Special Schools Therapy Assistant

Job overview

Main duties of the job

• Form professional relationships with children, families, the MDT and school staff and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.
• Develop skills in working with children with additional needs requiring a range of therapy input including individual and group sessions.
• Develop skills in alternative communication methods suitable for children with severe and complex needs and develop rapport e.g. Makaton and other AAC systems both low and high tech.
• Develop skills in supporting development of fine motor, sensory regulation, and self-care skills to increase participation in classroom and school activities.
• Liaise with other agencies involved in the child’s care, including relatives and carers, as appropriate to the child’s needs, as directed by team members
• Persuade and motivate children to participate in therapy activities and reassure if required.
• Demonstrate effective communication over the telephone and in person to parents/carers and external agencies (especially teachers and teaching assistants)
• Demonstrate ability to use computer systems, reports and inputting data including team, word, excel and other programmes used for audits or record management.
• Assist the general specials schools Therapy & Nursing team with ordering, supplies, updating information and audits as required

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Responsibility:

• Undertake specific individual or group programmes as assessed and directed by trained staff members, observing general behaviour, ability and response of the children, recording the information as requested and reporting to a supervisor. Settings could include clinic, home, or school.
• Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote speech, language and communication development.
• Engage children in therapeutic activities to promote participation and independence skills.
• Facilitate and participate in planned activities, seeking guidance if child’s condition changes.
• Assist in the implementation of team member interventions including:
• Assist in the running of therapy groups
• Carry out therapy programmes as directed by SLT or OT with children and young people
• Under supervision of a therapist, provide a range of treatments; instructing and guiding children to support them in achieving identified goals. To work towards goals identified by the child, family/carers, the treating therapist, education professionals and the MDT
• Implements therapy treatment plans
• Organising and scheduling visits
• Assist team members with home assessment as required
• Adhere to the Trust’s Policies and Procedures
• To assist in completing risk assessment of environment and safety under the guidance of senior team members following local and Trust policies
• Ensure that toys and play materials are kept clean, safe and secure, assisting with regular toy cleaning
• Highlighting the need for resources to aid the smooth running of clinical sessions
• To assist therapists in making and preparing clinical resources such as visual timetables, PODD books or other materials.
• Assist with programming of high tech AAC devices under guidance of SLT
• Assist with organisation and maintenance of equipment under the guidance of an OT
• To support the Team in gathering evidence (including research database and website searches) and developing resources.
• Provide training or demonstrating teachers/schools, with the support and guidance of therapists

Leadership and Staff Management Responsibility

• Review and reflect own practice and performance through effective use of regular professional and operational supervision and appraisal.
• Participate in non-clinical induction, training and education of students and new assistants as directed by supervisor/line manager
• Provide support and organise peer support for more junior therapy assistant staff.

Administrative Duties

• To keep up to date records on clients following Service Policy.
• To support the team with clinical administrative duties such as scanning and uploading to electronic records, sending letters to families, collating clinical data including feedback questionnaires. This may also include:
• keeping spreadsheets up to date including home visits, equipment ordered and audits.
• To oversee equipment ordering including updating equipment inventory spreadsheet on school teams and following up therapy recommendations for equipment at home or school.
• Ordering team supplies using PECOS.
• Co-ordinating schedules and sending therapy reminder about annual review reports, EHCP updates and transition reports.
• Help co-ordinate new referrals, discharges, and co-ordination of paperwork including sending or uploading reports, letters or consent forms.
• Assisting Team Lead with follow up of recruitment paperwork and process.
• To liaise with AAC Hubs in supporting equipment repairs/ orders
• To liaise with other external supports such as CAMHS and SSOT to coordinate referrals and support under the supervision of an occupational therapist
• Follow up admin from clinics/ home visits as directed by therapists such as distributing reports, compiling guidance forms with photos.
• To attend relevant staff and service meetings.
• To provide cover for other general administrative duties such as answering the telephone, scanning, uploading, laminating and photocopying when requested.

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.