Assistant Therapy Practitioner (XR04)

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To work within the Neuro-oncology/Neurosurgical physiotherapy team providing highly skilled and specialised clinical, administrative and organisational support, working on the Neurosciences wards.

The post holder will work independently to manage their own caseload, perform new patient assessments and formulate appropriate discharge plans to support patient flow. The post holder will manage a caseload of patients independently and be able to work as part of the wider team of Physiotherapists.

To maintain stock and equipment including reordering. Carry out date entry and use IT skills. Make onward community and inpatient referrals.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

This post is based within the Neurosurgery Physiotherapy service at Leeds General Infirmary.

Day to day supervisory support will be provided by the Neuro-oncology/Neurosurgery Physiotherapy team.

The post holder is responsible for:

A designated caseload of inpatients and to organise this efficiently and effectively with regard to own and team priorities.

To undertake specifically delegated comprehensive assessments of patients including those with complex needs.

To carry out and develop rehabilitation programmes with patients in conjunction with other members of the multidisciplinary team.

To formulate an individual management/treatment programmes, using clinical reasoning and a range of evidence-based treatment skills, including physiotherapy techniques and patient education.

To maintain own clinical professional development by maintaining and developing current knowledge of practice, to maintain a portfolio which reflects personal development and shows evidence of reflective practice.

To provide advice and teaching to patients, relatives, carers and other professional, with support as required, to ensure a coordinated approach to patient care.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Essential

Level 4 qualification in relevant health, human movement , care or sports related subjects

GCSE English and Maths grade C minimum or equivalent.

Significant experience working as a therapy support worker in an acute setting

Experience in organising and running groups

Able to understand and apply therapy process and patient pathways regarding the delivery of therapy/care

Demonstrate clear understanding of treatment of stroke, eg thrombolysis, thrombectomy and the stroke pathway

Communication skills - written, verbal and numeracy

Interpersonal skills

Ability to work as part of both uni and multi professional teams

Ability to work independently/manage workload under guidance Ability to respond and act upon feedback from others

Problem solving

Time management

Organisational skills

Show initiative

Demonstrate continued professional and personal development

Ability to move and handle patients and equipment

Maintain confidentiality.

Experience of working in a Healthcare, Education or Social Care setting as a carer or similar.

Demonstrate an awareness of people with disabilities and problems

Demonstrate understanding of the role of Physiotherapy in Stroke Management

Desirable

Previous experience of working in a neurology therapy setting

Experience of using Information Technology systems

Completion of the CARE certificate. Otherwise will be mandatory training requirement during the first 3 months of employment.

7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Communication Skills written, verbal, numeracy

Interpersonal Skills

Ability to work as part of a Team (PT and MDT)

Ability to manage a workload provided by more than one professional.

Problem-solving

Time Management

Organisational Skills

Administrative Skills

Able to work in a stressful environment

Ability to use initiative

Ability to influence and persuade

Ability to take responsibility for personal development

Ability to move and handle patients and equipment

8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Understanding of Physiotherapy job roles.

Awareness of the needs and problems of those with illness and disabilities

Awareness of the functional effects of the patient group in the clinical area caused by illness and / or disability.

Understanding of legislation, guidelines and protocols that affect the clinical area

Awareness of Health and Safety

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

To accept responsibility Physiotherapy initial assessments to facilitate appropriate screening and management of patients who present with symptoms of stroke.

To plan and prioritise clinical tasks.

To deliver the service using patient pathways and protocols to support your delivery of therapy process and taking into account each patients individual physical, social and emotional needs.

To make contact with patients to initiate assessments and intervention.

To interpret and analyse information from assessments, judge how to progress intervention and when to liaise with a qualified member of staff eg Senior Physiotherapist, Nurse, Doctor, Speech and Language Therapist and Occupational Therapist.

To analyse and make decisions about the most appropriate environment in which to carryout intervention.

To independently carryout home and community assessments.

To motivate and support patients and carers to participate in therapy intervention.

To assess and advise patients regarding transfers, falls, equipment and risks.

To assess, prescribe and train patients and carers in the use of assistive equipment.

To assess risk factors and judge when to summons assistance or adapt the treatment session

To communicate with patients and carers using a variety of communication strategies and tools to ensure information is understood and treatment is progressed. This will include patients and carers who have difficulties communicating and understanding.

To liaise with other team members, internal and external agencies.

To identify the need for and refer to internal and external agencies using appropriate referral system.

To record interventions accurately and timely using team/trust documentation, complying with Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.

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 lead and participate in departmental/service developments, projects audit and reviews.

To carry out designated ordering and maintenance of stock, equipment and resources.

Managerial

To supervise Band 2/3 therapy assistant

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:

There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity lasting approximately 1 - 6 hours e.g. treatment sessions involving facilitation of movement in functional transferring of patients/ provision and fitting of equipment/pushing wheelchairs/using manual handling equipment.

There may be the requirement for the post holder to travel between sites within The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in order to best meet the needs of the service. The post holder may be based on more than one site to carry out their duties.

ii) MENTAL EFFORT:

Patient clinical interventions will last up to 1hr per session including detailed clinical documentation and liaising with other agencies. On occasion this will be in conjunction with another therapist, but frequently this will be as a lone worker.

While working on the ward you will be approached by other staff and asked to share clinical information about on-going cases.

You will have to triage and prioritise referrals - with available therapist support.

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 exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a daily basis when carrying out personal care activities such as washing and dressing including direct contact with bodily fluids.

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

This job involves occasional exposure to very poor unhygienic and unsafe living conditions when carrying out home assessments.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 4 NVQ qualification in relevant health care or science related subject.
• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C minimum) or Functional Skills equivalent (Level 2 minimum)
• Completion of CARE Certificate otherwise mandatory training within first 3 months of employment

Skills & behaviours

Essential

• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Able to manage workload delegated by a number of therapists
• Flexible
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Able to review and adapt to an unpredictable workload
• Able to work effectively within tight time scales

Experience

Essential

• Relevant clinical Experience.
• Significant experience as a Therapy Support worker in a hospital setting.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)