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Job summary

Main area
Therapy Services
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 3
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
409-6158225-A
Employer
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Whiston Hospital
Town
Prescot
Salary
£22,816 - £24,336 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
03/05/2024 23:59

Employer heading

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Therapy Assistant

NHS AfC: Band 3

Job overview

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated person to work within the Frailty Therapy Team, supporting the delivery of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy in our team.

The main duties include:

  • Supporting qualified therapists with the implementation of treatment plans and interventions for patients on the Frailty ward.
  • Have the ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing working patterns as the team work their hours across a 7 day rota.
  • Gathering information from the patients or families, following treatment plans under supervision, providing education and practice in activities of daily living, mobility and cognitive rehabilitation.
  • Administrative duties, including photocopying and filing, maintaining audit information, and completing statistics, of which is computer based.
  • The role will require you to assist with moving and handling of patients using appropriate equipment.

Our philosophy is to keep the patient at the heart of everything we do.

Main duties of the job

  • To work within the Therapy service and support the delivery of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetics in our teams in a variety of hospital settings and the patient’s own homes.
  • To hold responsibility for delegated caseload and be responsible for a defined area of service or patient type linking back to the delegating therapist
  • To participate in bank holiday, weekend and evening working if required, following appropriate training.

All therapists work as part of an MDT and as such Therapy assistants are expected to provide support and when needed supervision to all disciplines: Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy and Dietetics.

Working for our organisation

The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.

From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.

The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:

  • CARE that is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
  • ​​​​​​SAFETY that is of the highest standards
  • COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
  • SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
  • PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients

Our achievements include:

  • Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
  • Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme

Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

  • To assist in/support the identification of health needs and participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of individual care interventions under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered Practitioner depending upon competency/complexity of work.
  • To provide advice to clients and carers in relation to any needs and the wider public health remit of the Health and Social Care organisation under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
  • To maintain accurate, clear, concise and contemporaneous records as per trust policy and communicate information to members of the Team as necessary.
  • To be aware of the role limitations of practice and when to seek further advice from a supervising Registered Practitioner.
  • Provide concise handover and information updates to other members of the Team as required.
  • To demonstrate a knowledge of external agencies who could be involved in patient care and work in partnership with these agencies under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner with regards to follow up and provide feedback to Registered Practitioners as appropriate.

 

 

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Communicate routine service user information effectively and in accordance with local guidance with other health and social care professionals for the benefit of the service user.
  • To demonstrate skills in adapting personal communication to overcome barriers to communication and understanding.
  • Utilise Information Technology and Clinical Assessment Systems as required in the execution of your duties.
  • Maintain confidentiality within national and local guidelines.
  • Ensure organisational and professional codes of conduct are adhered to at all times when representing the Integrated Health and Social Care organisation.
  • Work collaboratively across teams, agencies, and organisational boundaries to ensure the delivery of an integrated service through effective communication.
  • Identify and use opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles e.g. nutrition, physical activity, individuals and groups.
  • To carry out a range of diagnostic/assessment techniques to identify and respond to clients’ needs in a range of settings under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
  • To deliver a range of intervention techniques and skills to meet clients’ needs in a range of settings under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
  • To evaluate and feedback clients’ responses to interventions in discussion with registered practitioners and modify under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
  • Communicate sensitive service user information appropriately and in accordance with local guidance with other health and social care professionals for the benefit of the service user.
  • Adapt personal communication skills to overcome barriers to communication and understanding.
  • Utilise Information Technology and Clinical Assessment Systems as required in the execution of your duties.
  • Maintain confidentiality within national and local guidelines.
  • Ensure organisational and professional codes of conduct are adhered to at all times when representing the Integrated Health and Social Care organisation.
  • Work collaboratively across teams, agencies, and organisational boundaries to ensure the delivery of an integrated service through effective communication.
  • Staff will be trained to a leave appropriate to their responsibilities in this respect in line with current KSF post outline and the on-going PDR process.
  • To establish, maintain and develop professional working relationships with colleagues.
  • To personally contribute to the Trust health promotion strategies both internally and externally.
  • To be aware of, and responsible to, the changing nature of the Trust and adopt a flexible and pro-active approach to work.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
  • To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
  • To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies.

 

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Evaluate the effectiveness of learning opportunities and alerts others to benefits and problems.
  • Maintain a personal development plan and competency portfolio, in line with requirements for the job role.
  • Participate in individual and group supervision in line with organisational policy.
  • Participate in an individual performance review on an annual basis and be proactive in Continuous Professional Development.
  • Utilise informal and formal learning opportunities both independently and with others.
  • Participate in the delivery of Learning and Development opportunities to all bands of staff.
  • To personally contribute to the Trust health promotion strategies both internally and externally.

 

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To demonstrate leadership by means of:

 

    • Effecting change within own sphere of practice when and where indicated
    • Making recommendations to improve services
    • Influencing, motivating, supporting and enabling others to contribute towards the effectiveness and success of the Trust.   

 

  •  To attend, contribute and represent at relevant meetings, including briefings.
  • To demonstrate an understanding of policies relevant to the role including the application of clinical governance and risk management.
  • To plan and prioritise own and others designated duties, with tact and diplomacy, in line with clinical and non- clinical responsibilities taking account of priorities and responding to additional delegated tasks as appropriate.
  • To support Band’s 1-3 in all areas of their clinical duties, within own scope of competence.

 

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE, RESEARCH & AUDIT

  • Works within the limits of own competence and levels of responsibility and accountability in the work team and organisation.
  • Ensure identified risks are reported and acted upon in line with organisational policy.
  • To complete and maintain all Trust mandatory training requirements.
  • To be responsible for one’s own safety and security through the understanding and application of organisational and departmental policies and procedures.
  • To participate in and support research, audit and practice development activity within the Team.

 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Willingness to undertake continuing professional development and lifelong learning
Desirable criteria
  • NVQ Level 2 / 3 in Health Care or equivalent experience / qualification
  • Experience within the NHS or caring employment
  • Clerical/administrative experience or qualifications

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria
  • Awareness of own strengths and limitations
  • Able to work under supervision and as part of a team
  • Evidence of effective working within an MDT
  • Demonstrate experience of problem-solving approaches
  • Demonstrates continuous Professional Development
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to demonstrate a good level of knowledge and skills in Therapeutic interventions

Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings
  • Accurate record keeping, report writing, manual dexterity and IT skills
  • Have a flexible approach to working with good time management

Other

Essential criteria
  • Ability to travel to various hospital locations by own car/ assisted driver

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyJob share policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderHSJ Best places to workMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Care quality commission - OutstandingStep into healthDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - Gold

Applicant requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Olivia Hatchard
Job title
Occupational Therapist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
0151 290 4352
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