Therapy Assistant

Job Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 3 Therapy Assistant to join the Department of medicine for older people team at Mersey & West Lancashire Trust. The role provides the opportunity to develop skills in several different areas. Working in a diverse environment offers scope to build on skills within the inpatient setting working within the bed-based areas that the team covers.

The successful applicant will be part of the medicine for older peoples team based at Whiston hospital. This is an opportunity to work with patient's supporting them to build and maintain independence. Our goal is to work with the patient to maximize their independence and recovery from a period of ill health.

You will be part of a team that aims to assess and treat our patients, incorporating social history assessments, engagement in functional activities and discharge planning comprehensively and holistically.

You will need to demonstrate effective communication skills, be highly committed to the delivery of quality care as part of our MDT and provide thorough holistic patient intervention at all times.

Main duties of the job

You must have the ability to work flexibly and adaptably to changing working patterns as the teams work their hours across a 7-day rota.

Our philosophy is to keep the patient at the heart of everything we do. We look for people who are willing to go the extra mile, not because they are asked to, but because they are committed to being part of a healthcare team that delivers an excellent caring service to our patients.

In return for your hard work and dedication we can offer a friendly and welcoming team. We encourage ongoing continuing professional development and enable regular peer support and In Service Training. Service development, Clinical Governance, Research and audit activities are key and you will have a number of opportunities to contribute to our ever developing and expanding service. We have a diverse team of AHP's with an excellent staff supervision system. Becoming a member of our Intermediate Care Team you will be committed to developing both our service and as an individual.

About Us

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 9000 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Job Description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To assist in/support the identification of health needs and participate in the planning, implementation and evaluation of individual care interventions under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered Practitioner depending upon competency/complexity of work.
• To provide advice to clients and carers in relation to any needs and the wider public health remit of the Health and Social Care organisation under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
• To maintain accurate, clear, concise and contemporaneous records as per trust policy and communicate information to members of the Team as necessary.
• To be aware of the role limitations of practice and when to seek further advice from a supervising Registered Practitioner.
• Provide concise handover and information updates to other members of the Team as required.
• To demonstrate a knowledge of external agencies who could be involved in patient care and work in partnership with these agencies under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner with regards to follow up and provide feedback to Registered Practitioners as appropriate.

Clinical & Professional Responsibilities

• Communicate routine service user information effectively and in accordance with local guidance with other health and social care professionals for the benefit of the service user.
• To demonstrate skills in adapting personal communication to overcome barriers to communication and understanding.
• Utilise Information Technology and Clinical Assessment Systems as required in the execution of your duties.
• Maintain confidentiality within national and local guidelines.
• Ensure organisational and professional codes of conduct are adhered to at all times when representing the Integrated Health and Social Care organisation.
• Work collaboratively across teams, agencies, and organisational boundaries to ensure the delivery of an integrated service through effective communication.
• Identify and use opportunities to promote healthy lifestyles e.g. nutrition, physical activity, individuals and groups.
• To carry out a range of diagnostic/assessment techniques to identify and respond to clients needs in a range of settings under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
• To deliver a range of intervention techniques and skills to meet clients needs in a range of settings under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
• To evaluate and feedback clients responses to interventions in discussion with registered practitioners and modify under the direct/indirect supervision of a registered practitioner.
• Communicate sensitive service user information appropriately and in accordance with local guidance with other health and social care professionals for the benefit of the service user.
• Adapt personal communication skills to overcome barriers to communication and understanding.
• Utilise Information Technology and Clinical Assessment Systems as required in the execution of your duties.
• Maintain confidentiality within national and local guidelines.
• Ensure organisational and professional codes of conduct are adhered to at all times when representing the Integrated Health and Social Care organisation.
• Work collaboratively across teams, agencies, and organisational boundaries to ensure the delivery of an integrated service through effective communication.

Administrative Responsibilities

• To maintain accurate, comprehensive and up to date documentation, in line with legal and local requirements, and communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines in the form of reports and letters.
• To undertake as directed the collection of appropriate data and statistics for the use of the department.
• To communicate effectively and work collaboratively with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated multidisciplinary service. This will include participating in a variety of MDT, internal and external agency meetings and forums plus other forms of verbal/written communication as necessary including report writing and referrals to other agencies.

Person Specification
Qualifications Essential

• Willingness to undertake continuing professional development and lifelong learning.

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2/3 in Health Care or equivalent experience/qualification.
• Experience within the NHS or caring employment.
• Clerical/administrative experience or qualifications.

Knowledge & Experience Essential

• Awareness of own strengths and limitations.
• Able to work under supervision and as part of a team.
• Evidence of effective working within an MDT.
• Demonstrate experience of problem solving approaches.
• Demonstrates continuous Professional Development.

Desirable

• Ability to demonstrate a good level of knowledge and skills in Therapeutic interventions.

Skills Essential

• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings.
• Accurate record keeping, report writing, manual dexterity and IT skills.
• Have a flexible approach to working with good time management.

Other Essential

• Ability to travel to various hospital locations by own car/assisted driver.

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.