Therapy Assistant

Job overview

Imagine working for a CQC rated ‘Outstanding Trust’ who values your contribution and can offer you a variety of opportunities to develop in your career.

We have an exciting opportunity for a stroke rehabilitation assistant to join our friendly, professional and experienced team here at Leamington Rehabilitation Hospital, where you will be working with both the occupational therapists and physiotherapists on Feldon Stroke Rehabilitation Unit?

This new and exciting post is a dual role,  working equally between the two teams. This offers a unique opportunity to develop neurological rehabilitation skills with a wide variety of patients.

Our Neurological OT teams include qualified therapists,  support workers and practitioners all working closely with the wider MDT to provide excellent therapy assessments and interventions in this specialist area.

We provide rehabilitation for patients with a brain injury and stroke, where team work is essential and is underpinned by our Trust values to ensure that an effective, safe, inclusive and compassionate service is provided for patients. This role will require a high level of personal and time management skills and previous experience of working in healthcare is essential.

Your knowledge and experience will contribute to Clinical Audits and service reviews that demonstrate standards expected from the Care Quality Commission, COT and HCPC professional standards.

Main duties of the job

To support the therapists and work as part of the multidisciplinary team to provide a high quality Stroke service within Warwickshire

To provide some administrative support to the department

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical

To gain informed consent for treatment in accordance with Trust policy. This will frequently be to patients/carers and relatives who may have diverse or complex emotional, physical and psychological conditions e.g. deafness, dysphasia, depression, chronic pain, etc. and will require use of verbal and non-verbal communication tools.

To develop and deliver therapy treatment programmes using guidelines set by qualified therapists. E.g. patient education, exercise programmes, or classes.

Evaluate patient progress, reassess and alter treatment programmes if necessary following discussion with qualified therapists.

To ensure own competency prior to using any medical device e.g. gym equipment, hoists and mobility aids.

To ensure own competency when issuing equipment to patient e.g. patient appliances, splints and other aids.

Maintain accurate documentation both written and electronic in accordance with professional, legal and Trust guidelines.

To hold responsibility for own caseload within a defined area of the service and work without direct supervision.

To maintain a clean, tidy and safe environment and equipment in Trusts premises, having due respect for Health and Safety.

To use and apply clinical knowledge and experience to assess and manage clinical risk within the limits of own scope of practice.

To work within infection control guidelines to ensure that therapy/treatment/care does not constitute a risk of infection either to the healthcare professional to the client or to any persons visiting/working in Trust premises

Support other therapy assistants as required.

To collect clinical data relevant to the service, as required.

To achieve and maintain necessary competencies require to fulfil the role

Communication

To communicate effectively with patients, carers and relatives on an individual or group basis to maximise rehabilitation potential through verbal and non-verbal methods. This may require explanation, instruction, persuasion, motivation, negotiation and reassurance.

To be committed to a team approach in order to provide continuity and efficiency of service provision.

To liaise with multidisciplinary team/colleagues/medical nursing staff as required

Take formal handover from wards in the absence of the therapists.

Other

To order general stores articles and equipment required by the department and maintain adequate stocks of such equipment, liaising with manager for authorisation.

To carry out administrative duties as required, working collaboratively with clerical staff i.e. data input, typing, filing, provide reception cover etc.

To attend any meetings as designated by senior therapists.

To identify opportunities to improve the inpatient Stroke service in order to provide the best patient care within the available resources.

To contribute to the out of hours service.