About this role
Job summary
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust is looking to recruit a band 3 Therapy Support Worker to join our Stroke and Neuro Therapy Team at Good Hope Hospital.
We are seeking a dynamic, enthusiastic and motivated person with excellent communication skills. The post is shared between two therapy disciplines (Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy) and includes assisting the therapists in assessing and treating stroke and neurological patients on the acute stroke unit or acute wards and in the community following training. The post also includes therapy documentation, reporting, data inputting to support the service, plus ordering equipment and site visits to facilitate discharge of patients.
The therapy team are predominantly based in a 24-bedded acute stroke unit. We provide rehabilitation and care for our patients, use assessment skills to identify and provide excellent post stroke intervention. We also provide care for acute neurological outliers on the wards at Good Hope Hospital. The multidisciplinary stroke team at Good Hope Hospital is strong and supportive and held in high regard in the hospital. We welcome applications from those who would like to join an established and effective therapy team working with stroke and neurological patients.
Main duties of the job
*Assist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists in the delivery of individualised rehabilitation programmes for patients with stroke and neurological conditions
*Support patients to practise mobility, transfers, balance, and functional tasks in line with therapy plans
*Facilitate activities of daily living (ADLs) such as washing, dressing, and feeding as part of rehabilitation
*Assist with the implementation of upper limb rehabilitation and cognitive/functional activities
*Monitor and report patient progress, tolerance, and any changes in condition to qualified staff
*Ensure safe handling and positioning of patients, using appropriate manual handling techniques and equipment
*Follow risk assessments and contribute to maintaining a safe therapeutic environment
*Support falls prevention strategies and maintain patient dignity and comfort at all times
*Carry out delegated tasks independently within agreed competencies and scope of practice
*Support timely patient flow and discharge planning
*Prepare and maintain therapy environments, including equipment set-up and cleaning
*Assist with group therapy sessions or shared rehabilitation activities where appropriate
*Communicate effectively with patients, carers, and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT)
*Provide feedback to therapists regarding patient engagement, progress, and barriers to rehabilitation
*Contribute to MDT discussions and handovers as appropriate
About us
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.
Job description Job responsibilities *Please Note : For a detailed job description for this vacancy, please see attached Job Description*
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
*Education to GCSE level or equivalent including English and maths *Able to demonstrate competence in maths and written and spoken English *Educated to A Level / NVQ 3/ BTEC or equivalent (e.g NVQ 2 or similar vocational qualification PLUS experience working in a care setting) *Care certificate or be willing to work towards this
Desirable
*Evidence of recent education / personal development related to Healthcare.
Experience Essential
*Relevant therapy / health / social care experience *Experience of dealing with people *Experience of working in a team *Can demonstrate a broad understanding of relevant areas of therapy, the effect of illness/critical conditions / disability on function and health and basic aims of rehabilitation *Good understanding of the role of therapy support worker in the relevant area *Understanding of confidentiality and data protection in healthcare
Desirable
*Experience of communicating with and motivating patients who may have communication difficulties *Experience of working in a role supporting therapists *Experience of working with the relevant patient group *Broad understanding of working environment --healthcare/NHS/UHB trust/acute care/community as applicable *Experience of stroke and neurological patients, including communication techniques and symptom management
Additional Criteria Essential
*Able to communicate via various forms ( face to face, telephone) *Able to communicate information and instructions to patients/carers/relatives who have communication difficulties of English as a second language *Evidence of being able to work effectively as part of a team / across teams *Able to meet the physical demands of the job including physical skills, fitness, dexterity and coordination needed for manual handling and treatment of patients *IT and Keyboard skills *Able to plan and prioritise own time effectively *Able to understand the priorities within team / service respond appropriately *Able to solve problems and contribute own ideas seeking guidance if necessary *Able to follow instructions * Motivated to learn new skills *Able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team *Ability to take responsibility under guidance *Know own limitations and role boundaries *Able to seek support from others when required *Able to deal with potentially upsetting clinical settings/situations *Demonstrates empathy to a wide range of patients, carers, staff *Demonstrates commitment to patient centred care *Reliable and trustworthy *Able to work under pressure *Demonstrates commitment to work flexibly to meet the challenging demands of the service *Car driver with access to own car
Desirable
*Able to demonstrate and teach practical skills to others, including safe use of equipment.
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 University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
Address Good Hope Hospital
Rectory Rd
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B75 7RR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/jobs.htm (Opens in a new tab)