Assistant Therapy Practitioner

Job overview

Whilst we welcome all applications from all suitable candidates, unfortunately, we will not be offering sponsorship for this role.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Therapy Practitioner to join the Dietetic and Speech and Language Therapy Team within the Community Health Learning Disability Team based across Buckinghamshire.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will work as an influential and integral member of a diverse multi-disciplinary team and will directly support the work of the Dietetic Team.You will be motivated to develop your clinical skills working with adults with learning disabilities, who may have additional and mental health problems and/or challenging behaviour. You will be able to demonstrate an interest in working with this client group from your previous experiences.  You will have good communication and organisational skills and be enthusiastic about working as part of a dynamic, multi-disciplinary team.The successful candidate will be able to show understanding of the dysphagia and dietetic needs of adults with learning disabilities and a willingness to undertake further training in these areas.You will receive regular supervision and support from the members of the Dietetic and Speech and Language Therapy team and will be actively encouraged to participate in continuing professional development.The post holder will be line managed within the Specialist Learning Disability Services and will be professionally accountable to the lead Dietitian in Learning Disabilities and Forensics. All staff should comply with the Trust’s Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

• To work individually with service users on specific tasks as identified by a registered Dietitian.
• To provide this service to service users who present with dysphagia and dietetic needs
• To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team
• To be able to work flexibly across a wide variety of settings within the service
• To contribute to assessment and therapeutic interventions, including completing directed observations To maintain clinical records
• To liaise with carers and other professionals as relevant
• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
• To attend mandatory training and demonstrate application during interventions
• To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives identified with your supervisor, this may be taught, shadowing of others or through self-directed learning
• Demonstrate, in consultation with the Dietitian, the use of initiative to meet specific individual needs of service users
• To keep a record of your training and development activities

Clinical Responsibility

• To undertake assessments, care planning and interventions with individuals, under the supervision of qualified staff
• To apply dietetic observations and interventions for a designated caseload, addressing dietetic needs, under the guidance of a qualified member of staff
• To accept responsibility for a designated workload, taking an active role in promoting independence and meeting the needs of the individual
• To work with service users and carers to identify Dietetic requirements as part of the overall care plan
• To have knowledge and understanding of dietetic interventions and the application of interventions to reduce risk
• To use technical / creative skills to engage service users in meaningful and appropriate activities to promote independence and well-being
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service
• To work in accordance with competencies, recognise own limitations and the need to seek support from other members of the team
• To adhere to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, the Trust’s Code of conduct for non-qualified staff and all other relevant policies and procedures
• To work in accordance with the code of conduct for Health Care Support Workers

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

• To review and reflect on you own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and appraisal

Service Development and Improvement:

• Assist in the implementation, evaluation and modification of Team interventions
• To participate in the delivery of the Team Development Plan practice governance and quality improvement projects

Communications:

• To form professional relationships with service users and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture
• To report effectively to the multidisciplinary team on service users’ performance/progress and effectiveness of intervention
• To represent Dietetics at meetings/forums where appropriate
• To establish effective communication networks with service users and carers, team members, AHP colleagues and other agencies
• To provide support, education and training to clients, carers and members of the multidisciplinary team regarding aspects of Dietetics – e.g. providing training to support compliance with dietetic guidelines

Analytical and Judgement Skills:

• To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of service users and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs
• Contribute to the ongoing continuous assessment and adjustment of own clinical interventions based on the fluctuating needs of the service users

Planning and Organisational Skills:

• To exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance
• Undertake delegated tasks to contribute to the safe and smooth running of the service

Information Resources:

• To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards
• To contribute to the recording of statistical activity as appropriate in the setting
• To ensure Health and safety Regulations and Information Governance Regulations are observed and instituted

Physical Working Conditions and Environment:

• To work within Specialist Learning Disability Community services as appropriate in a range of settings including service user’s homes, day centres and care homes

Additional Information:

It is inevitable that the post holder will be required to deal with distressed people and find themselves in challenging and/or risky situations as they will be working with people with mental health problems.

Knowledge and Skills Framework

The post holder will be expected to meet the requirements of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) appropriate outline for the post.

Approved outlines are available on the HPT e-ksf local library.

Health and Safety

The post holder has a duty of care to themselves and to others with whom they come into contact in the course of their work as laid down in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and any subsequent amendment or legislation.

Infection Control

All Trust staff will:

• Act as a role model and champion for the highest standard of all aspects of infection prevention and control and implementation of all Infection Prevention and Control Trust policies and guidelines
• Value and recognise the ideas and contributions of colleagues in their endeavours to reduce the incidence of healthcare associated infection

Equality and Diversity

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to providing an environment where all staff, service users and carers enjoy equality of access, provision, opportunity and outcomes.

The Trust works to eliminate all forms of discrimination and recognise that this requires, not only a commitment to remove discrimination, but also action through positive policies to redress inequalities.

Providing equality of opportunity means understanding and appreciating the diversity of our staff, service users & carers and ensuring a supportive environment free from harassment.  As a result Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust actively encourages its staff to challenge discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for all.

Confidentiality

All staff must be aware of the Data Protection act 1984, and its subsequent amendments, which is now in force. This means that protection of data about individuals is a requirement of the law and if any employee is found to have permitted unauthorised disclosure, the Trust and the individual may be prosecuted.

Standards of Business Conduct and Conflicts of Interest

The Trust has adopted a Standards of Conduct Policy, which reflects NHS Management Executive Guidelines. It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that they act as a role model, by upholding the principle of a leading mental Trust.  Staff should be informing their line manager if they are working for any other organisation to ensure that this Trust complies with the Working Time Regulations.

Information and Records Management

The post holder must be competent in using IT and have the relevant skills to carry out the activities required for the post.

To comply with the Data Protection Act 1998, Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Department of Health Code of Confidentiality in line with Trust procedures.

To adhere to the Trust’s policies on records management including creation, use, storing and retention and disposal of records.

Adhere to the Trust’s Corporate Identity (using the standard templates – available on Trustspace).

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Safeguarding Adults and Children

The Trust is committed to ensuring adults and children are protected and come to no harm from abuse. All employees have a responsibility to be aware of national and local policies, their individual responsibilities with regards to the protection and safeguarding of both adults and children, and must adhere to them at all times.

Organisational Change

As services develop and change, the post holder may be required to undertake other responsibilities within the Trust.

Flexible Working

The Trust believes that its staff members are its most valuable asset and is committed to attracting and retaining the very best, and utilising all the talent and experience available. The Trust recognises the importance of helping its employees balance their work and home life by offering flexible working arrangements that enable them to balance their working life with other priorities, including parental and other caring responsibilities, life-long learning, charity work, leisure activities and other interests.

Health and Safety

All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Review:

This job description is an outline, which reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be an inflexible or finite list of duties and responsibilities. As these duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.