Therapy Assistant

Job overview

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a Band 4 Therapy Assistant to work across the Medical wards  at Broomfield Hospital.  Please ensure you meet the criteria for the right to work in the UK before applying.

You will be part of an agile, friendly, highly motivated team of therapists working within multidisciplinary teams delivering therapy support for a diverse range of patients.

You will be responsible for supporting with assessment, treating and facilitating discharge for patients with a range of conditions and functional deficits.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for the provision of therapy in the acute setting; excellent communication skills, and a desire to grow and develop within there role.

Within Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust we offer a robust teaching and training programme with the opportunity to complete Quality Improvement and Audit projects, we provide a supportive and engaging environment to develop and grow our therapists and therapy assistants.

Main duties of the job

• To supervise the planned treatments of patients in the therapy department, using functional tasks and treatment programmes to rehabilitate patients.
• As an experienced, senior therapy assistant you will be able to assess, treat and discharge some cases independently within defined care pathways.
• To complete delegated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy interventions in the inpatient setting. This includes prescribed passive and active exercises, functional exercises, and domestic activities.
• To liaise with the Therapist as necessary regarding patient’s therapeutic interventions particularly highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from the treatment programmes.
• To be able to progress patient treatment within established protocols and guidelines.
• To contribute to the departmental tasks, including management of patient records, stock maintenance and equipment maintenance.
• To assist other members of the team as required with departmental administration and cleaning.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For full details about this varied and rewarding role, please see attached job description, but some of the responsibilities include

• To contribute to the assessment, education and treatment of patients both individually and in groups.
• To support discharge plans and facilitate patient flow within established protocols and guidelines.
• To complete delegated Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy tasks once competencies are complete
• To liaise with the Therapist as necessary regarding patients therapeutic interventions particularly highlighting any variations to expected outcomes from the treatment/education programmes.
• To be able to progress patient treatment within established protocols and guidelines.
• To promote the role of therapy within the hospital and trust
• To liaise with other members of the multi-disciplinary team on behalf of the Therapist regarding a patient’s therapy.
• Under the direction of the Therapists to be responsible for liaising with patients, relatives, carers, equipment services, social and health care professionals and other voluntary organisations and statutory bodies.
• To demonstrate evidence of sound theoretical knowledge of clinical and technical procedures with guidance.
• To complete records ensuring they are accurate, timely and in accordance with Trust, Professional and Departmental standards and
• To contribute to the induction of newly appointed Therapy Assistants, qualified Therapists and students
• To organise and prioritise own delegated workload, under supervision of qualified staff, using effective time management skills responding flexibly to changing priorities.
• To work effectively with various members of the therapy team,  demonstrating the ability to work flexibly under the guidance of a number of different staff or across different teams.
• To demonstrate an understanding of and an aptitude towards email, PAS, word processing and intranet/internet.