Complementary Therapy Coordinator

NHS; Hereford; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

St Michael's Hospice is seeking an experienced Complementary Therapy Coordinator to lead their therapy team and provide exceptional care to patients and families. This role emphasizes the importance of complementary therapies in palliative care and involves managing volunteers while ensuring a high standard of service. The ideal candidate will possess outstanding people skills and a strong background in complementary therapies.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Transferrable NHS pension

30 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Employee counselling service

Generous study leave allowance

Advanced communication skills training

Discounts with local suppliers

Free tea & coffee

Qualifications

• Experience providing complementary therapy to palliative patients.
• Knowledge of a range of complementary therapies.
• Ability to modify therapies to suit patient needs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct assessments and provide complementary therapy to patients and families.
• Manage and develop a team of complementary therapy volunteers.
• Ensure compliance with care guidelines and maintain accurate records.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Interpersonal sensitivity

Planning and organizing

Team working

Education

Fully trained in an evidence-based complementary therapy

Job description

St Michaels Hospice is proud of its commitment to the health and wellbeing of all its patients, family members, staff and volunteers. We are looking for an experienced Complementary Therapist, with vision and exceptional people skills, to help coordinate our very well respected and highly valued Complementary Therapy team.As an integral member of the multi-disciplinary team, your key role will be to promote and provide Complementary Therapy for all connected to the Hospice and manage and grow the team of experienced volunteer complementary therapists.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will be fully trained in an evidence-based complementary therapy and be able to demonstrate clinical experience in modifying that therapy to suit patient need. They will also have an excellent knowledge of a wide range of Complementary Therapies and ideally, experience of managing a team.

About us

St Michael's Hospice is nestled in the stunning Herefordshire countryside, in a state-of-the-art facility. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a transferrable NHS pension or you can enrol onto our own Hospice pension. We offer Life Assurance, a superb working environment and facility, generous study leave allowance, discounts with local suppliers, individualised training needs analysis, advanced communication skills training, employee counselling service, free tea & coffee, a friendly & welcoming work environment and 30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. We are one of the top 100 best not for profit organisations to work for and have been caring to make a difference, to patients living with a terminal illness and their families, across Herefordshire and beyond for 40 years.

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Complementary Therapy CoordinatorSpinal Point Range: 11,14,17Hours: 2 days per week (15 hours per week)Department: Supportive CareLocation: St Michaels Hospice, BartestreeReports to: Head of Supportive CareResponsible for: Complementary Therapy Volunteers (approx. 20), Complementary Therapist (1)Job Purpose: To provide complementary therapy to hospice patients, carers and their families and to manage the complementary therapy team. To be the expert representative for complementary therapy within the Hospice.Responsibility Areas:Service ProvisionCarry a caseload that offers complementary therapy to patients, their families and carers.Plan, implement and evaluate individual programmes of complementary therapy within professional qualifications, communicating and liaising with other members of the patient care team as appropriate.Make sure that records are updated in a timely and appropriate way.Liaise with paid Complementary Therapists and other patient care teams to ensure the complementary therapy service is known, meeting needs, providing support and is part of the overall provision and development of patient and carer care.Undertake Clinical Health and Safety risk assessment in delivery of service.Ensure there is an effective system for the supply of clean laundry.Be responsible for the development, implementation and review of policies, procedures and clinical care guidelines relating to the provision of complementary therapies.Provide quarterly reports for the SMT/OMT on the complementary therapy provision at SMH.ManagerialManage complementary therapy volunteers, including recruitment, induction, development and providing regular meetings for the team.Ensure complementary therapy team keep up to date with their professional development and education and support them to offer a high standard of care at SMH.Liaise with the education department in the provision of CPD opportunities, including the teaching of relevant courses.Ensure all complementary therapy staff and volunteers complete the mandatory training required for their role.Undertake one audit / PDSA review per year.Act as a role model, information resource and advisor in the field of complementary therapies.Provide support and supervision for complementary therapy volunteers.Act as gatekeeper for complementary therapy referrals, ensuring paid Complementary Therapists and volunteers are matched appropriately according to priority, individual skills, training and timetable.Ensure that complementary therapy volunteers are updating records in a timely and appropriate way and adhering to all relevant hospice policies and procedural guidelines.Establish and collate statistical information and maintain accurate records as required.Manage delegated budget in line with agreed budget, all resources required for the practice of complementary therapy treatments e.g. oils, tapes, equipment and needles and ensure the safe storage thereof.Attend Supportive Care Team meetings.Work closely with the wider MDT to ensure optimum care for SMH patients and family members.Liaise with the wider patient care team including IPU, Day Hospice, Therapies Team, Supportive Care and community providers to identify priorities in the provision of complementary therapy; including attending IPU and Day Hospice handovers as needed.Attend Team Leads meetings of the Supportive Care Team where appropriate.Developmental and EducationalLead the development and implementation of the Complementary Therapy operational plan, as part of the overall SMH Care Strategy.Represent complementary therapy at St Michaels Hospice at regional and national groups and conferences.Provide support, teaching and advice to all members of the patient care team on the role and availability of complementary therapies to enable them to use the service appropriately.Occasional teaching on staff and volunteer induction and education programmes.Plan and deliver inductions for new complementary therapy team members, including ensuring they are trained in all relevant systems within the hospice, from EMIS to laundry.Contribute to the induction of all new clinical staff, as requested, to ensure all new staff members are aware of the complementary therapy service and how to best use it.Keep aware and informed of current developments in the use of complementary therapies and palliative care and the implications on clinical practice.To work alongside the wider multidisciplinary team in promoting the Rehabilitative Palliative Care approach enabling people to live fully until they die.Provide quarterly reports to SMT/OMT on the progress of the developments of complementary therapy within the overall SMH care strategy.Person Specification1) Specialist Knowledge and ExperienceEssentialFully trained in an evidence-based complementary therapy with demonstrable clinical experience of modifications to the therapy to suit patient need.Knowledge and understanding of a range of Complementary Therapies.DesirableExperience of:providing complementary therapy (CT) to palliative patientsproviding CT for individuals affected by progressive life limiting diseasemanaging a volunteer teamworking within a multidisciplinary teamService development2) Skills and BehavioursLeadership: Motivates and empowers others in order to reach organisational goals.Planning and organising: Organises and schedules events, activities and resources. Sets up and monitors timescales and plans.Communication: Speaks clearly, fluently and in a compelling manner to both individuals and groups.Interpersonal sensitivity: Interacts with others in a sensitive and effective way. Respects and works well with others.Resilience: Maintains effective work behaviour in the face of set-backs or pressure. Remains calm, stable and in control of themselves.Team working: Develops effective and supportive relationships with colleagues3) Special ConditionsThis post is conditional to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check.Our valuesRespect, dignity and the privacy of our patients and families always come firstCompassion and respect towards each otherPeople are at the heart of everything we doTransparency and candourCollaborative working and a common-sense approachEqual Opportunities StatementAt St Michaels Hospice we are committed to an equal opportunities approach in everything we do. This means that we seek to ensure anyone connected with St Michaels, from patients and families through to donors, supporters, volunteers and staff are treated fairly, appropriately and with dignity and respect.

Person Specification

Experience

• Fully trained in an evidence-based complementary therapy with demonstrable clinical experience of modifications to the therapy to suit patient need.
• Knowledge and understanding of a range of Complementary Therapies.
• Providing complementary therapy (CT) to palliative patients
• Providing CT for individuals affected by progressive life limiting disease
• Working within a multidisciplinary team

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.