About this role
Job summary
Therapy Assistant Practitioner - Chase Heys New Directions
We have an exciting opportunity for a Band 4 Therapy Assistant Practitioner to join our established Discharge to Assess Therapy service at Chase Heys, a community bed base in Churchtown.
You will be part of a friendly and experienced multi-disciplinary team, working to provide excellent patient-centred care. There will be opportunities to work both within the hospital setting and within the community.
The individual will have a clinical role, supporting a HomeFirst model of care and will be a key link between the acute and community services to promote patient-centred outcomes.
Main duties of the job
- You will be encouraged, and required, to further develop your skills and knowledge related to our client group to enable you to provide high quality holistic care.
- This position would suit a candidate in possession of an assistant practitioner foundation degree or equivalent qualification.
- The position will be supported through supervision from one of our senior clinicians.
- The post holder should have experience in acute healthcare including frailty and understand community delivery.
- The post holder will be expected to work flexibly and to support weekend working and may include participation in weekend/Bank Holiday rotas.
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.
Our Services
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation, freeing up space for more unwell patients. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES
- To establish a therapeutic relationship with patients and under the direction of the Therapists, carry out assessments and modify the treatment where necessary.
- To report back to supervising staff regarding the individual needs/abilities of patients and carers suggesting modifications, as appropriate and adapt treatment as necessary.
- To liaise with members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team and external agencies to ensure the effective management of patients care, communicating patient information in relation to their care as required.
- To accept responsibility and manage a delegated caseload which will include clinical and admin responsibilities, ensuring patients are seen in a timely manner.
- When instructed by HCPC registered therapists undertake environmental or follow-up visits within the community for the provision and fitting of adaptive equipment.
- To assist senior members of the team with home visits within the community.
- Safely assess, maintain and issue equipment to the patient as appropriate ensuring they are trained and competent in its use.
- Able to interpret and contribute to individualised treatment plans and escalate any issues to the qualified therapist as indicated.
- To communicate condition related information to patients and carers about their treatment and care plan in a sensitive manner.
- To maintain appropriate documentation in line with Department and Trust policies.
- The post holder will work within and suggest changes to departmental policies and procedures.
- Ensure the safe use of appropriate medical devices required to carry out treatment in line with departmental procedures.
- To participate in shift patterns to support the delivery of 7 day service as required.
ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES
- To process referrals for equipment and co-ordinate the operation of the onsite Satellite Store for equipment as directed by the service needs, including stock maintenance and collection/cleaning of equipment.
- To develop and maintain accessible patient information, equipment and resources to complement Rehabilitation.
- To be responsible for the timely and accurate collection of such statistics / records as are required nationally and departmentally and to ensure that confidentiality is maintained.
- To undertake general administration duties such as photocopying, filing, faxing and achieving.
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
- To develop knowledge and skills in specific therapy fields practice through a competency based programme led by the team leader.
- To contribute to the Induction, development and training of therapy assistants students and other colleagues as appropriate and as advised by the clinical supervisor.
- To participate in service training, keeping up to date with relevant practice and maintaining CPD portfolio.
- To identify own personal development needs with supervisor through supervision and Personal Development Plans.
- To actively contribute to Trust/Departmental activities in relation to Clinical Governance and audit in service area as requested by clinical supervisor
Person Specification
Our Values
Essential
- We are Kind
- We are Open
- We are Inclusive
Qualifications
Essential
- NVQ Level 3 in Health-Related Subject or equivalent
- Willingness to undertake Assistant Practitioner Foundation Degree, (or equivalent qualification) if required
- Care Certificate or willingness to undertake
Desirable
- Assistant Practitioner Foundation Degree, (or equivalent qualification)
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Previous demonstrable experience working as a therapy assistant or health care assistant within a health / social / personal care setting
- Awareness of confidentiality and data protection procedures in relation to the recording of patient information
- Awareness of health and safety issues relevant to role and reporting mechanisms
- General understanding of clinical conditions relevant to team specialty
- Demonstrate understanding of this role and how it may contribute to clinical outcomes
- Awareness of current NHS issues and Trust Policies
- Awareness of external agencies including Voluntary and Social Services
- Knowledge of stock control and referral processes for therapy equipment
- Demonstrate a commitment to personal development and the development of others
- Competent to work autonomously within the designated therapy role
- Competent in carrying out basic assessments as delegated by the HCPC therapist
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Understanding of information technology and administrative systems.
- Good interpersonal skills with effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrate a professional approach to their duties
- Maintain confidentiality in relation to patient identifiable information in line with policies and data protection
- Ability to demonstrate problem solving approach and use of initiative
- Good organisational skills and ability to plan and manage own time
Other
Essential
- Ability to carry out moving and handling with patients and equipment.
- Frequent periods of concentration required to obtain patient information that will inform the treatment plan
- Regularly be able to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and empathy in managing situations with distressed patients or their relatives, who may be terminally ill, chronically sick, disabled patients.
- Ability to cope with and assist in situations that could be unpleasant e.g. bodily fluids
- Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of the post
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.
Employer details
Employer name
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Chase Heys New Directions
Bibby Road
Southport
PR9 7LG
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)