Job summary
The Community Therapy Team in South Cumbria are seeking torecruit an enthusiastic Therapy Assistant to support the Discharge to Assess and Community Rehab teams.The post holder will work alongside qualified Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy staff to provide safe and effective rehab to people leaving the acute hospital setting and returning to their own home.
While this post in primary in the discharge to assess service path, you will join a wider dedicated and motivated team of Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Assistant Practitioners and Therapy Assistants, who provide assessment and rehabilitation services to people within their own homes.
With access to clinical supervision, in-service training and support from the wider therapy team, this is an exciting opportunity to develop skills and experience in a therapy assistant role while contributing to the provision of discharge planning and rehabilitation in the community.On a daily basis you will be travelling to peoples own homes in the community to complete tasks delegated to you by a qualified therapist. You will need the ability to travel independently between locations in rural areas that do not have frequent public transport links.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be based at Westmorland General Hospital and will carry out work as delegated by the qualified Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy Staff.
This will include (but is not limited too)
- Supporting therapists with activities requiring additional therapeutic moving and handling support, for example stair practice, mobility assessments, moving and handing equipment assessments
- Delivering and fitting minor aids and adaptations into a person own home as directed
- Coordinating visits and environmental assessments as requested
- Effectively communicating with the patient, family and teams
- Using appropriate techniques to help motivate and encourage people with their rehab plans and goals
- Recording own clinical records in the electronic patients records (EMIS and Lorenzo being current systems used)
- Basic maintenance and cleaning of rehab equipment
- Carrying out visit to peoples own homes as directed
- Making onwards referrals to other agencies as required
- Reporting any issues or incidents that arise in the course of your duties.
- Supporting the wider team when required with any duty related to effective and safe service provision.
About us
We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community health care premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.
FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.
WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.
All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay visiting our website https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/
Job description
Job responsibilities
To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay visiting our website https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care or Equivalent level 3 training (A levels/BTEC ) or relevant experience as a therapy assistance sufficient to meet the competencies of the post.
- Basic numeracy and literacy (e.g. GCSE level/functional skills level
- Basic computer skills
Desirable
- Trusted Assessor Training for minor aids and adaptations
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a Health & Social Care setting
Desirable
- Experience in a relevant clinical area/s in an acute or community hospital setting
- Experience in providing Rehab
- Experience working with people who have Dementia or other cognitive impairment
Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential
- Ability to work with individuals/groups of patients without direct supervision
- Observation and reporting skills both verbal and written
- Ability to prioritise and manage work load independently
- Knowledge of the purpose and safe use of loan equipment available to patients
- Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality
- Understanding and able to apply Health & Safety and risk awareness issues
- Positive and objective interpersonal skills
- Effective personal organisational skills
- Written and oral communication skills in English sufficient to communicate effectively with patients to gain consent and explain treatment interventions and gain information required for the patient's medical/social history relevant to OT
- Basic computer skills e.g. word processing, email and internet skills
Desirable
- Therapy support worker level- knowledge and skills in a relevant clinical area
- Therapy practice skills- patient handling, fitting and use of aids of daily living, use of wheelchairs and walking aids
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of the post with reasonable adjustments if needed
- Ability to travel between sites and to community locations, including patients own homes that may not be on public transport networks
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
- Ability to recognise own learning needs and seek help when required
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care or Equivalent level 3 training (A levels/BTEC ) or relevant experience as a therapy assistance sufficient to meet the competencies of the post.
- Basic numeracy and literacy (e.g. GCSE level/functional skills level
- Basic computer skills
Desirable
- Trusted Assessor Training for minor aids and adaptations
Experience
Essential
- Experience in a Health & Social Care setting
Desirable
- Experience in a relevant clinical area/s in an acute or community hospital setting
- Experience in providing Rehab
- Experience working with people who have Dementia or other cognitive impairment
Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential
- Ability to work with individuals/groups of patients without direct supervision
- Observation and reporting skills both verbal and written
- Ability to prioritise and manage work load independently
- Knowledge of the purpose and safe use of loan equipment available to patients
- Understanding of professional conduct and confidentiality
- Understanding and able to apply Health & Safety and risk awareness issues
- Positive and objective interpersonal skills
- Effective personal organisational skills
- Written and oral communication skills in English sufficient to communicate effectively with patients to gain consent and explain treatment interventions and gain information required for the patient's medical/social history relevant to OT
- Basic computer skills e.g. word processing, email and internet skills
Desirable
- Therapy support worker level- knowledge and skills in a relevant clinical area
- Therapy practice skills- patient handling, fitting and use of aids of daily living, use of wheelchairs and walking aids
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of the post with reasonable adjustments if needed
- Ability to travel between sites and to community locations, including patients own homes that may not be on public transport networks
- Understanding of the role of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy
- Ability to recognise own learning needs and seek help when required
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.
