Joint Therapy Assistant Practitioner

Leeds Teaching Hospitals; Leeds; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Leeds is seeking a Band 4 Joint Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join the Elective Orthopaedic Therapy team. You will help deliver therapy interventions, work with a multidisciplinary team, and contribute to service improvement projects. The ideal candidate will have support worker experience in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work independently. This position offers a supportive team environment and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Wide range of learning opportunities

Friendly and supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience as a support worker in Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy.
• Ability to work autonomously and within a team.
• Understanding of orthopaedic conditions and rehabilitation.

Responsibilities

• Manage the initial phase of therapy assessment pathway.
• Deliver assessment and therapy interventions for patients.
• Participate in service improvement projects.

Skills

Assessment and therapy interventions

Excellent communication skills

Ability to motivate patients

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Time management

Basic IT skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Level 3 qualification in health/social care

GCSE English and Maths grade C minimum

Job description

Band4 Joint Therapy Assistant Practitioner (Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy)

We have an exciting opportunity to recruit a Band 4 Joint Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our Elective Orthopaedic Therapy team based at Chapel Allerton Hospital. Due to new funding, we are expanding the therapy provision on this unit to provide cover between 8am and 8pm. You will have the opportunity to work closely with Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and the MDT to provide high quality care for this patient group.

A part of a friendly and supportive team, you will benefit from a wide range of learning opportunities to help develop your therapy skills.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will need to have support worker experience in either Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy. They will be required to demonstrate an ability to work autonomously and also as part of the multidisciplinary team.

The role involves delivering assessment and therapy interventions for patients undergoing planned orthopaedic surgery. You will also have the opportunity to contribute to service improvement projects and research.

The post is based at Chapel Allerton Hospital but the post holder would be expected to work flexibly as required by service need.

Following recruitment, the team will cover an extended hours service Monday to Friday (8am to 8pm) as well as a weekend service (8am to 4pm). The successful candidate will work a shift pattern within these hours.

You must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate not only patients but others around you. You must be organised, flexible and have basic IT skills.

Job responsibilities

Towork within the occupational therapy (OT) and physiotherapy teams providing highly skilled and specialised clinical, administrative and organisational support, working in the Elective Orthopaedic service at Chapel Allerton Hospital.

The post holder will work independently to manage the initial phase of the therapy assessment pathway, will be responsible for the screening of patients attending elective orthopaedic specialist ward and determine the most appropriate initial assessments and interventions.

Key Responsibilities

• Assessing and providing care and therapy interventions for individual patients, adapting the process as indicated.
• Assessment and intervention may take place in patients' homes, clinics or wards.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Level 3 qualification or equivalent in relevant health/social care related subject.
• GCSE English and Maths grade C minimum or Functional Skills Level 2 equivalent.
• Experience working as a band 3 therapy support worker in an acute setting.
• Experience in organising and running groups.
• Able to understand and apply therapy process and patient pathways regarding the delivery of therapy/care.
• Demonstrate clear understanding of orthopaedic conditions and post-operative rehabilitation.
• Communication skills – written, verbal and numeracy.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of both uni and multi professional teams.
• Ability to work independently/manage workload under guidance.
• Ability to respond and act upon feedback from others.
• Problem solving.
• Time management.
• Organisational skills.
• Show initiative.
• Demonstrate continued professional and personal development.
• Ability to move and handle patients and equipment.
• Maintain confidentiality.
• Experience of working in a Health, Education or Social Care setting as a carer or similar.
• Demonstrate an awareness of people with disabilities and problems.
• Demonstrate understanding of both Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy.
• Previous experience of working in a therapy setting.
• Experience of using information technology systems.
• Completion of the CARE certificate. Otherwise will be mandatory training requirement during the first 3 months of employment.

Core Behaviours and Skills

• Interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work as part of a team (OT, PT and MDT).
• Ability to manage a workload provided by more than one professional.
• Problem-solving.
• Time management.
• Organisational skills.
• Administrative skills.
• Able to work in a stressful environment.
• Ability to use initiative.
• Ability to influence and persuade.
• Ability to take responsibility for personal development.
• Ability to move and handle patients and equipment.

Core Knowledge and Understanding

• Understanding of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy job roles.
• Awareness of the needs and problems of those with illness and disabilities.
• Awareness of the functional effects of the patient group in the clinical area caused by illness and/or disability.
• Understanding of legislation, guidelines and protocols that affect the clinical area.
• Awareness of health and safety.

Principal Duties & Areas of Responsibility

• To accept responsibility for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy initial assessments to facilitate rehabilitation and discharge from hospital.
• To plan and prioritise clinical tasks.
• To deliver the service using patient pathways and protocols to support your delivery of therapy process and taking into account each patient’s individual physical, social and emotional needs.
• To make contact with patients to initiate assessments and intervention.
• To analyse and make decisions about the most appropriate environment in which to carry out intervention.
• To independently carry out home and community assessments.
• To motivate and persuade patients and carers to participate in therapy intervention.
• To assess and advise patients regarding transfers, falls, equipment and risks.
• To assess, prescribe and train patients and carers in the use of assistive equipment.
• To assess, deliver, fit and demonstrate equipment in patients home and to provide advice and training to patients and carers as required.
• To interpret and analyse information from assessments, judge how to progress intervention and when to liaise with a qualified member of staff e.g. Nurse, Doctor, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist.
• To assess risk factors and judge when to summon assistance or adapt the treatment session.
• To communicate with patients and carers using a variety of communication strategies and tools to ensure information is understood and treatment is progressed. This includes patients and carers who have difficulties communicating and understanding.
• To liaise with other team members, internal and external agencies.
• To identify the need for and refer to internal and external agencies using appropriate referral system.
• To record interventions accurately and timely using team/trust documentation, complying with Therapy guidelines and legislative requirements.
• To complete activity data using team/trust documentation and outcome measures.
• To be able to work in a stressful environment.
• To be able to deal effectively with emotional and/or aggressive patients/carers.
• To participate in ward rounds, case conferences and meetings as required.
• To collect, respond to and feedback relevant information to the senior therapist.
• To promote Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy as a treatment medium to others.
• To lead and participate in departmental/service developments, projects audit and reviews.
• To carry out designated ordering and maintenance of stock, equipment and resources.

Communication and Working Relationships

• Internal – Patients, relatives and carers; Adult Therapies CSU staff – clinical, managerial and administrative supervisor; Members of the multi-disciplinary teams.
• External – Leeds Community Equipment.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Level 3 qualification in relevant health care related subject.
• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C minimum) or Functional Skills equivalent (Level 2 minimum).
• Completion of CARE Certificate otherwise mandatory training within first 3 months of employment.

Skills & behaviours

• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to manage workload delegated by a number of therapists.
• Able to review and adapt to an unpredictable workload.
• Able to work effectively within tight time scales.

Experience

• Relevant clinical Experience.
• Therapy senior support worker experience in a hospital setting.

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.