We are currently looking for an Occupational Therapist to work in The Early Supported Discharge Team at St Margaret’s Hospital, Essex.

Job Description

JOB TITLE	Therapy Assistant
ACCOUNTABLE TO:	Clinical Team Manager
RESPONSIBLE TO:	ESD Coordinator
LOCATION:	St Margaret’s Hospital Epping.
PAY BAND:	Band  3
SALARY:	£16,968 to £19,852 plus London fringe allowance.
HOURS:	37.5 hours per week SEPT will consider flexible working for all posts, wherever the operational needs of the service can accommodate this.
ANNUAL LEAVE:	27 days p.a. plus bank holidays or pro rata 29 days p.a. plus bank holidays or pro rata after 5 years service 33 days p.a. plus bank holidays or pro rata after 10 years service
NOTICE REQUIRED:	1 month up to Band 6
PENSION SCHEME:	Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme is voluntary.  Current contribution is 6% of gross salary.
OTHER CONDITIONS:	This post is subject to the terms and conditions of employment specified by Agenda for Change.

JOB SUMMARY

The Therapy Assistant will work as part of the Integrated team providing services on Beech Ward and in the Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team in the community. They will provide planned care and be able to take appropriate action to achieve the planned aims. They will work collaboratively with therapy, medical and nursing staff to support and facilitate rehabilitation of patients.

The post holder will work as part of the therapy team with training, supervision and ongoing support from therapists

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical/Professional Duties

The role of Therapy Assistant will include:

• Working under the direction of qualified staff, either alone or as part of the team to facilitate rehabilitation and enablement of patients on the stroke and neuro rehabilitation ward and in the community as part of the 6 week Stroke Early Supported Discharge Service.
• Assist in the planning, delivery and evaluation of activities within the rehabilitation programmes to meet the needs of the individual and offer a patient-centred service.
• Enabling the patient to achieve full potential according to patient-centred goals, aiming towards independence.

Patient/Client Care

• To work within competencies under direct and indirect supervision of the therapy staff to implement and deliver specific tasks as part of goal directed treatment and rehabilitation programmes. Tasks may include:
  • Reinforcing good practice for communication, cognitive and physical activities on a day-to-day basis, supporting an ethos of total rehabilitation
  • Supporting patients to act with optimum independence in functional activities of daily living and assist where required (e.g. washing, dressing and personal hygiene, mouth care)
  • Working directly with therapists to deliver rehabilitation.
• To work under own initiative and within competencies with rehabilitation activities following specific programmes and adapting them to meet the needs of the individual with indirect support of the therapist (programmes will include physical, communication, cognitive, functional and swallowing rehabilitation)
• To effectively and safely use equipment as instructed by qualified staff
• To escort patients to and from treatment areas and assist them to dress, undress and use the toilet as necessary.
• Ensure that the patients’ treatment areas remain both welcoming and tidy and that all notices and directions are clearly visible. Ensure that all patients are greeted appropriately.
• To support patients who have swallowing difficulties, to act with optimum independence in eating and drinking activities. Tasks may include:

• Ensuring each patient has food and fluids at the consistency recommended in their care plan
• Preparation of food and fluids to a consistency appropriate to meet the needs of each patient
• Supervision of patients with swallowing difficulties
• Assisting the S&LT administering and monitoring individual food and fluid trials
• Monitoring of patients at mealtimes to ensure optimum independence, nutritional support and swallow safety, communicating any observations to relevant members of the integrated team

• To use communication strategies to assist patients with communication difficulties in participating in their rehabilitation, making informed decisions and expressing choice
• To assist patients with structuring and sequencing of tasks
• To assist in carrying out functional, physical, communication, cognitive and perceptual assessments of patients as directed by the relevant therapist.
• To ensure that environment is conducive to rehabilitation and to address barriers to participation e.g. physical and communication barriers
• To prepare patients for treatment, including mobilising according to therapy recommendations and assisting clinicians when required.
• To assist the Physiotherapist with patients who require two or more members of staff to treat them safely and effectively.
• To lead and participate in group activities according to the goals of the individual and therapist direction.
• To support patient independence in domestic and social tasks such as meal preparation and shopping.
• To attend home visits with a therapist to assist in assessment of safe return home
• To assist patients in the completion of forms and in making phone calls to access services
• To deliver therapy programmes in the home and on the ward as directed by qualified therapists
• Communication Skills
• To establish therapeutic relationship with patient and relatives to engage them in the rehabilitation process.
• To adapt communication style to meet the needs of the individual and breakdown any existing barriers to communication therefore using appropriate means to convey messages and support the expression of thoughts and ideas.
• To develop effective working relationships and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and therapy colleagues to provide an integrated and co- ordinated service
• Under the direction of therapists to appropriately and effectively communicate to patients and relatives information that may be sensitive, adapting to barriers such as cultural, beliefs, English as a second language and language deficit
• Education and Research
• To demonstrate a core understanding of rehabilitation and enablement issues
• To assist in the transfer of care to other agencies including care agencies to ensure that they adhere to rehabilitation programmes and guidelines and achieve a seamless pathway.
• To source information/resources from external agencies and other health and social care providers and to adapt to ensure that all patients have equal access to appropriate information, reinforcing advice and patient education
• To demonstrate a core understanding of the therapeutic reasoning supporting assessment and intervention
• To exhibit and maintain a high standard of competence in the skills taught and a professional attitude, observing the rules of confidentiality and respecting the patient’s rights.
• To be responsible, for own achievement and maintenance of appropriate levels of competency under the supervision of the clinicians, the Ward Manager and The ESD Manager.

Information Management

• Input data and information accurately and completely using the latest versions of policies and procedures in manual and electronic systems
• Ensure the necessary precautions are adhered when transferring information, only disclosing patient identifiable information in line with Caldicott and the Data Protection Act
• To record all interventions with the patients and document in integrated team notes in a concise, accurate and timely manner.
• To participate in the collation and recording of information relevant to audit and data analysis
• Service Delivery and Policy Implementation
• To exhibit and maintain a personal standard of expertise, attitude and behaviour at all times in accordance with policies of the local Trust.
• To undertake daily risk assessment of clinical situations and completion of incident reports as necessary in accordance with Trust policy
• To comply with Trust manual handling policy and guidelines in the moving of patients and equipment.

KEY STRATEGIC RESPONSIBILITIES

 ASSURANCE STATEMENT

The purpose of this job description is to outline levels of responsibility and accountability of this post, to ensure that all work undertaken by our staff is identified and lines of accountability are clear.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT

South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust operates an Equal Opportunities Policy and expects staff to have a commitment to equal opportunity policies in relation to employment and service delivery.

Notes: The post holder will have access to confidential data on staff and services within the Trust. Failure to maintain confidentiality may lead to disciplinary action, which could ultimately lead to dismissal.

You will be required to assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and contribute towards the clinical and corporate governance agenda as appropriate.

You will be expected to produce work to a high standard and to promote quality at all times.

You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy. You must familiarise yourself with matters relating to Health and Safety management as they affect you personally and / or the Trust.

You will be expected to participate in the staff appraisal scheme for staff you manage.

You will be expected to keep yourself updated on all matters relating to Trust policy.

The above Job Description does not purport to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder will be expected to undertake additional duties as the requirements of the post change.

NO SMOKING POLICY

South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is committed to a policy which discourages smoking and prohibits smoking on Trust property and on Trust business outside it.

INFECTION CONTROL

The post holder is accountable and responsible for the prevention of healthcare associated infections by complying with all Infection Prevention & Control polices and procedures in line withlegislation (Health Act 2006; Code of Practice for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections.)

DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998

To ensure compliance with all Trust policies, and those procedures relevant to the area of work.

At all times maintain high levels of confidentiality and information security, complying with the relevant legislation such as the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act.

Where any processing of information takes place (paper records or electronically) ensure that the data is of good quality, accurate and relevant for purpose.

All employees must adhere to the Trust’s Policy on the Protection and Use of Personal Information which provides guidance on the use and disclosure of information. The Trust also has a range of policies for the use of computer equipment and computer generated information. These policies detail the employee’s legal obligations and include references to current legislation. Copies of the Policy on the Protection and Use of Personal Information and other Information Technology policies are included in the Trust’s Policies and Procedures Manual/Intranet.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Your attention is drawn to the confidential nature of information collected and used throughout the NHS. The unauthorised use of disclosure of patient, staff or other personal information is a dismissible offence. The unauthorised disclosure of information could also result in a prosecution for an offence, or action for civil damages, under the Data Protection Act.

You are required to observe the strictest confidence regarding any Confidential Information relating to work of the Trust, its patients/clients and its employees.

“Confidential Information” includes but is not limited to information relating to the Trust received by you in the course of your employment with the Trust or its predecessors, information relating to patients, personnel information, budgeting and financial information and information in respect of which the Trust owes a duty of confidentiality to a third party.

You are required not to disclose any Confidential Information either during or after your employment with the Trust, unless expressly authorised to do so by the Trust or required in the proper performance of your duties or as required by law.

This obligation will cease only when such information comes into the public domain other than through unauthorised disclosure by you.

Failure to comply with these requirements could result in action being taken under the Trust’s Disciplinary Policy and Procedure.

This obligation is without prejudice to the law concerning protected disclosures in the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (the so-called “Whistleblowers Act”).

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed upon them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to provide a safe environment for employees and visitors.

SAFEGUARDING DUTY

“It is the responsibility of the post holder to be aware of and follow the legislation and guidance regarding Safeguarding Children and Adults as stated in the Trust Safeguarding Policy and the Southend, Essex and Thurrock (SET) Child Protection Guidance. This applies to all staff regardless of which member of the family is the primary client. The post holder is responsible for ensuring they receive the appropriate level of Safeguarding Children training according to their role’’.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

It is the responsibility of the post holder to have a level of IT competence relevant to their job role and will be expected to continue to keep their skills up to date as part of their Continuing Professional Development.

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