Therapy Assistant

Job overview

• Working as part of the medical / Surgical therapy team, to provide quality care through the delivery of specified assessment and treatment programs. As directed by the senior therapists in line with competency sign off.
• This will involve working unsupervised and at times will involve working with both qualified and unqualified staff including therapy assistants.
• To assess, treat and progress treatment of patients in line with competencies set, assessed, and signed off by senior therapist.
• To provide clerical and administrative support to qualified staff and students.
• To undertake delegated housekeeping and stock control tasks.
• To participate in audit/ data collection as directed by the service in line with governance and Trust process.

Main duties of the job

Clinical:

Following appropriate training and demonstration of competency to a specified level, work unsupervised in a range of wards. To assess patients, plan and undertake assessments and onward treatment management as directed by the qualified member of staff.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To accurately assess range of movement, muscle power, sensation, sitting and standing balance and transfer abilities.
• To safely assess a patients ability on the stairs and correct technique as appropriate.
• To assess and progress patients mobility which may include issuing, training and the progression in using walking aids.
• To deliver specified treatments with empathy under the management of a therapist.
• Using own knowledge and reasoning to analyse the patient’s condition and needs and modify treatment accordingly.
• To monitor the effectiveness of the treatment plan and use clinical knowledge to progress the treatment programme within defined protocols while keeping the supervising physiotherapist informed of the patient’s progress.
• To identify the need for on-going rehab / support and liaise with the team to recommend appropriate ongoing management/ continuing rehabilitation.
• To maintain using accepted protocols accurate and contemporaneous treatment records including valid consent appropriate to the intervention.
• To ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
• To be aware of own limitation of knowledge in relationship to physiotherapy and to refer back to the supervising physiotherapist when appropriate.
• To work contracted hours within specific speciality.
• To participate in the weekend service/ 7 day service – as service requires.

Communications:

• To communicate effectively with patients, to maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and nonverbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, motivation, negotiation and reassurance – face to face and virtually.
• To manage barriers to effective communication e.g. hearing loss altered perception, confusion, anxiety etc.
• To use written information/ diagrams/ models, to reinforce the understanding of the patient’s condition, and their involvement in the treatment process.
• To liaise with the designated Physiotherapist regarding the workload of the area.
• To liaise with Physiotherapy staff regarding all individual patients.
• To liaise with other health care professionals regarding patient care.
• To liaise with other physiotherapists and health care professionals regarding the ongoing care and rehabilitation of the individual patient.
• To liaise and where appropriate advice patients, carers and relatives regarding patient care.
• To liaise with members of the team and attend meetings as appropriate.
• To liaise with Community Equipment Stores and / or the Equipment Stores Person on behalf of individual patients and the service to ensure that appropriate equipment is available when needed.

Education and Training:

• To be appraised by the therapist or more senior therapy assistant, agree personal objectives and personal development plan.
• To complete all required mandatory and compulsory training and maintaining 100% compliance as per trust requirements.
• To be responsible, with guidance, for maintaining own competencies through a range of relevant CPD activities and maintenance of an appropriate portfolio.
• To attend relevant-service training programme.
• To participate in training by the occasional delivery of presentations to fellow assistants.

Organisation and Management:

• To prioritise and manage own patient workload, whilst keeping the supervising physiotherapist aware of any changes in workload.
• To be kept informed of and comply with Professional, Trust and Departmental policies.
• To propose ideas for developing the service.
• To maintain a safe environment at all times for patients, visitors and staff.
• To ensure safe use of all mechanical and electrical equipment or orthoses and appliances used in the care of patients.
• To act immediately to rectify any unsafe practices or environments witnessed and report adverse incidents or near misses according to Trust policy.
• To provide statistical information regarding own workload as required for managerial purposes
• To provide administrative support to the team e.g. appointment booking, stock control, monitoring the loan of equipment and data collection.
• To be responsible for maintaining a tidy working environment and ensuring that there is a satisfactory level of cleanliness in the designated area.
• To ensure appropriate quantities of mobility aids and PPE are maintained within the department.

Professional:

• To maintain own Continuing Professional Development in line with Clinical Governance.
• To work within the Assistant Rules of Professional Conduct of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
• To share responsibility for maintaining own competence through reflective practice.
• To be legally accountable for all aspects of own work.
• To assist occasionally with research, audit and service development projects as required

Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.