Rehabilitation Assistant

Job overview

The Northamptonshire Community Stroke Team (N-CST) has delivered a robust Integrated Community Stroke Service model (ICSS), as per the national guidelines, for over a decade.

N-CST continues to see patients within 48 hours of discharge home, for rehabilitation assessment and intensive goal-based rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation is completed by a stroke specialist MDT, that includes Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Nurses, Rehabilitation Practitioners, Rehabilitation Assistants and Admin staff. The team also has face to face exercise groups and six-month reviews.

Main duties of the job

• This post involves working within the Community Stroke team in clients’ homes and residential homes under minimal supervision providing rehabilitation and care.
• Supporting therapists and nurses in the implementation of rehabilitation and reablement care packages to stroke patients in their own homes or place of residence to promote independence.
• Contribute to the administration and day to day operation of the NGH Community Stroke Team

We provide a countywide seven-day service and weekend working may be required dependant on service need.

Being a car driver is essential. You will need to own your own car and have a valid UK full driving licence to work in this role.

There are three location teams to cover the county and elements of working from home. All staff are required to work flexibly across the county.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Follows rehabilitation plans as directed by a therapist or Nurse to provide goal-based rehabilitation to patients within their homes or place of residence.
• Assess and make recommendations for equipment, home adaptations, care provision and on-going rehabilitation, reporting these to a Therapist, Registered Nurse, or care manager.
• Deliver, fit, and demonstrate basic equipment to client and appropriate others, ensuring client safety.
• Provide appropriate advice to patients, their family and long-term carers, teaching and demonstrating the safe use of equipment or other techniques to optimise the patient’s mobility, functional ability, safety, and independence under the supervision of a therapist.
• Implement and record planned programmes of care and rehabilitation to patients as directed by a Nurse, Therapist or Care Manager including the use of paper notes, electronic notes, telephone, email, and virtual platforms.
• Support patients through instruction and guidance in a range of therapeutic activities, under the direction of a therapist, in the achievement of identified treatment goals.
• To involve clients and carers in the planning of rehabilitation programmes and encourage self-management where appropriate.
• Build professional relationships with patients, their family and carers, through use of communication, reasoning and negotiating skills, respecting others’ views, culture, autonomy and individuality.
• Able to communicate effectively with patients who have speech, cognitive or behavioural issues and implement ways of promoting effective communication.
• Recognises potential communication barriers and identifies and employs suitable verbal and non-verbal communication skills with patients who may have difficulties in understanding or communicating e.g. altered perception, expressive and receptive dysphasia and fear or inability to accept diagnosis and implications
• Listens actively to clients to establish an understanding of their needs to help them make informed decisions about their care.
• Gains client trust and consent prior to procedures so can administer planned care.
• To be an advocate for clients i.e., making team members aware of any concerns if it is in the client’s best interest.
• In an emergency, institutes an immediate response including CPR where necessary.