Job responsibilities
The
jobholder will be undertaking a training programme within the Leeds Teaching
Hospital NHS Trust (LTHT). The training will be delivered through formal
education either in-house and or via external providers, and clinical
placements. They will be involved in providing direct and indirect care for
patients in support of and supervised by the therapy team or Senior Therapy
Assistants.
It
is expected that the apprentice will commit to self-directed study and
successfully complete the training programme within the contract period.
The
jobholder will contribute to the maintenance of an environment for effective
care.
The
jobholder must be 18 years old or over
Clinical
Responsibilities
This post is based at Seacroft
Hospital working within the Specialist Rehabilitation Services department and
in the community.
The post involves both Face to Face
and Non Face to Face assessments for and provision of mobility devices under
the supervision of a Wheelchair
Therapist, including personal care tasks, unpacking and assembling of
devices, mobility and transfer tasks.
Team
Responsibilities
Designated administrative and
organisational tasks.
Routine tasks to enable the
department to function on a day to day basis.
Participation in projects
Professional
Responsibilities
Trust objectives & business plan
Service objectives and business plan
Modernisation agenda and government
initiatives
.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical
Support team members with appropriate
clinical activities under direct
supervision
To assist the therapy staff in
carrying out wheelchair assessments and provision of appropriate medical
devices as delegated by a Wheelchair Therapist in the agreed environment taking
into account each patients individual physical, social, emotional needs and
long term mobility requirement.
To deliver the service using the
Wheelchair Service process (screening; assessing and provision of equipment;
(reviewing and monitoring outcome measures).
To gain valid informed consent from
patients for any Face to Face and non Face to Face assessments
To liaise with patients and carers on
a daily basis regarding assessments and provision, answering telephone/email
enquiries.
To accompany Wheelchair Therapists or
other Wheelchair Service staff on home/community assessments and if appropriate
to carry out follow-up sessions unaccompanied.
To assist in the planning and
preparation of assessments in the most appropriate environment. Arranging
ambulance transport and interpreters where necessary.
To deliver, fit and demonstrate
equipment in clinic and in a patients home, providing advice and training to
patients and carers as required (to level of competencies).
To assist the Wheelchair Therapy Team
in organising training sessions for patients and to internal and external referrers,
To plan and prioritise clinical tasks
with guidance from the Wheelchair Therapist.
To take and analyse information
from telephone enquiries
and judge what to feedback to the Therapy team
To assess risk factors and judge when
to summons assistance, adapt the assessment etc.
To communicate with patients and
carers using a variety of communication strategies and tools to ensure
information is understood. This will include
patients and carers who have difficulties communicating and understanding.
To liaise with other team members,
internal and external agencies as delegated by the Wheelchair team.
To refer to internal and external
agencies using appropriate referral system as delegated by the Wheelchair team.
To record interventions accurately
and timely using team/trust electronic documentation/system and complying with
local and national guidelines and legislative requirements.
To participate in home visits,
assessments and meetings as required.
To promote Wheelchair Services to
others.
To complete activity data using
team/trust documentation and outcome measures.
To be able to work in a stressful
environment
To be able to deal effectively with
emotional and/or aggressive patients, carers.
To participate in
departmental/service developments, projects audit and research.
Education
and Training
To participate fully in the training
programme for the Level 2 Adult Care Worker by:
i) Attending formal study sessions
ii) Be willing to undertake self-directed
learning
ii) Completing all tasks and assignments
iii)
Applying skills and knowledge to patient care in the clinical area
iv)
Contributing to regular performance and progress reviews
To successfully complete the academic
elements of the programme as specified by the employer and the training
organisation.
To complete successfully the clinical
competencies related to national occupational standards as specified by the
employer and the training organisation.
To achieve a minimum of Key Skills
Level 1 in numeracy and literacy and apply this learning in the workplace.
To take responsibility in agreement
with line manager for personal development by ensuring that Continuing Professional
Development remains a priority.
To provide evidence of personal
development.
To undertake all mandatory training
required for the role.
To participate in in-service
training, internal and external study days, ensuring the sharing of information
and reflection on learning experiences.
To participate in induction and
training programmes for new/less experienced colleagues.
Leadership
To participate in supervision and
appraisal processes in line with Wheelchair Service and Trust Guidelines.
To carryout designated ordering and
maintenance of stock, equipment and resources.
To carryout administrative and
housekeeping duties connected to the day to day running of the department.
To plan and prioritise clinical and
non-clinical tasks with guidance from Wheelchair Therapists.
To comply with codes of practice,
departmental and trust policies, procedures and guidelines.
To communicate all relevant
information regarding the service to the Wheelchair Therapy Team /Supervisor.
To demonstrate an awareness of Risk
Management and apply to clinical and non-clinical situations.
To ensure the safe use of equipment
by self and others.
To undertake any other duties
delegated and appropriate to the grade
To be aware of the boundaries of the
role and not work outside these responsibilities.
Health
and Safety/Risk Management
All
staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve
the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes
complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, in
particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents
using the Trust Incident Reporting System.
Infection
Control
The
jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection
Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact
with patients and their environment.
Equality
and Diversity
The
job holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures to ensure equality
of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally
irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation,
religion etc.
Respect
for Patient Confidentiality
The
job holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge
patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
SPECIAL
WORKING CONDITIONS
i) PHYSICAL EFFORT
There
is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity lasting
approximately 30 60 minutes e.g. assessment sessions involving facilitation
of movement in functional transferring of patients/ provision and fitting of
equipment/pushing wheelchairs/using manual handling equipment. Unpacking,
manoeuvring and adjusting mobility devices e.g. wheelchairs
ii) MENTAL EFFORT
The post holder will need to be able
to concentrate when dealing with telephone and Face to Face
enquiries/assessments recording information accurately.
The post holder is likely to work
with more than one Wheelchair Therapist and has to be able to manage and
negotiate work delegated by different Therapists.
The post holder will be required to
break-off from tasks to respond to other urgent requests and tasks and often
has to re-prioritise tasks and alter work plans for that day.
iii) EMOTIONAL EFFORT
This job involves occasional exposure to
verbal and physical aggression.
This job involves exposure to distressing
circumstances such as terminal illness
iv) WORKING CONDITIONS
This job involves some exposure to
unpleasant working conditions on a daily/weekly basis when dealing with
returned equipment and may include direct contact with bodily fluids.
Driving, loading and delivering heavy
equipment in all weathers and after dark, but accompanied.
The post holder may be required to
work single-handedly with patients and carers away from LTHT premises which may
include home, residential/nursing homes, workplaces, education facilities and
the wider community.
A hospital vehicle is provided on
site, and there is an expectation that staff will drive the van to transport
equipment on community visits.
Daily use of VDU
