Therapy Assistant (Sefton Long Covid Service)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

1. To undertake and continually practice in a way that meets the Care Certificate standards.
2. To screen and prioritise clients referred to the service in consultation with the registered professionals in the team.
3. To complete a mobility and / or functional assessment for agreed patients, using appropriate skills and knowledge, and recording accurately in the medical notes in the correct format.
4. To recognise own scope of practice and limitations of knowledge and skills. To identify complex issues requiring a qualified therapist / nurse / other professional to see / assess, and ensure such cases are referred to the appropriate professional promptly; and to ensure any issues, concerns or queries regarding patients are discussed with the therapist / professional in a timely manner
5. To carry a delegated caseload of clients with a range of needs, within a defined clinical / technical area of expertise, and be responsible for their assessment and treatment. To analyse the results from this to formulate and adapt treatment plans in consultation with therapists / professionals.
6. To undertake highly skilled therapeutic rehabilitation using innovation, reporting client progress back to the therapist / professional e.g., falls management, on an individual basis, or instructing group exercise classes with or without the presence of a therapist.
7. To demonstrate physical ability to carry out therapy interventions including therapeutic handling and to demonstrate dexterity, co-ordination and palpatory sensory skills for treatment of patients.
8. To use own clinical judgement and knowledge in regard to progressing and / or making modifications to rehabilitation programmes within agreed clinical guidelines and parameters.
9. To be able to recognise change in the condition of a patient and monitor the patients response to any treatment undertaken. To provide effective feedback to therapists / professionals in the Community as appropriate, including changes in the patients condition and any relevant information appropriate to the patients care, utilising judgment, and analytical skills as to the appropriate action to be taken within delegated area of responsibility.
10. To instruct patients and carers, providing direction and guidance on a range of therapy and mobility exercises, as part of own clinical work or as directed by the therapist / professional.
11. To assist with the care of patients including supervising drinking, toileting, dressing and undressing, using principles of enablement.
12. To assist the therapist / professional with individual treatments / exercise as appropriate.
13. To work independently in the implementation and evaluation of therapy interventions for clients within the specified clinical / technical area of competency and in a variety of settings including wards, patients homes, department.
14. To provide planned therapeutic activities and to work alongside other staff utilising personal skills to provide excellent client care and deliver treatment programmes on a one-to-one basis or in groups.
15. To demonstrate an awareness of clinical risk and ability to manage clinical risk within own caseload at all times including observing patients in all situations applicable to therapy, ensuring safety and security at all times.
16. Utilise skills to develop, order, fit and review specialist equipment and adaptations to promote independence and rehabilitation with patients, in conjunction with therapists / professionals.
17. To comply at all times with the requirements of the Health and Safety Regulations and to take responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of self and others in the working environment.
18. To assist therapists / professionals in evaluation of client intervention and rehabilitation progress using appropriate outcome measures and evaluation tools.
19. To maintain accurate client records, consistent with organisational, legal, and professional requirements ensuring documentation reflects the intervention the client has received and maintain statistics as appropriate.
20. To assess patients understanding of proposed rehabilitation and discharge plans and seek valid informed consent from clients before commencing treatment. Work within a legal framework for clients who lack capacity to provide consent to assessment and treatment.
21. To demonstrate a holistic approach towards patients.
22. To assist with the running of peer support groups and exercise classes.
23. To be flexible as may be required to work from a clinic location, virtually from home address, and from patient's home addresses.

Professional

1. To be aware of and understand the role of the multidisciplinary team.
2. To participate in the departments trusted assessors framework, display a willingness to learn, develop a relevant technical competency / area of interest and keep up to date with current national and local issues and developments.
3. To utilise highly developed skills within a trusted assessors framework laid down by NHS Headley Court Hospital for a delegated clinical caseload of patients with a range needs.
4. To be aware of Trust / Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy standards for practice and code of ethics and to work at all times in compliance with these. To contribute to policy development changes in working practice within a defined clinical / technical area.
5. To routinely participate in departmental audits and to participate in research as required.
6. To prioritise own duties / responsibilities within a defined clinical / technical area of expertise and demonstrate efficient time keeping skills.
7. To be responsible for own learning in knowledge base relevant to own clinical area including mandatory training and completion of the Care Certificate, if not already completed, within the first three months in post. To provide non-clinical induction to students and new staff members.
8. To attend and actively participate in the peer support and development groups.
9. To be responsible for imparting information about the technical area of knowledge to other members of the multidisciplinary team as appropriate.
10. To ensure effective communication to therapists, members of the multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, and statutory / voluntary organisations in a timely and efficient manner and in accordance with national and local policies for the sharing of patient information.
11. To participate in regular formal supervision, develop a personal development plan that links into departmental competency frameworks in order to promote learning and enhance skills.
12. To be responsible for managing own daily timetable of delegated tasks including time for supervision and training.
13. To be compliant with policy and procedure regarding the use of Medical Devices within defined clinical / technical area of expertise in line with the Medical Devices Policy.
14. To maintain professional working relationships with the trust, physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments, multidisciplinary team, patients, carers, and personnel from other agencies at all times.
15. To access and input confidential patient information through integrated databases in accordance with the agreed policy and procedure.
16. To be able to cope with occasional potentially stressful, upsetting, or emotional situations.

Organisational

1. To ensure that the requirements of the job role are met within Department and Trust established guidelines.
2. Provide services in accordance with therapy and Trusts standards, procedures, policies, and objectives of quality assurance and ensure that they are consistent with best practise e.g., NICE, NSFs.
3. To comment on or contribute to the reviewing of policies and procedures within the Trust and the therapy services, relating to the defined clinical / technical area of expertise.
4. To prepare the department and / or equipment, being aware of risk factors in accordance with the Trusts Clinical Risk, Health & Safety and Manual Handling policies and procedures.
5. To be responsible for competent use and maintenance of all equipment used, to identify and appropriately dispose of walking aids to be condemned, and report defects in other equipment immediately.
6. To maintain stocks of walking aids and other equipment in the department and on the wards including timely re-ordering of supplies.
7. To undertake routine and general light cleaning / tidying tasks within departmental clinical areas.
8. To undertake some administrative tasks particularly related to record keeping, filing, photocopying, supplies, errands, and message taking in consultation with therapists
9. To ensure the supply and change of laundry if appropriate to clinical area.
10. To prepare and clean equipment used in treatment.
11. To assist with the maintenance, cleanliness, and tidiness of the department.
12. To be responsible for informing line manager of any issues relating to the ability to safely carry out duties.
13. To participate in day-to-day administration and housekeeping duties in the department.
14. To take delegated responsibility for equipment stock control, receipt and safe storage of equipment and alert line manager of issues relating to stock levels and condition of equipment within the satellite equipment stores.
15. To be aware of departmental duties and initiatives to ensure a safe environment, recognising patients requirements for privacy and dignity.
16. To recognise and comply with the trust and departmental policies and procedures e.g., for incident reporting, booking annual leave, study leave, sickness, and absence reporting. To report all complaints promptly to the physiotherapist / occupational therapist and follow Trust Procedure.
17. Undertake any other appropriate duties as required by the unit managers

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Care Certificate or Therapy Assistant qualification or ability to obtain this within 3mths of working in the team
• Good general education e.g., 5 GCSEs or equivalent
• NVQ level 3 or equivalent qualifications
• Word processing skills/Computer skills

Desirable

• Theoretical and practical training to NVQ 3 level in relevant area
• Experience and / or further education in relevant field to diploma level or equivalent
• Basic competency training and skills in mobility assessment, progression of mobility, stair assessment, gym classes, passive, and active assisted movement, stretches, balance work, individual exercise programs
• Experience in a therapy department including working with patients or service users
• Experience of using NHS systems such as EMIS or Rio
• Experience of working in a multi disciplinary team
• Experience of lone working in the community

KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Demonstrates a good knowledge of the roles of the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist

Desirable

• Knowledge and/or experience with falls management and prevention

VALUES

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet
• Change oriented

SKILLS

Essential

• Good written and spoken communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Demonstrates a good knowledge of the roles of the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist
• Professional presentation and demeanour
• Ability to work as part of a therapy and multi-disciplinary team without direct supervision
• Ability to recognise own limitations
• Good time management skills
• Ability to work under pressure
• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Ability to work harmoniously with a diverse workforce and to deliver equity of service to people from different backgrounds
• Ability to work in a climate of organisational change

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Sefton Long COVID Service

Netherton Health Centre

Netherton

L30 5SP

Employer's website

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