Job summary
As an assistant practitioner in AAC WEST, you will work alongside a highly experienced multi disciplinary team to deliver AAC services to people with service communication difficulties living in the South West region
Main duties of the job
The role of the Assistant Practitioner within the AAC WEST team is to:
- Prepare equipment as directed by the MDT for assessment and loan
- Programme specialist AAC software as directed by MDT
- To deliver software training sessions to those using AAC
- To deliver 1:1 support sessions with patients as directed by MDT
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing high quality healthcare to the population we support. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
We commit to treating each patient as an individual with respect and dignity, aiming to deliver excellent clinical outcomes and a first-class experience for everyone who uses our services.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an antidiscriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties within this role will includeDuring Assessments
- Input into the assessment planning sessions by sharing knowledge of the software, hardware and vocabularies contained within the various AAC devices used
- Prepare equipment as requested by the MDT in equipment planning sheets
- Programme equipment with relevant information as directed by MDT
- Provide basic technical support during assessments to support MDT
- Write clinical observations during assessments to feed back to MDT
- Support the MDT with admin during assessments
- To contribute in the driving to and from patient visits with MDT
Equipment Programming
- With guidance, prepare equipment for use during trial loan period. This will involve personalising AAC vocabularies and occasional programming basic EAT operations
- Liaise with local teams to collate relevant vocabularies
- A broad knowledge of each of the commonly used specialist AAC software packages
Training
- To provide training to patients and their carers on the care and programming of communication aids prior to the short term loan of equipment.
- Contribute to the rolling programme of software training in conjunction with departmental peers
- Support in the admin of delivering a rolling programme of AAC training
- To deliver bespoke training on AAC where requested
Support
- To support patients and their carers through the assessment process and provide feedback to the MDT re: the progress of targets.
- To provide basic technical support to individuals during an equipment evaluation loan period.
- Where required, partake in communication partner work to model good practice
- To independently run support clinics either face to face or via remote platforms
General
- To participate in and attend departmental meetings
- To participate in appraisal process in line with Trust policies
- To identify own training needs and to participate in appropriate training accordingly
- To assist with the planning and delivery of awareness raising events and training courses to professionals and members of the public as appropriate
- To bring to the attention of the BCAS lead clinicians any issues appropriate to the post and the department
- Bring to the attention of line manager any service improvement suggestions
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and records in line with Trust Policy, as needed.
- To gather activity data accurately and to record this in line with Trust Policy
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties within this role will includeDuring Assessments
- Input into the assessment planning sessions by sharing knowledge of the software, hardware and vocabularies contained within the various AAC devices used
- Prepare equipment as requested by the MDT in equipment planning sheets
- Programme equipment with relevant information as directed by MDT
- Provide basic technical support during assessments to support MDT
- Write clinical observations during assessments to feed back to MDT
- Support the MDT with admin during assessments
- To contribute in the driving to and from patient visits with MDT
Equipment Programming
- With guidance, prepare equipment for use during trial loan period. This will involve personalising AAC vocabularies and occasional programming basic EAT operations
- Liaise with local teams to collate relevant vocabularies
- A broad knowledge of each of the commonly used specialist AAC software packages
Training
- To provide training to patients and their carers on the care and programming of communication aids prior to the short term loan of equipment.
- Contribute to the rolling programme of software training in conjunction with departmental peers
- Support in the admin of delivering a rolling programme of AAC training
- To deliver bespoke training on AAC where requested
Support
- To support patients and their carers through the assessment process and provide feedback to the MDT re: the progress of targets.
- To provide basic technical support to individuals during an equipment evaluation loan period.
- Where required, partake in communication partner work to model good practice
- To independently run support clinics either face to face or via remote platforms
General
- To participate in and attend departmental meetings
- To participate in appraisal process in line with Trust policies
- To identify own training needs and to participate in appropriate training accordingly
- To assist with the planning and delivery of awareness raising events and training courses to professionals and members of the public as appropriate
- To bring to the attention of the BCAS lead clinicians any issues appropriate to the post and the department
- Bring to the attention of line manager any service improvement suggestions
- To maintain up to date and accurate case notes and records in line with Trust Policy, as needed.
- To gather activity data accurately and to record this in line with Trust Policy
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE/O levels including English and Maths
Desirable
- Apprenticeship, City and Guilds diploma , foundation degree
Skills
Essential
- Experience of working with people with disability, especially communication impairment and an understanding of the difficulties encountered by them.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team.
- Ability to manage own time and prioritise tasks
- Confident computer user with a current and working knowledge of Microsoft Word/Access/Excel/ email/internet and social networking
Desirable
- Ability to reflect on own performance
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with disabilities, especially communication impairment
- Experience of working in an environment where assistive technology is used.
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Physically able to manually handle equipment
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
- Ability to manage the emotional pressures of working with clients with complex disabilities and terminal illnesses.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- GCSE/O levels including English and Maths
Desirable
- Apprenticeship, City and Guilds diploma , foundation degree
Skills
Essential
- Experience of working with people with disability, especially communication impairment and an understanding of the difficulties encountered by them.
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team.
- Ability to manage own time and prioritise tasks
- Confident computer user with a current and working knowledge of Microsoft Word/Access/Excel/ email/internet and social networking
Desirable
- Ability to reflect on own performance
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with people with disabilities, especially communication impairment
- Experience of working in an environment where assistive technology is used.
- Experience of working as part of a multi-disciplinary team
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Physically able to manually handle equipment
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
- Ability to manage the emotional pressures of working with clients with complex disabilities and terminal illnesses.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
North Bristol NHS Trust
Address
Bristol Centre for Enablement - Highwood pavilions
Jupiter Road
Patchway, Bristol
BS34 5BW
Employer's website
https://www.nbt.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
