectations.
- To work on a daily basis with patients/carers/relatives who have a high level of emotional stress due to awareness of diagnosis or poor prognosis
Working Conditions
- May be exposed to confined working conditions within patients homes or within hospital environment.
- There may be daily exposure to unpleasant working conditions for example, body fluids including urine, faeces and sputum and hazardous substances such as contaminated body fluids and chemotherapy. There may also be contact with patients who have highly infectious conditions e.g. multi resistant Tuberculosis.
- To work in an environment where the work pattern may be disrupted by frequent demands from staff, patients, students, relatives and telephone calls.
- To comply with the trust manual handling policy at all times.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential
- GCSE or equivalent English and Maths C or above
- Good reading and writing English comprehension
Desirable
- Evidence of further education at NVQ or above
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting/ hospital
- Experience working in a clinical role with people with disabilities/health conditions.
Desirable
- Experience in working with elderly patients or patient with medical conditions.
- Experience working in a Therapy Department with both physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams
- Experience working in social care/ teaching
Skills / Knowledge / Attribute
Essential
- Evidence of verbal and written communication skills in English
- Demonstration of initiative/ proactive/ work without direct supervision
- Demonstration of ability to work in a team
- Demonstrates effective planning/ organisational skills/ prioritise
- Ability to cope with stressful working situations/ emotional or aggressive people
- Strong communication skills over telephone or email and basic computer skills
- Knowledge of physiotherapy and occupational therapy and Broad understanding of elderly medical conditions or principles of rehab
Desirable
- Experience of manual handling with in-patients
- PROUD values
Appititudes, Characteristic
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively with professional staff/ MDT
- Confident and enthusiastic
- Neat and tidy presentation
- Commitment to patient confidentiality and data protection.
Person Specification
Qualifications / Training
Essential
- GCSE or equivalent English and Maths C or above
- Good reading and writing English comprehension
Desirable
- Evidence of further education at NVQ or above
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of working in a healthcare setting/ hospital
- Experience working in a clinical role with people with disabilities/health conditions.
Desirable
- Experience in working with elderly patients or patient with medical conditions.
- Experience working in a Therapy Department with both physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams
- Experience working in social care/ teaching
Skills / Knowledge / Attribute
Essential
- Evidence of verbal and written communication skills in English
- Demonstration of initiative/ proactive/ work without direct supervision
- Demonstration of ability to work in a team
- Demonstrates effective planning/ organisational skills/ prioritise
- Ability to cope with stressful working situations/ emotional or aggressive people
- Strong communication skills over telephone or email and basic computer skills
- Knowledge of physiotherapy and occupational therapy and Broad understanding of elderly medical conditions or principles of rehab
Desirable
- Experience of manual handling with in-patients
- PROUD values
Appititudes, Characteristic
Essential
- Able to work collaboratively with professional staff/ MDT
- Confident and enthusiastic
- Neat and tidy presentation
- Commitment to patient confidentiality and data protection.
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.