Senior Therapy Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient/Clinical Care

1. To implement Therapy treatment plans for individual patients and groups of patients, with and without direct supervision.

2. To work with a delegated caseload of patients, within agreed guidelines to progress patients treatment and to report back to the qualified therapist on the patients progression.

3. To carry out basic clinical assessments, and subsequently implement a relevant treatment programme, including therapeutic handling and the use of specialist equipment or tools.

4. Under the direction of the qualified therapist, to carry out assessments for the provision of standard assistive equipment including walking aids, which can include assessment in the patients own home and the carrying out of follow-up home visits.

5. To implement all aspects of the trusts infection control policy.

6. To contribute to weekend and evening working initiatives as appropriate

7. To understand and comply with the trust policies relating to working with vulnerable adults and children.

Management Responsibilities

1. To ensure that patient activities can be carried out in a safe environment by contributing to the general housekeeping of the department, including preparation of activities, stock maintenance, handling of petty cash, etc.

2. To maintain stock and advise on resources necessary to carry out the job, taking a lead role in ensuring orders are processed.

3. To organise and prepare treatment sessions, classes and activities

4. To contribute to the health and safety agenda by promoting a safe culture and undertaking specific tasks (i.e. COSHH), as part of the wider team and specifically for the area of work.

5. To demonstrate own duties to inexperienced staff and students.

6. To take a lead role in the maintenance of a clean and tidy work environment

Communication and relationships

1. To communicate effectively with patients, with due regard to physical, sensory and cognitive difficulties, respecting their views, autonomy and culture.

2. To be able to reassure and persuade patients to undertake the necessary therapeutic activities

3. To work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team forming and sustaining professional relationships.

4. To monitor patients progress, recognise when adjustment to clinical intervention is necessary, and act accordingly, including liaison with the qualified therapist.

5. To report effectively in both written and oral formats, both to the team and your supervising therapists on patients performance and progress

6. To occasionally deal with upset patients and their relatives in a tactful and supportive way.

Governance

1. To review and reflect on your own practice and take and active part in your own personal appraisal and development programmes, including the ongoing development of a portfolio.

2. To contribute to the ongoing improvement and modernisation of the service by contributing to training and induction programmes and being involved in audit and evaluation activities.

3. To work to local policies and procedures, for example those regarding manual handling, lone working, etc.

This job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However, the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore be amended in consultation with the post holder.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous NHS experience

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 3 or equivalent

Experience

Desirable

• Previous experience working within a therapy team

Specific Role requirements

Essential

• Experience of working within the NHS

Desirable

• Experience of working within the NHS in the respiratory/surgical specialty

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

Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT

Address

Warrington Hospital

Lovely Lane

Warrington

WA5 1QG

Employer's website

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