Support Worker

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to provide personal support to an employee with a visual impairment. The role will support the clinician's ability to function and fulfill their role as a MSK Physiotherapist at Pendle Community Hospital.

This will involve completing work-related activities on their behalf and supporting them with their clinical and admin duties

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role include;

Supporting the employee in all aspects of clinical and administrative duties, assisting with reading referrals and notes, completing documentation and supporting assessment of patients.

Undertaking clerical duties, eg, complete all computer work such as completing electronic documentation on behalf of the employee, opening, creating, sending and filing e-mails, gathering electronic data and taking notes in meetings

Supporting the employee in planning, teaching and delivering treatment to patients

Supporting the employee to attend and engage in meetings and in service training

Ensuring employee’s safety and welfare at all times.

Being responsible for planning and preparing documentation for meetings and facilitating effective diary management and monitoring.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

Assist the Physiotherapist in the assessment of patients

Assist the Physiotherapist in the treatment of patients

Assist the Physiotherapist in the rehabilitation of patients in out-patients using a range of delegated activities exercises and manual physical therapy treatments.

Specific duties may also be carried out by assistant working alone or working with another assistant. In these circumstances the advice of a qualified member of staff will always be available

Assist treatment of patients individually, or in a group, in a variety of settings.

Assist in the Instruction of patients and carers, providing direction and guidance on a range of physiotherapy Including mobility activities, as directed as necessary by the physiotherapist.

Assist in encouraging patients and their carers in an active approach to regaining and maintaining personal independence.

Assist in the mobility and transfer of patients who may be heavy on occasions (the Trust operates a minimal lift policy)

Use effective communication tools, verbal and non-verbal to communicate treatment programmes to patients who may have barriers to understanding or communication e.g., blind, deaf, dysphasic or who do not have English as a first language.

Liaise with the physiotherapist regarding patient care. Ensuring variations to expected outcomes are highlighted from treatment programmes.

Make accurate records of work undertaken and keep monthly statistics as required, including documenting patient contacts in line with CSP and service standards

Undertake clerical duties as requested. Clerical duties are occasionally part of this role, such as filing of records, dispatch of physiotherapy appointments, booking and dealing with Ambulance enquiries, answering telephone and dealing with written enquiries and problems not requiring the attention of qualified therapists

Contribute to development of patient care by attending relevant team, departmental or other

Attend appropriate meetings and comment on recommended changes to clinical care or service provision.

Collate and enter statistical data onto the departmental data

COMMUNICATION

Work in close partnership with the employee to ensure their requirements are met with dignity, sensitivity, empathy and care.

Apply good customer care skills when dealing with staff or members of the public. This may include people who are distressed or angry.

Communicate clearly and accurately within the organisation in both written, digital and verbal form.

Take notes in meetings.

Maintain confidentiality with regard to the Data Protection Act for all communication and information.

Teach and demonstrate to other staff how to meet the needs of the employee when the support worker is on annual leave

Create and maintain an up-to-date support worker manual, detailing all the relevant information and instructions to ensure continuity of care when the support worker is absent.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Participate in regular supervision.

Participate in and contribute to an annual Personal Development Review, and undertake further training as identified.

Complete required mandatory training.

Maintain own development portfolio..

ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITES

Support employee by organising work, environment, typing, posting, filing, retrieving paperwork and writing notes during meetings.

Be aware of and comply with all Therapy and Organisational policies, procedures and operating standards.

MANDATORY TRAINING

To participate in appropriate in-service training, when required

To take part in the Trust Appraisal and Performance Review programme working from a Personal Development Plan

To attend staff meetings as required

To pro-actively participate within the Clinical Governance and Risk Management Plan

To comply with moving and handling regulations as per Trust guidelines