Rehab Assistant Practitioner

REHABILITATION ASSISTANT PRACTITIONER – INTEGRATED THERAPIES MEDICAL TEAM
37.5 hrs per week – Band 4
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Rehabilitation Assistant Practitioner to join the Occupational Therapy Team at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds.
We are looking for an ambitious person with experience of working predominantly with adults who have varying medical and surgical conditions.
We are a very friendly, supportive and dynamic team and offer regular individual supervision, opportunities for CPD, annual appraisals and training. Whilst no previous Occupational Therapy experience is required, previous experience in a caring profession would be beneficial. You will need to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills and a positive attitude to self-directed learning.
For informal enquiries contact: Lucy Whent, Occupational Therapy Team Lead on 01284 713 560 or Lisa Enright, Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy on 01284 713 639
The postholder will work across the acute wards including cardiac, respiratory, surgical and general medicine.
The post holder will hold a caseload whilst working alongside the Occupational Therapists, assessing patients, and delivering therapy programmes which may include close contact with family/carers and other professionals. The position requires working independently under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist.
There may be a requirement to assist other teams which may be located in the acute setting or in the community.
Seven day working will be required as part of this role.
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Please see the full job description for more information
Job Responsibilities
Clinical
To manage a designated caseload of patients under the guidance/direction of a qualified occupational therapist, organising and prioritising the allocated daily workload within the scope of the role
To undertake assessments and to plan and implement interventions to meet the patient’s needs, concluding in a safe and timely discharge. This will be achieved using professional, theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning skills
To monitor, evaluate and modify treatment interventions to support the patients progress and ensure effectiveness, taking appropriate action to address issues or risks
To use observation and assessment skills and role specific knowledge to monitor, record and report progress or changes in patients. This includes recognising a deteriorating patient and taking the required action to support them and alert the therapist or relevant staff member
To assess for, demonstrate, teach the use of and issue items of equipment required to support the patient’s recovery, rehabilitation and discharge
To manage the therapy discharge planning process for designated patients and contribute to the process for complex patients using set guidelines and protocols pertaining to discharge
To enable and empower patients to address their own health and wellbeing needs, motivating and supporting them to plan and manage their recovery using health coaching approaches
To support the therapists to undertake complex assessments, frequently completing allocated aspects of the process independently, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.
To participate in the 7-day rota, assisting with weekend cover as part of a larger team.
To support other teams as required which may be located in the acute or the West Suffolk community setting as required
Communication
To work as a member of the multidisciplinary team representing Integrated Therapies, establishing effective communication networks with colleagues, supervisors, patients and carers, maintaining interactions with external agencies.
To ensure effective communication with patients and carers to gain their active participation in their recovery/rehabilitation process including setting of realistic goals for functional safe discharge.
To use an empathetic, motivational and reassuring approach to present and receive sensitive information and maximise the rehabilitation potential of the patient/client, being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
To establish professional relationships with patients and carers, communicating with them in ways that respect their views, beliefs and culture, and being aware of own response to distressing circumstances.
To report to the occupational therapist in a timely manner, either verbally or in writing, information regarding significant changes in levels of function and deviations from the planned outcome.
To act as advocate for patient and profession ensuring patients’ needs and choices are the focus of the care process.
To identify ways of overcoming potential barriers to effective communication.
Documentation
To be responsible for the quality of information recorded, both electronic and paper based. The information should be accurate, legible, recorded in a timely manner, kept up to date and appropriately secured.
To ensure that required patient activity data is recorded.
Professional Conduct and Professional Development
To comply with local policies, protocols and procedures.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of patients and carers.
To uphold the values and the ethos of the service as a whole and to act as an advocate for patients maintaining the highest professional standards at all times
To review and reflect on your own practice and performance through effective use of professional and operational supervision and performance review via Knowledge, Skills Framework (KSF)
To undertake relevant activities to meet your development objectives as identified through the performance review process with your appraiser and to share learning with colleagues as agreed.
In line with Trust guidelines, review and reflect on your own practice and performance through regular participation in professional supervision and performance review.
Leadership, Supervision and Appraisal
To prepare for and actively participate in the Trust’s annual performance development review process and progress reviews.
Ensure training and development needs detailed in personal development plan are followed up and the effectiveness of the acquired training and development evaluated in terms of self, patient/client and service and actively participate in supervision sessions.
To demonstrate awareness of leadership needs within clinical and professional situations and support the leadership activities of the qualified staff within the service.