Therapy Support Worker

Charing Cross Hospital; Greater London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK healthcare organization seeks a full-time therapy assistant in Greater London to support the orthopaedic and surgery therapy team. Responsibilities include leading therapy exercises, assisting in program planning, and ensuring patient safety. Essential qualifications include NVQ Level 3 or A level equivalent, alongside significant healthcare experience. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong organizational skills and empathy, being integral to patient-centered care while benefiting from career development and flexible working options.

Benefits

Career development

Flexible working

Staff recognition scheme

Optional benefits such as Cycle to Work and car lease schemes

Qualifications

• Previous significant experience as a therapy assistant in a health care setting.
• Able to work flexibly based on the needs of the service.
• Experience of administrative work such as data collection and management.

Responsibilities

• Lead protocol driven exercises/treatments for individual clients.
• Assist therapists in planning activities or programmes.
• Report any changes in the patient’s health status to qualified health professionals.

Skills

Good written and verbal skills

Good organisational skills

Able to work both independently and within a team

Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation

Able to manage time and prioritize workload

Basic IT skills

Education

General Education to A level or equivalent

NVQ Level 3 in Promoting Independence/Care/AHP support or equivalent

Job description

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our experienced and motivated Trauma and Orthopaedic Therapy team at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is an Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) and the largest trust in the country. Our mission is to provide world class healthcare for our patients, through excellence in research, education and training. It is also home to the North West London’s Major Trauma Centre.

We are seeking to recruit a full time therapy assistant to join our Orthopaedics and Surgery Therapy team at Charing Cross Hospital.

This post supports the therapy team within orthopaedic and surgery to deliver a patient centered service. The occupational therapy assistant will perform delegated patient care tasks including practicing daily living activities, supervising exercise, and carrying out pre-admission and discharge planning tasks. This post-holder will also be expected to undertake a variety of administrative and practical tasks independently; contacting patients pre-operatively, as part of the elective orthopaedic patient pathway and partaking in providing patient education in Joint School; ordering equipment, cleaning wheelchairs/equipment after patient use, overseeing departmental equipment stock, preparing resources for treatment sessions, preparing and organising patient information from surgical lists, etc.

Main duties of the job

• To lead protocol driven exercises/treatments for individual clients once assessed and designed by qualified therapist and progress within protocol.
• To assist the therapists in the planning of activities or programmes.
  To support, participate in, run and provide feedback on group treatment sessions.
• Ability to work with minimal or no immediate supervision of a qualified therapist.
• To use own clinical judgement and knowledge in regards to progressing and/or making minor modifications to treatment programmes within agreed clinical protocols and parameters.
• To report any untoward changes in the patient’s health status immediately to the relevant qualified health professional.
• To manage clinical risk within a caseload at all times including observing patients in all situations applicable to therapy, ensuring safety and security at all times.
• To be able to safely use a range of equipment e.g. hoist, standing frame and mobility aids. To carry out demonstrations and practice techniques with patients and carers to ensure safe and effective use of equipment and mobility aids.
• To liaise with patients and carers who are often distressed, to obtain specific information under the direct or indirect supervision of their Therapist.
• To be involved in and be able to support and provide empathy .

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You’ll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career.

Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview. .

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required.

For both overviews please view the Job Description attachment with the job advert.

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria

• General Education to A level or equivalent and/or NVQ level 3 Promoting Independence/Care/AHP support worker or equivalent Health Apprenticeship qualification/Vocational training qualification

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of further education/study in health or social sciences / related subject

Experience

Essential criteria

• Previous significant experience as a therapy assistant or equivalent in a health care setting.
• Previous experience of effective multi-disciplinary team working.
• Demonstrate knowledge of health care delivery.
• Demonstrate an insight into caring/supportive role
• Be able to recognise and be willing to seek advice and assistance from qualified staff as required
• Able to work flexibly based on the needs of the service.
• Knowledge of the role of the therapists.
• Understanding the Rehabilitation Assistant role and its limitations.
• Experience of administrative work e.g. data collection and management.
• Able to comprehend and work within the Trust’s policies of data protection, equal opportunities and Health and Safety to meet the differing needs of the patients.

Desirable criteria

• Previous work in an acute hospital environment.
• Knowledge of a variety of therapy approaches in different professions.
• Experience of working in the National Health Service.
• Experience working with adults with acquired cognitive/ communication difficulties and/or challenging behaviour.

Skills

Essential criteria

• Good written and verbal
• Good organisational skills.
• Able to work both independently following protocols and within a team.
• Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation.
• Able to manage time and prioritise workload.
• Basic IT skills – data entry

Desirable criteria

• Interest in variety of leisure and hobbies and able use these topics/finding connections with patients to build rapport

Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria

• Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values and a positive attitude towards change

Right to work

If you need sponsorship to work in the UK, please visit the Home Office website for information on sponsorship and visa status before you fill in your application form. Due to recent changes in the UK immigration rules which affect Skilled Worker Visas, Global Business Mobility, Higher Skill Level and Increased Salary Thresholds, please ensure that you are able to meet the requirements to live and work in the UK before applying. Further information about eligibility is available on

Please ensure you check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process. If you are shortlisted you will be contacted by email and text message (if you provide a mobile contact number).

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