Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Therapies Assistant to join our team at The Kingfisher.
The Kingfisher is a 10-bed inpatient service for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, based at Blackberry Hill in Bristol. A dedicated team of Therapists, Nurses, and Support Workers provides highly specialist assessment, care, and interventions, enabling service users to live meaningful, fulfilling, and independent lives and to move back into the community.
The successful candidate will receive regular supervision from qualified therapists (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Psychology and Psychotherapy, and Dietetics), as well as group supervision and support from the wider team. There are regular and varied training opportunities, along with opportunities to be involved in service evaluation and research.
You will be joining a multi-disciplinary therapies team and supporting the design and implementation of interventions, including positive behavioural support, reducing restrictive practice, psychological work, communication, meaningful activities, and safe and enjoyable mealtimes, with a specific focus on Nature-Based Interventions.
Right to Work in the UK :This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for a Nature-Based Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join the new Kingfisher Service. Kingfisher is a specialist acute mental health inpatient service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. The role involves working directly with service users on the wards and supporting staff to engage with the natural world.
This post forms a key part of the Therapeutic Team and includes working alongside colleagues passionate about delivering Nature-Based Practices, including Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Psychology, and Psychotherapy. You will also work closely with the wider ward team, including Nurses and Health Care Support Workers. Support and guidance will be provided by team members trained and experienced in Nature-Based Practice.
The role focuses specifically on Nature-Based Practice within Kingfisher, providing a mixture of 1:1 support and group sessions within the ward environment and the wider community. You will support service users to access natural spaces in the community, as well as bring nature into the ward environment. You will work within the evidence base to improve the quality of life and the physical and mental health of service users.
This role involves working across a range of environments throughout the year, requiring you to be prepared for all weather conditions and to engage in practical, hands-on activities.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust): a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We deliver services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire, and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees provide better care.
AWP is committed to supporting and creating a positive, research-active, evidence-based environment and culture, which has a beneficial impact on everyone who works within the organisation and on the care we provide to those who use our services.
At AWP, we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds. We are particularly keen to receive applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives, and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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To assist in the design and implementation of evidencebased NatureBased Practice.
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To assist in the planning and delivery of practice workshops.
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To deliver, as appropriate, 1:1 and group therapeutic interventions.
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To support families/carers of service users and ensure their opinions, expertise, and needs are considered.
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To facilitate and support training for staff within the service, under the direction of senior staff.
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To liaise with other professionals and agencies, as appropriate, to support the care and wellbeing of service users and communicate around risk.
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To support the design and creation of easyread literature such as social stories and care plans.
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To support meaningful activities on and off the ward, including planning and facilitating trips for service users.
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To regularly attend relevant multiprofessional meetings.
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To spend time with service users to build positive relationships and model interventions and guidelines to staff
For full details, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
-
To assist in the design and implementation of evidencebased NatureBased Practice.
-
To assist in the planning and delivery of practice workshops.
-
To deliver, as appropriate, 1:1 and group therapeutic interventions.
-
To support families/carers of service users and ensure their opinions, expertise, and needs are considered.
-
To facilitate and support training for staff within the service, under the direction of senior staff.
-
To liaise with other professionals and agencies, as appropriate, to support the care and wellbeing of service users and communicate around risk.
-
To support the design and creation of easyread literature such as social stories and care plans.
-
To support meaningful activities on and off the ward, including planning and facilitating trips for service users.
-
To regularly attend relevant multiprofessional meetings.
-
To spend time with service users to build positive relationships and model interventions and guidelines to staff
For full details, please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.
Person Specification
Essential and desirable
Essential
- A minimum of two GCSE's, including English
- Previous paid or voluntary experience working directly with people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health difficulties
- Knowledge and/or experience of relevant therapeutic models, e.g. Positive Behavioural Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Active Support, Augmented Communication, etc.
- Knowledge of the types of stigma / prejudice experienced by autistic people, people with a Learning Disability, or mental health illness, and possible ways of challenging this stigma
- Ability to form and sustain appropriate trusting relationships with service users/carers
- Ability to be adaptive and creative in oral communication, and use augmented methods of communication for example drawings and photographs as required
- Written communication skills, with the ability to contribute to written reports, maintain accurate records and interpret relevant clinical information effectively
- IT skills: ability to use email, Microsoft packages (word, publisher, basic functions of Excel) and basic clinical records databases.
- Team-working skills, and ability to function effectively and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary setting
- Enthusiasm for continual professional development and service improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to change
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced trauma, discrimination and mental health difficulties, and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times
- Ability to work autonomously in a range of working environments
- Commitment to service user centred, non-discriminatory practice
Desirable
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject
- Technical/teaching qualification e.g. City & Guilds or health & Social Care NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification
- Qualifications relevant to therapeutic work with people with learning disabilities, e.g. Positive Behavioural Support, Counselling skills, Makaton, etc.
- Previous experience as a support worker/health care assistant with people with learning disabilities
- Previous experience of delivering therapeutic/psychologically informed interventions
- Knowledge/experience of producing easy read/accessible information
- Previous experience of delivering teaching/training
- Practical knowledge and experience around nature-based working
- Knowledge and experience around risk assessment and managing risks
Person Specification
Essential and desirable
Essential
- A minimum of two GCSE's, including English
- Previous paid or voluntary experience working directly with people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health difficulties
- Knowledge and/or experience of relevant therapeutic models, e.g. Positive Behavioural Support, Trauma-Informed Care, Active Support, Augmented Communication, etc.
- Knowledge of the types of stigma / prejudice experienced by autistic people, people with a Learning Disability, or mental health illness, and possible ways of challenging this stigma
- Ability to form and sustain appropriate trusting relationships with service users/carers
- Ability to be adaptive and creative in oral communication, and use augmented methods of communication for example drawings and photographs as required
- Written communication skills, with the ability to contribute to written reports, maintain accurate records and interpret relevant clinical information effectively
- IT skills: ability to use email, Microsoft packages (word, publisher, basic functions of Excel) and basic clinical records databases.
- Team-working skills, and ability to function effectively and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary setting
- Enthusiasm for continual professional development and service improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to change
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced trauma, discrimination and mental health difficulties, and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times
- Ability to work autonomously in a range of working environments
- Commitment to service user centred, non-discriminatory practice
Desirable
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant subject
- Technical/teaching qualification e.g. City & Guilds or health & Social Care NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualification
- Qualifications relevant to therapeutic work with people with learning disabilities, e.g. Positive Behavioural Support, Counselling skills, Makaton, etc.
- Previous experience as a support worker/health care assistant with people with learning disabilities
- Previous experience of delivering therapeutic/psychologically informed interventions
- Knowledge/experience of producing easy read/accessible information
- Previous experience of delivering teaching/training
- Practical knowledge and experience around nature-based working
- Knowledge and experience around risk assessment and managing risks
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.
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