Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant - Elland, United Kingdom - Overgate Hospice

Description

Job summary

Overgate Hospice has been providing palliative and end-of-life care and support to people across Calderdale and their families for almost 40 years. As we look to continue our work, and expand to give more help than ever, we need an Rehabilitation Assistant to help us with our mission.

We have a plan in place that will help us prepare for the next phase of Overgates development including a new, state of the art, In-patient unit. This will be both challenging and exciting. If you would like to be involved in shaping the future of this very special charity, please get in order to deliver our plan we are searching for a highly motivated Rehabilitation Therapy Assistant to support our team. We are looking for a Rehabilitation Assistant who has skills and experience to join our well established Inpatient Unit and Day Hospice. You may have experience of palliative care, but experience in other settings is equally welcomed. You will be joining a dynamic team at a time of exciting change. We are seeking someone who is passionate about high standards of care and shares our mission of delivering holistic, person centred care to our patients and families. We are a supportive team and provide high standards of care to our patients and families. Our staffing establishment is responsive to ensure we meet patient needs. You will have a full induction with a named mentor and receive regular one to one support with the opportunity of attending Clinical Supervision

Main duties of the job

The development of the RehabilitationTherapy Assistant role is to primarily support the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist and as required, support other clinical areas of the hospice.

The Therapy Assistant will report to the Physiotherapist but will undertake additional skills, competencies, and training across the following areas of expertise:

Competencies within occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Complementary therapies

About us

Overgate Hospice is an independent charitywith a mission to ensure that patients and those close to them live with thebest possible quality of life. This is enabled by provision of the higheststandard of compassionate and evidence-based specialist palliative and end oflife care for adults in Calderdale who have active, progressive life limitingillness.

Job responsibilities

Salary £22,819 FTE

Hours 30 hours actual salary £18,255

Responsible toHead of Patient and Family Support Team

Accountable to Deputy Director of Clinical Services

General Statement

This job description outlines the primary role and responsibilities of a Therapy Assistant. It is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time as the needs of the service change. As this contains core functions of the role, it is important to note that some service areas may have additional skill requirements which are subject to competency- based assessments.

Job Summary

The development of the Therapy Assistant role is to primarily support the Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist and as required, support other clinical areas of the hospice.

The Therapy Assistant will report to the Physiotherapist but will undertake additional skills, competencies, and training across the following areas of expertise:

Competencies within occupational therapy and physiotherapy

Complementary therapies

Clinical Responsibilities

The Therapist will be responsible for assessing individual patients and then delegating the duties required to the therapy assistant, who has been deemed competent to deliver enhanced skills in the above areas of extended competency.

To assist the therapist with on-going treatment of patients and perform the designated activities as delegated by the supervising therapist. Activities may include carrying out passive movements, supervising exercise programmes, washing and dressing, domestic tasks, transfers, exercises, mobility practice, and cognitive retraining exercises.

To be able to safely use a range of equipment , 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 teach and assist with exercises/treatments for individual clients once assessed and designed by qualified therapist.

To assist the therapists in the planning of activities or programmes.

Ability to work with minimal or no immediate supervision of a qualified therapist.

To assist the therapists on home assessments, including the use of equipment required by patients under direct / indirect supervision of a therapist.

To manage and maintain equipment stock levels including walking aids in the Hospice with support from qualified staff.

To report defects in equipment in a timely manner.

To prepare and clean equipment used by the team.

To report any untoward changes in the patients 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 liaise with patients and carers who are often distressed, to obtain specific information under the direct or indirect supervision of their therapist.

To have an understanding and be able to provide empathy in discussions around end of life and emotionally distressing issues with patients and their carers.

To regularly report back to the relevant therapist on patients clinical management program and progress seeking advice and guidance when necessary.

To gain valid informed consent prior to any intervention. To work within a legal framework, under the supervision of a therapist, for those patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

To be responsible for maintaining accurate and comprehensive patient records in line with legal requirements and Overgate guidelines.

The Therapy Assistant, once they have completed all areas of extended competency, will be expected to work independently, without direct supervision, but will seek support and guidance as necessary from the registered professionals.

The Therapy Assistant is accountable to the registered professionals and will adhere at all times to defined pathways of care, competency frameworks, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and protocols.

The Therapy Assistant will be expected to work within the Hospices standards of care and compassion whilst ensuring patient needs are met.

The Therapy Assistant will contribute to service development and be responsible for self-development and demonstrate skills in specific focused aspects of service delivery.

As a key member of the therapy team in the Inpatient Unit (IPU) ensure patients, families and carers are educated and empowered at all points of the rehabilitation pathway and the benefits are explained.

To work autonomously as agreed by a registered practitioner and to be responsible and accountable within their scope of practice.

To work as a member of the existing MDT team within rehabilitation services in IPU and Day Hospice.

Minimum Qualifications / Experience Required

Minimum entry level is NVQ level 2 with an expectation that the post holder will work towards achieving NVQ level 3 or equivalent.

To complete the agreed competency framework for role within an agreed timescale

To participate in the induction, their professional development and training requirements , NVQ level 3.

In line with hospice policy and guidelines to review and reflect on own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and appraisal

To undertake relevant activities to meet training objectives that have been identified with their supervisor

To participate in training of students and other staff where appropriate

Key Working Relationships

The Therapy Assistant, under the direction of the registered professional, will work alongside:

Clinical & Medical Teams Day Hospice & IPU

Patient and Family Support Team - Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Chaplaincy, Social Workers, Counsellors, Diversional and Complementary Therapy teams

Wider Multidisciplinary team , medical personnel, Specialist Nurses, Community Palliative Care Team

Patients and their relatives/carers both in the IPU, Day Hospice and patients own home

Administration team and other Allied Health Care Professionals who contribute to the delivery of care

Communication & Marketing Team

Volunteers

Senior Leadership Team

Duties and Responsibilities

Use professional and personal skills to assist in the provision of a flexible patient centred treatment program for individuals and where appropriate, groups of patients who are requiring assessment for current or future decreased ability to perform daily living tasks.

To work effectively as a member of a team providing assessment of need to promote optimal performance in daily living activities and provision of equipment.

To use skills to engage patients in therapeutic activities to promote independence and well-being

Contribute to formal OT, physiotherapy and complementary therapy assessments and treatments and provide feedback on patient outcomes

To report effectively to the team on patients progress in areas of self-care and independence and to provide advice and assessment of potential need for loan or self-purchase equipment and adaptations.

To collect data for use in service audit and research projects

To ensure that up to date written records/SystmOne records and activity data are maintained

As part of a team incorporate up to date techniques and ideas of positive practice into your work.

Be responsible for organizing and planning own workload to meet service and patient priorities, readjusting plans as situations change or arise

Be aware of the individuals responsibility under health and safety legislation and take appropriate action when necessary

Take appropriate action, including reporting in the event of incident to staff, patients, or any other person within the hospice

Adhere to the hospice policies and other statutory requirements such as infection prevention and control, Health, and safety, COSHH, Safeguarding, Complaints and incident and accident reporting and all mandatory training

To ensure all areas are well maintained ensuring safe use of equipment and storage of materials

The post holder will maintain the security of sensitive personal and other confidential information in line with GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 policies. Additionally, they will be expected to follow secure operating procedures for handling information in all formats, including verbal, written and that held electronically.

The post holder will support the hospice internal audit service during regular reviews of financial and other systems across the organisation. The post holder will assist audit in these reviews and will provide information as required and without undue delay.

The post holder is responsible and accountable for their own practice in line with hospice Infection Prevention and Control policies that reflect evidence, best practice, and legislative requirements.

Overgate Duties & Responsibilities

Overgate Hospice is a no smoking organisation.

The employee must maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Overgate Hospices Health and Safety policies & abide by the Health and Safety at Work Act

The employee must attend annual mandatory training sessions.

The employee must ensure that they comply with all Hospice policies and procedures at all times & participate in the development and implementation of Hospice policies.

The employee must be actively involved in Hospice Governance and support the audit cycle.

The employee must maintain strict confidentiality at all times, applying to all aspects of Hospice business and work within the guidelines of the Data Protection Act. Employees must demonstrate commitment to their own personal development and are required to make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice locally and nationally.

Employees must adhere to the Hospices Standards of Behaviour Framework in all aspects of their work.

Work closely with the Volunteer Services Coordinator as appropriate to ensure that any volunteers are supported in their roles, addressing any issues as they arise.

Use all Hospice resources economically and cost effectively.

Experience

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications

Essential

Desirable

Skills and Abilities

Essential

Desirable

Personal Attributes

Essential

Desirable